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 Role:
As the Director, Product Compliance you will play a key role in providing legal guidance in supporting Upstart’s new cash line product and marketing initiatives, as well as in developing new product features to serve the cash line/small dollar lending organization..
If you are excited by influencing product architecture, designing scalable compliance solutions, and building trusted relationships across a fast-moving fintech, this role is for you.
How you’ll make an impactProgram Ownership & Regulatory GovernanceOwn and continuously enhance the product compliance framework including policies, procedures, and control design spanning marketing, origination, underwriting, servicing, collections, and credit reporting.Lead regulatory readiness by conducting risk assessments, gap analyses, and designing first-line scalable controls across technical and operational workflows.Develop key risk indicators (KRIs), metrics, and dashboards to provide insight into compliance health to executive leadership and the Board.
Cross-Functional Influence & Stakeholder ManagementAct as a senior advisor to Product, Engineering, Ops, Legal, and Machine Learning teams—driving alignment across stakeholders while balancing customer experience, business needs, and regulatory expectations.Influence organizational decisions through clear, compelling communication of compliance risks, trade-offs, and recommendations.Represent Compliance in governance forums, product councils, and cross-functional initiatives.
Operational Excellence & Issue ManagementOversee root-cause analyses and remediation plans for compliance issues, ensuring durable fixes and strengthened controls.Partner with Legal, Internal Audit, and external regulatory exam teams to support audits, examinations, and responses to regulatory inquiries.Lead the development and delivery of scalable, role-based compliance training for impacted cross-functional partners.
Team Building & LeadershipChampion a compliance-first mindset across the company, driving early engagement and proactive risk identification.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- 8+ years of experience in consumer lending, fintech, regulatory compliance, risk management, or financial services law, with deep expertise in unsecured credit products
- Expert knowledge of federal and state consumer lending laws and regulations, including TILA, ECOA, FCRA, FDCPA, EFTA, UDAAP, SCRA, MLA, Reg Z, Reg X, TCPA, NACHA, state-level lending and servicing laws, and unsecured credit considerations
- Proven experience advising on and launching/expanding technology-enabled lending or fintech products, ideally in a fast-paced, high-scale environment
- Demonstrated ability to partner with senior leaders and influence strategic decisions
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing compliance controls for digital product flows, automated decisioning, and novel risk models
- Exceptional communication, executive presence, and stakeholder-management skills across technical and non-technical teams
- Proven ability to lead through ambiguity, drive organizational alignment, and manage competing priorities
Strong problem-solving skills and business judgment, with a bias toward practical, risk-aligned solutions - JD, CRCM, or other advanced compliance certifications are a plus
Position location: This role is available in the following locations: Remote
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.
#LI-REMOTE
#LI-Director
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).
What you'll love
At Upstart, our benefits 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
- Generous 401(k) plan with Upstart matching $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 per year
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees
- Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage, with multiple plan options - Upstart covers 90% to 100% of the cost depending on the plans you choose
- Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans
- Income protection benefits, including company-paid Basic Life, AD&D, and Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, with options to purchase supplemental coverage
- Paid time off, sick and safe time, and company holidays
- Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments
- Family-centered benefits through Carrot and Cleo, supporting fertility, parenthood, and caregiving
- 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
- 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 and onsites, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs)
- Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our four offices, located in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).
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 [email protected]
https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy
Top Skills
Upstart San Mateo, California, USA Office
Upstart's office in San Mateo is located on the peninsula between San Francisco and the South Bay with easy Caltrain access and proximity to several apartment complexes. The office is close to several shopping donations including an outdoor beer garden.
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