Job Description

About Upstart

Upstart is the leading AI lending marketplace partnering with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. By leveraging Upstart’s AI marketplace, Upstart-powered banks and credit unions can have higher approval rates and lower loss rates across races, ages, and genders, while simultaneously delivering the exceptional digital-first lending experience their customers demand. More than 80% of borrowers are approved instantly, with zero documentation to upload.

Upstart is a digital-first company, which means that most Upstarters live and work anywhere in the United States. However, we also have offices in San Mateo, California; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.

Most Upstarters join us because they connect with our mission of enabling access to effortless credit based on true risk. If you are energized by the impact you can make at Upstart, we’d love to hear from you!

The Team: 

Upstart’s GrowthTeam engages in marketing and borrower acquisition through direct mail (DM) campaigns and targeted loan offers on partner sites, leveraging machine learning to drive growth. The Growth ML team develops models to optimize borrower targeting, predict conversion probabilities, and refine pricing strategies across these channels. We’re also beginning to explore a new concept known as “always on underwriting.” The idea is to continuously evaluate borrowers’ credit worthiness and determine what loan products are available at any given time, and then proactively make those offers to them when we determine it’s the right time to do so. 

As the  Research Scientist  at Upstart, you will help to build the foundational models that power always-on underwriting across our product portfolio. You will understand the core underwriting model for each product and build models that can approximate their behavior using less data and/or somewhat outdated data. You will help determine whether/when new data needs to be gathered before an offer can be made, and when an “always on” offer should be honored vs. updated based on new information. 

How you’ll make an impact:

• Launching an entirely new customer experience that will transform Upstart from a “one-time” option to get a loan at a discrete point in time to a relationship based model in which borrowers are continuously made aware of credit options that meet their needs.
• Collaborate with and influence partner teams, ensuring that data-driven recommendations lead to strategic business decisions.
• Build scalable models and associated metrics and monitoring processes..
• Quickly prototype and test new models that can improve accuracy and borrower experience with always-on offers. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• 3+ years of experience building and deploying ML models in a production environment
• Strong academic credentials with a master’s degree in statistics, mathematics, economics, computer science, or other quantitative areas of study
• Programming skills in Python 
• Proficiency in a broad array of mathematical, statistical learning and machine learning concepts and applications
• Ability to proactively and effectively communicate results and methodologies to both technical and non-technical stakeholders 
• Strong sense of intellectual curiosity balanced with humility, drive and teamwork
• Experience building performant and large scale ML models at a tech company
• Experience working as part of a diverse, cross-functional team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience building and deploying ML models in a production environment
• PhD in statistics, mathematics, economics, computer science, or other quantitative areas of study
• Experience building and launching zero-to-one product
• Full-stack expertise with all steps of the modeling process from ideation to productionalizing code
• Deep expertise in statistical modeling and machine learning
• Knowledge of MLops, pipelines, and engineering architecture 

Time zone requirements The team operates on the East/West coast time zones.

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 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.

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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$178,400—$246,800 USD

Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to ensuring that underrepresented classes receive better access to affordable credit, and are just as committed to embracing diversity and inclusion in our hiring practices. We celebrate all cultures, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and know that we can only become better together. 

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

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