Principal Application Security Engineer

Upstart

6h•Remote

About The Position

Upstart is the leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart's AI marketplace, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates across races, ages, and genders, while simultaneously delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than 80% of borrowers are approved instantly, with zero documentation to upload. Upstart is a digital-first company, which means that most Upstarters live and work anywhere in the United States. However, we also have offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; Austin, Texas; and New York City, NY (opening Summer 2026). Most Upstarters join us because they connect with our mission of enabling access to effortless credit based on true risk. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Upstart, we’d love to hear from you! We’re looking for a Senior Application Security Engineer to join our growing Information Security team. Your primary function will be to work with Upstart’s engineering and product management teams to ensure that our product platform is secure, safe and reliable. You’ll have the latitude to touch every aspect of our security strategies, with the opportunity to specialize as the team grows. As one of the key resources on the Security team, you will have significant influence over the design of Upstart's Security program.

Requirements

3+ years of experience in an application security or security engineering-focused role
An IT/CS degree or equivalent knowledge
Experience in Java, Python or Ruby development
Knowledge of industry standard authentication and authorization protocols (TLS, SAML, etc)
Previous usage or knowledge of SAST/DAST and vulnerability scanners
Understanding of Full Stack Development, SDLC, and CI/CD pipelines
Understanding of network stack and common protocols
A self-starter who is comfortable getting hands-on and engaging in all areas of product security, from ideation to deployment.
Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and communicate effectively with highly technical teams

Nice To Haves

7+ years of experience in a high-security environment
MS degree or equivalent knowledge
Certification in IT or cybersecurity (e.g. OSCP, OSCE, OSWE)
Experience conducting product/application level security audits, penetration tests, and security focused code reviews
AWS, K8s and CI/CD pipeline experience
Contributions to the security industry (e.g. whitepaper, security advisories, OSS projects, patents)

Responsibilities

Work closely with our engineering and data science teams to securely design and implement new products and features, including the development and maintenance of threat models for high-risk functionality.
Set up a regular vulnerability scanning tools and manage remediation of identified issues
Support teams with vulnerability remediation efforts, including the design of remediation strategies.
Assess the threat model for cloud native infrastructures and applications
Identify and design company-wide security controls and solutions.
Operate as an integral member of the engineering team and advocate for security best practices across the organization
Help identify Upstart’s internal and external attack surface in a dynamic environment

Benefits

Competitive Compensation (base + bonus & equity)
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart
Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
Life and disability insurance
Generous holiday, vacation, sick and safety leave
Supportive parental, family care, and military leave programs
Annual wellness, technology & ergonomic reimbursement programs
Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates, employee resource groups (ERGs), and other interest groups such as book clubs, fitness, investing, and volunteering
Catered lunches + snacks & drinks when working in offices