[Hiring] Lead Legal Counsel @Upstart

Role Description

As the Lead Legal Counsel, HELOC at Upstart, reporting into the Product & Regulatory Legal team, you will serve as the primary legal partner for our Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) product. You will work cross-functionally to provide strategic legal guidance throughout the product lifecycle, helping the business launch and scale innovative home lending solutions while effectively managing legal and regulatory risk.

• Provide strategic legal counsel to Product, Engineering, Risk, Compliance, and Operations teams to support Upstart's HELOC product and transition from a state-licensed lender to a national bank.
• Advise on federal and state consumer lending laws, with a particular focus on secured lending products, mortgage regulations, and regulatory developments that impact home lending products and services.
• Provide legal counsel and advice on future products, which may include purchase-money mortgages.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to design compliant product features, customer experiences, operational processes, and servicing capabilities.
• Lead legal support for new product initiatives, regulatory change management, and market expansion efforts related to home lending.
• Collaborate across the Product & Regulatory Legal team and with other legal teams, including lawyers supporting Privacy, Fair Lending, Capital Markets and Commercial contracts, as needed.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, bank partners, and outside counsel, on legal matters affecting the HELOC business.
• Identify and communicate key legal risks to business partners; ability to distill complex legal matters and risks for senior leadership in a clear and actionable manner, synthesizing complex concepts into concise recommendations.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 7+ years of legal experience advising financial services, fintech, or mortgage lending organizations, including substantial experience serving as the primary legal advisor for complex product organizations with a focus on real-estate secured products.
• Deep expertise in consumer financial services laws and mortgage regulations, including TILA, RESPA, ECOA, FCRA, HMDA, UDAAP, and applicable state lending and federal banking laws.
• Experience advising cross-functional product development teams and supporting the launch or expansion of regulated financial products.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting HELOC, mortgage, or other secured lending products throughout the full product lifecycle.
• Experience supporting regulatory examinations, enforcement matters, or interactions with federal and state regulators.
• Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and develop practical, scalable solutions for product teams.
• Experience building legal processes and governance frameworks within rapidly growing technology or fintech organizations.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled financial products, digital lending platforms, or emerging regulatory developments affecting financial technology.

Position Location

This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Time Zone Requirements

The team operates on the East/West coast time zones.

Travel Requirements

As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S but are encouraged to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

Compensation

At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location–with our “digital first” philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

• Anticipated Base Salary Range: $208,000 — $287,900 USD

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly.
• Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada).
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only).
• Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada.
• Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only).
• Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security.
• Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements.
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country).
• Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources.
• Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service (US Only).
• Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you.
• Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from.
• Connection and community through team events, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs).
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all, we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices.