[Hiring] Principal Software Engineer, Identity @Upstart

Role Description

As a Principal Software Engineer, you are at the helm of driving technical excellence, execution, and innovation within the Identity Platform team. You are responsible for setting the technical vision and direction for Identity Platform that works backwards from our product strategy. You will work closely with Product partners from different verticals to help them plan, create, and deliver secure product experiences that are frictionless. You will have the opportunity to design and build large scale systems from the ground up, partner closely with Infosec and CSO, and work in a highly-collaborative and fast-paced environment. We are looking for a seasoned leader with a passion for Identity and Access Management, Customer Experience, experimentation, and distributed systems. If this sounds exciting, we would love to hear from you.

How you’ll make an impact

• Define the long-term technical direction and roadmap for Identity and Access Management Platform in alignment with Upstart’s business objectives.
• Lead the design, development, and execution of a system that emphasizes security and ease of access.
• Work closely with the Informational Security team to improve and develop standards that ensure that our customer data is secure and build trust with Customers.
• Guide the architectural evolution of Identity engineering systems with an emphasis on security, scaling innovation across multiple engineering teams.
• Uncover and drive alignment across complex technical requirements, designs, trade-offs, influencing product direction.
• Proactively evaluate, prototype, and roll out new technologies/frameworks to help cultivate a culture of innovation.
• Lead from the front, while mentoring and developing technical leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics, or a related field (or its equivalent) + 8 years of experience.
• Experience building highly scalable APIs using containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes.
• Solid grasp of software development principles and best practices for creating scalable and maintainable systems.
• Proficiency in one or more object-oriented programming languages like Kotlin, Ruby, C#, C++.
• Strong communication skills and ability to explain complex business and technical concepts to all audiences.
• Track record of successfully mentoring and developing technical leaders.
• Experience working in dynamic fast-paced organizations.
• Ability to balance the needs of the business with the needs of engineering improvements.
• Passion for clean code and architecture and initiative to “level-up” the engineering team with better practices & design.
• You are able to lead and resolve company-wide technical discussions and are able to collaborate and include input from cross-functional teams (security, devops, data, compliance, and product).
• You have a good sense for build-vs-buy and are able to prioritize the highest ROI architectural investments.

Preferred Qualifications

• High proficiency with OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect Specifications.
• Experience working in Identity and Security Platform.
• Experience with building Kotlin or Java Backend services.
• Experience with A/B testing, GRPC, and Devops.
• Background in Keycloak or any equivalent IAM Solution, Devops, Ruby, and NextJS is a big plus.
• Experience designing and building microservice-based architectures.
• Experience developing large scale distributed systems in AWS.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability for the quality and timely delivery of work.
• Ability to thrive both in self-directed work environments and in collaborative settings, contributing positively to team dynamics.
• Demonstrated ability to take feedback well and actively incorporate it into work with a desire to continuously improve.
• Ability to influence and lead without direct authority.
• Strong product and analytical mindset that allows you to think in terms of ROI, risk, and trade-offs.
• Experience working at companies that have gone through periods of rapid business or organizational growth.

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.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly.
• 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 for eligible employees.
• Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose.
• 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, with options to purchase supplemental 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, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving.
• 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.
• 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 and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs).
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).