Principal 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.

Upstart’s 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 Principal 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 with program leadership. 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 coding, architecture, and cross‑functional leadership, and who has experience taking complex security programs from concept to reality.

This role is available in the following locations:
Remote (US), San Mateo, Columbus, Austin

This team operates on the East/West Coast time zones.

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 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.

• Lead the 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
• Establish clear goals, success metrics, and accountability for data security initiatives
• 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…