Senior Software Engineer - Machine Learning Platform

Upstart

3d•$166,900 - $230,000•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Software Engineer will join Upstart’s Machine Learning and Simulations Platform (MLSP) team, which builds and operates core infrastructure for machine learning model training, feature engineering, inference, and marketplace simulation. The platform supports underwriting, fraud, conversion, and verification models, covering the production path from data and features through model serving, deployment, and simulation. The team is evolving the platform to provide low-latency and GPU model serving, self-service model deployment, a unified feature platform, and high-fidelity marketplace simulation. In this role, you will build an MLOps platform supporting model inference, process automation, model deployment, and observability. You will also contribute to marketplace simulation systems that help ML and Finance teams innovate rapidly. The role partners closely with ML, Engineering, Product, and Data Engineering teams and includes mentoring engineers on distributed systems, MLOps, and scalable architecture. This position is remote in the United States. The team operates across East and West Coast time zones. Employees are encouraged to attend periodic in-person onsites, with most teams meeting once or twice per quarter for two to four consecutive days. The anticipated U.S. remote base salary range is $166,900–$230,000. Total compensation may also include target bonuses, equity, and benefits.

Requirements

At least 6 years of software engineering experience.
Experience building and maintaining backend software services and APIs.
Experience with distributed systems or large-scale data processing using Spark, Databricks, Ray, or an equivalent.
Experience with an ML platform or the ML production path, such as training pipelines, model serving, feature pipelines, or a training data platform.
Proficiency with some or many of Python, Kotlin, Databricks, and AWS.
Growth mindset, including willingness to learn new technologies suited to the task and learn from others.
Ability to quickly understand complex requirements from ML, product, or engineering leadership and translate them for technical and non-technical partners.

Nice To Haves

Skill with Metaflow, MLflow, gRPC, Spark/PySpark, dbt, Ray, or GPU.
Knowledge of simulation, experimentation, or backtesting systems.
Experience building self-service or configuration-driven tooling for internal users.
Strong quantitative reasoning and interest in working at the intersection of engineering and machine learning.
Strong ownership and accountability for the quality and timely delivery of work.
Excellent written and verbal communication with partners, peers, and product owners.
Ability to thrive in self-directed work and collaborative settings and contribute positively to team dynamics.

Responsibilities

Build, maintain, and optimize Upstart’s machine learning and simulation platform to improve scale, performance, and confidence in decisioning.
Develop software applications that enable machine learning models to address evolving business needs.
Build self-service tooling that allows ML teams to register features and deploy models independently, reducing manual platform-team work.
Deliver data and feature infrastructure for models, including feature definition, storage, serving, and offline-to-online parity.
Design and contribute to simulation systems that better reflect production environments, reduce simulation costs, and enable broader use across teams.
Communicate with ML, Engineering, Product, and Data Engineering partners and keep stakeholders informed.
Mentor engineers across the team in distributed systems, MLOps, and scalable architecture.

Benefits

Target bonuses and equity compensation, including annual equity grants that vest quarterly.
401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan with discounted stock purchase options for eligible U.S. employees.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage, wellness resources, and supplemental health coverage in Canada.
Health Savings Account contributions for eligible U.S. plans.
Life insurance and disability coverage.
Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays in line with local requirements.
Paid family and parental leave, with duration varying by country.
Family-centered benefits supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving.
Employee Assistance Program offering mental health support and life-centered resources.
Financial wellness resources, including financial planning tools and a financial concierge service for U.S. employees.
Annual wellness allowance for physical and emotional well-being and personal development.
Annual productivity allowance for work-related tools and resources.
Team events, all-company updates, and employee resource groups.
Catered lunches and stocked micro-kitchens at offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City.