[Hiring] Commercial Lawyer @Upstart

Role Description

As a Commercial Lawyer at Upstart, you will join a commercial legal team that is a strategic partner to the business, sitting at the intersection of cutting‑edge technology, product, and go‑to‑market execution.

• Structure and negotiate high‑impact commercial deals with partners and vendors.
• Protect the company while unlocking revenue, accelerating product adoption, and deepening critical partnerships.
• Collaborate with Sales, Procurement, Product, and Finance to drive clarity on risk and craft creative solutions.
• Support commercial legal work and the Lending Partnerships team.

This role will primarily support commercial legal work, with the opportunity to flex into supporting our Lending Partnerships team for a meaningful portion of time.

• Serve as commercial counsel for vendor and general commercial contracts across Upstart.
• Build a deep understanding of Upstart’s products and vendor ecosystem.
• Review, draft, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements.
• Drive efficient deal flow by triaging and managing tickets through tools like Zip and Ironclad.
• Help build and continuously improve the commercial legal function at Upstart.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree with solid academic credentials and an active state bar membership (NY or CA preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in a transactional practice at a law firm and/or in‑house, with a focus on technology and commercial contracts.
• Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating complex SaaS and other technology/data agreements.
• Ability to act as a negotiator on fast‑moving, complex deals.
• Comfort working with privacy, security, and data‑use terms.
• Not just an issue‑spotter but an issue‑solver, with a “can‑do” mindset.
• Holds an exceptionally high bar for their own work product.

Requirements

• Prior in‑house experience on high‑impact legal teams at a fintech, financial services, or technology company.
• Experience leading and closing complex commercial negotiations.
• Genuine curiosity about how Upstart’s business works.
• Desire to mentor and collaborate with other members of the legal team.
• Strong communication skills with a demonstrated ability to translate complex legal concepts.
• Eagerness to dive into new products, AI and data issues.
• Entrepreneurial drive who sees ambiguity as opportunity.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants.
• Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options.
• Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with Upstart covering 90% to 100% of the cost.
• Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans.
• Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage.
• Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays.
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments.
• Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support.
• Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools.
• Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being.
• Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources.
• Connection and community through team events and onsites.
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens.