Upstart

Financial Services

PrincipalAppliedScientist

$10000–15000k ~AI est. Remote Remote Friendly
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Senior candidates.

The Brief

“Principal Applied Scientist at Upstart. Skills: Machine learning, Optimization, Causal inference, Decision systems. Define technical vision for offer decisioning systems. Build conversion modeling approaches”

What You'll Achieve.

Improve conversion; Improve borrower experience; Improve lender surplus; Improve marketplace efficiency

Industry & Context.

Financial Services
Problems you'll solve

Ambiguous problem spaces; Systems thinking

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

Advanced degree in quantitative field, 8+ years experience building ML models, Experience with optimization, Experience with operations research, Experience with constrained decision-making, Working knowledge of causal inference, Grounding in statistics, Grounding in probability, Experience leading cross-functional initiatives, Experience working across technical teams

Nice to Have

PhD in operations research, PhD in statistics, PhD in economics, PhD in computer science, PhD in quantitative field, Experience with offer optimization, Experience with pricing systems, Experience with marketplace optimization, Experience with end-to-end modeling, Experience in fintech, Experience in lending, Experience in marketplaces, Principal-level technical lead experience, Mentoring senior scientists, Raising technical bar across organization

What You'll Do.

Define technical vision for offer decisioning systems

Build conversion modeling approaches

Optimize decisions across multiple stages

Ensure models account for downstream impacts

Design interfaces between decision systems

Drive cross-functional technical alignment

Scope and lead ambiguous initiatives

Partner with scientists and engineers

Translate insights into production approaches

Ensure work progresses toward unified architecture

Contribute to implementation efforts

Operationalize new approaches

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Cross-functional technical alignment; Multiple technical teams; Multiple stakeholders

Full Job Description

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 Growth and Marketplace Optimization teams are responsible for building the decision systems that determine how offers are presented, optimized, and evolved across the customer journey. These systems sit at the intersection of machine learning, optimization, pricing, marketplace dynamics, and borrower behavior. The work spans partner channels, onsite experiences, and marketplace optimization, with t

Free ATS check

Applying for this Principal Applied Scientist role?

Most applicants get filtered before a human reads their resume. See if yours makes the cut.

ANONYMOUS · UNFILTERED

What do employees actually say about Upstart?

Real rants from real employees. Read before you apply.

Read Company Rants →