Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Upstart is a leading AI lending marketplace focused on reducing the cost and complexity of borrowing for Americans. As a Principal Machine Learning Engineer, you will lead engineering initiatives to build scalable infrastructure for machine learning, collaborating with various teams to enhance predictive accuracy and streamline model development.
Responsibilities
- Scale ML innovation by building tools, infrastructure, and workflows that dramatically improve the speed and reliability of model development
- Work backward from modeling needs to design systems that directly unlock gains in accuracy, efficiency, and scientific productivity
- Explore new algorithms and methodologies for our machine learning models and develop tooling to support them
- Improve the entire ML lifecycle—from data readiness and feature development through training, evaluation, serving, and monitoring
- Automate and standardize operational workflows, enabling scientists to focus on high-leverage modeling and analysis rather than manual pipelines
- Define the roadmap for our next generation ML Platform, balancing near-term impact with long-term architectural scalability
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Data Engineering, ML Platform, Pricing, and other teams to build reliable, end-to-end ML systems
Skills
- Strong theoretical and practical foundation in machine learning and statistics
- Ability to reason from first principles about model assumptions, sources of bias, uncertainty, tradeoffs, evaluation, and failure modes
- A deep understanding of how models work beyond the abstractions provided by common tools and frameworks, and how to apply this knowledge to production solutions
- 5-7+ years of hands-on experience in applied machine learning, with strong exposure to production-scale modeling efforts
- Experience working in high-scale, ML-driven product environments—especially in fintech, pricing, or risk modeling
- Proficiency in Python and core ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, XGBoost)
- Ability to work autonomously and lead technical direction in ambiguous, high-impact domains
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams including ML scientists, engineers, and product partners
- Ability to bridge engineering and science teams, and influence technical strategy across disciplines
- Numerically-savvy and smart with ability to operate at a fast pace
- Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative discipline, or equivalent additional professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in end-to-end model development: data prep, feature engineering, training, evaluation, and deployment
- Practical experience optimizing ML workflows using CUDA/GPU acceleration
- Background in feature store design, embedding architecture, or synthetic data generation for model training
- Proven track record of improving model accuracy in production environments with measurable business outcomes
- Familiarity with modern experimentation frameworks, hyperparameter tuning tools, and automated model selection techniques
Benefits
- Target bonuses
- Equity compensation
- Generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k)
- 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!)
Company Overview
Company H1B Sponsorship