Senior Applied Scientist

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 3,000 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, 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 Machine Learning team develops and advances predictive models that help make lending more accessible and efficient. Through applied research, experimentation, and close collaboration with engineering and business partners, the team turns complex data into reliable machine learning solutions.

As a Senior Applied Scientist at Upstart, you will lead the development of machine learning solutions that improve model performance and business outcomes. You will own complex modeling problems from initial investigation through production implementation, while helping shape technical approaches and scientific best practices.

How you’ll make an impact

• Lead end-to-end development of machine learning models, from problem formulation and experimentation through deployment and performance evaluation.

• Design and evaluate advanced modeling approaches to improve predictive accuracy, robustness, and operational effectiveness.

• Identify opportunities to improve existing models through feature development, experimentation, and rigorous statistical analysis.

• Partner with engineering, product, and business stakeholders to translate complex requirements into measurable machine learning objectives.

• Guide technical decisions, review scientific methodologies, and share expertise to improve the quality and effectiveness of the team's work.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 3 years of experience developing and evaluating machine learning models or applying statistical methods to production-oriented problems.

• Experience developing machine learning solutions using Python and established machine learning frameworks.

• Experience designing and evaluating experiments using statistical methods and quantitative performance metrics.

• Experience implementing, deploying, or maintaining machine learning models in production environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree, ideally a PhD, in mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, physics, econometrics, operations research, computer science, or a related quantitative field.

• Knowledge of advanced machine learning methods, including ensemble learning, deep learning, or probabilistic modeling.

• Ability to evaluate tradeoffs among model performance, interpretability, reliability, and computational efficiency.

• Experience with large-scale data processing or distributed machine learning systems.

• Skills in communicating complex scientific findings and recommendations across technical and business teams.

Position location

This role is available in the following locations: Remote

Travel requirements

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 or Canada (outside of Quebec) but are expected to spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites and in-person meetings. The onsite cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

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).

Canada | Remote - Anticipated Base Salary Range$167,700—$231,800 USDWhat you'll love

At Upstart, our benefits for full-time employees 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

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 candidate_accommodations@upstart.com

https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy

Department: Machine Learning Department