Senior Security Engineer, Data Security

About Upstart

At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost

and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity,

experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions

move forward financially with clarity and confidence.

As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions

to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically

intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per

borrower using more than 1,800 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for

millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea,

every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit

never stands between people and their financial progress.

We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their

best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in

the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about

in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that

spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home

or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay

Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in

the way that works best for you.

If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with

purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.

The Team

Upstart’s Information Security team is dedicated to advancing security practices

that enhance the safety of our products, customers, and partners. We believe

security should empower innovation, move at the speed of the business, and be

built in from the ground up. Our mission is to protect Upstart’s products and

enterprise while enabling teams to move quickly and safely through strong

collaboration, automation, and thoughtful security design.

As a Senior Security Engineer focused on Data Security, you will play a critical

role in defining, building, and leading Upstart’s data security program. This is

a highly impactful role that combines deep hands-on technical execution. You

will design and implement scalable data security capabilities, influence

cross-functional partners across the company, and help establish long-term

strategy and accountability for how data is protected at Upstart.

This role is ideal for a senior security practitioner who enjoys operating at

the intersection of software engineering, architecture, and cross-functional

leadership, and who has experience taking complex security controls from concept

to reality.

Position Location - This role is available in the following locations: Remote -

US

Time Zone Requirements - This team operates on the East/West Coast time zones.

Travel Requirements - This team has regular on-site collaboration sessions. 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 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.

How you’ll make an impact:

* Lead the technical design and execution of Upstart’s data security program,

from early foundations through mature, scalable systems

* Architect and build software solutions (APIs, services, and internal tools)

that enable effective data protection and governance

* Partner closely with Engineering, Analytics, Product, Legal, Risk, HR, and

other stakeholders to secure sensitive data across diverse domains

* Drive adoption of least-privilege access models and modern data protection

patterns across the organization

* Mentor engineers and security practitioners, fostering strong technical

standards and a culture of ownership

* Continuously improve systems by learning from real-world signals such as

false positives, operational feedback, and evolving threats

What we’re looking for:

* Minimum requirements:

* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Mathematics, or a

related field (or its equivalent) + 5 years of experience

* Extensive experience across enterprise and operational security domains,

with deep focus on Data Security and Identity & Access Management (IAM)

* Experience owning or leading a Data Security, DLP (Data Loss Prevention),

or DSPM (Data Security Posture Management) initiatives

* Strong software engineering background, with the ability to design and

build production-quality systems (e.g., APIs, services, or internal web

applications)

* Experience launching new security capabilities from 0 to 1 in complex

environments

* Deep understanding of least-privilege principles and practical experience

applying them at scale

* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence senior

technical and non-technical stakeholders

* Ability to navigate ambiguity, make sound tradeoffs, and independently

drive meaningful change

* Preferred qualifications:

* Familiarity with cutting edge AI data protection tooling such as endpoint

DLP, data classification, or posture management platforms (BigID,

Concentric AI, Varonis, Cyera, or similar)

* Experience working with diverse data domains (e.g., analytics, reporting,

business operations, or people data)

* Contributions to the security community through talks, publications,

open-source projects, or other industry involvement

* Familiarity with compliance frameworks such as SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOX

* Interest in long-term growth as a senior individual contributor, with

openness to future people leadership paths

#LI-REMOTE

#LI-MidSenior

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. Your recruiter can share more

about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring

process.

In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity

compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision,

and 401k).

United States | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range

$164,800—$228,400 USD

What you'll love

At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial

well-being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect:

* 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!)

For roles based in Canada, please note that we are not currently able to hire in

Quebec.

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.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application,

interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating

in the employee selection process, please email

[email protected]

https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy

[https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy]