Director of Product - Machine Learning & Decisioning Platforms
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent practical experience.
- At least 8 years of product management experience, including experience leading technical or platform products.
- Experience managing and developing product managers, ideally across multiple interconnected teams.
- Strong technical fluency and experience partnering with engineering, machine learning, and data science teams.
- Demonstrated ability to set strategy, navigate ambiguity, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to connect technical and product decisions to business outcomes, particularly in credit, lending, or financial services.
- A track record of building strong teams and raising the quality of product management practices.
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of product managers, setting clear priorities and raising the quality of product management across the organization.
- Define the product strategy and roadmap for platforms powering credit decisioning and machine learning capabilities.
- Partner with engineering and machine learning leaders to improve model development, versioning, deployment, forecasting, experimentation, and monitoring.
- Evolve underwriting and decisioning systems to better connect customer information, model outputs, and business outcomes.
- Identify opportunities to apply machine learning across the business, validate them through focused minimum viable products, and build the strongest opportunities into scalable products.
- Create scalable processes for evaluating, onboarding, and integrating data vendors and other machine learning capabilities.
- Balance near-term execution with long-term platform investment, making trade-offs across impact, risk, technical complexity, and speed.
- Build alignment across teams and ensure machine learning is incorporated into product strategy from the start.
- Experience as a data scientist, machine learning engineer, or other machine learning individual contributor.
- Experience with model lifecycle management, decisioning systems, experimentation, optimization, or real-time inference platforms.
- Experience building or scaling online financial products, particularly in consumer lending or credit.
About the company
Upstart is an AI-powered lending marketplace that connects consumers with more than 100 banks and credit unions. Borrowers apply online and Upstart’s AI risk models evaluate creditworthiness, enabling lenders to approve more borrowers at lower rates with an instant decision for over 80% of applicants, often with little documentation. The platform differentiates itself by consolidating a large lender network on a single platform, offering quick, largely doc-free approvals and using AI to broaden access beyond traditional credit scores. Upstart’s goal is to expand access to affordable credit by making lending faster, more scalable, and fairer through technology and a wide network of lenders.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Burlingame, California
Founded
2012
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Q2 2026 originations hit $4.2 billion, up 50% year over year.
- Q2 2026 revenue reached $365 million, and full-year guidance stayed $1.4 billion.
- June 2026 warehouse capacity rose to $650 million, supporting more loan growth.
What critics are saying
- Crain securities litigation remains active, with dismissal motions unresolved as of January 2026.
- OCC charter approval expires if Upstart misses capital or opening deadlines within 18 months.
- CFPB scrutiny of AI lending and fair-lending compliance can force model changes quickly.
What makes Upstart unique
- Upstart launched Cash Line in 2026, an always-on revolving credit product.
- June 2026 models used 3,000-plus variables, far beyond conventional credit scores.
- OCC granted conditional approval July 23, 2026 for Upstart Bank, N.A.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
401(k) Company Match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Life Insurance
Paid Vacation
Parental Leave
Flexible Work Hours
Wellness Program
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↑ 0%2 year growth
↓ -1%Upstart's grade E loans account for 47.1% of the collateral pool, compared with 43.3% in the UPST 2026-3, while the concentration of 60-month loans is also lower.
Software companies have delivered strong returns, with the industry gaining 45.5% over six months, outperforming the S&P 500 by 24.4 percentage points. However, investors should be selective as AI threatens to commoditise many software products. Adobe faces challenges with average billings growth of just 11.9% over the past year and estimated sales growth of 9.4% for the next 12 months, suggesting slowing demand. Its operating margin failed to improve year-over-year. Bandwidth showed weak annual revenue growth of 11.9% over two years and a low gross margin of 37.2% compared to competitors. Its operating margin remained flat. Upstart, an AI-powered lending platform, appears more promising. The company uses over 2,500 data variables and machine learning to help banks assess borrower risk for various loan types.
Upstart, an AI-powered lending platform using machine learning to assess borrower risk, stands out as a promising Russell 2000 investment opportunity. The company has seen loan originations surge by 54.3% over the past year, with revenue expected to grow 30.9% next year as it expands into new markets including credit cards. Free cash flow is projected to turn positive next year. Meanwhile, Inter Parfums and Payoneer face challenges. Inter Parfums, which manufactures fragrances under licenses including Kate Spade and Van Cleef & Arpels, shows weakening efficiency with operating margins declining 1.7 percentage points. Its estimated 2% sales growth signals slowing demand. Payoneer, a cross-border payment platform for SMEs, has struggled with profitability despite revenue growth, with earnings per share falling 5.2% annually over two years. Its 7.9% return on equity reflects difficulties finding profitable growth opportunities.
Upstart Co-founder and CEO to participate in fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology Conference 2026. MWN-AI** Summary. Upstart Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPST), a prominent player in the artificial intelligence (AI) lending landscape, has announced that its Co-founder and CEO, Paul Gu, will participate in a fireside chat during the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology Conference on September 8, 2026, at 11:30 am PT (2:30 pm ET). This event is expected to provide valuable insights into the company's innovations and future strategies in the lending space, particularly as it leverages AI to redefine consumer financing. Investors and stakeholders interested in the discussion can tune in to a live audio webcast, which will also be accessible on Upstart's investor relations website at ir.upstart.com. Following the live session, a replay of the webcast will be available for a limited time, ensuring that those who cannot attend live can still engage with the content. Upstart has emerged as a leader in the AI lending marketplace by connecting millions of consumers to over 100 banks and credit unions, effectively transforming the borrowing experience. By utilizing advanced AI models and cloud-based applications, Upstart enables lenders to approve a higher volume of borrowers at more competitive rates, while maintaining a seamless digital experience. More than 90% of Upstart's loans are processed automatically, eliminating the need for human intervention, which further streamlines operations. Since its establishment in 2012 and based in Burlingame, California, Upstart has expanded its offerings to include personal loans, automotive loans, home equity lines of credit, and a new Cash Line product, which is a revolving line of credit. As Paul Gu speaks at the conference, insights into Upstart's strategic direction and innovations in AI lending are highly anticipated by industry observers and investors alike. MWN-AI** Analysis. As Upstart Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPST) prepares for a significant presence at the upcoming Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology Conference on September 8, 2026, investors should closely monitor the insights and announcements coming from Co-founder and CEO Paul Gu. The fireside chat presents a strategic opportunity for Gu to articulate Upstart's vision, recent developments, and expectations for growth in the competitive landscape of AI-driven lending. Upstart stands at the forefront of revolutionizing the lending marketplace through its proprietary artificial intelligence technology. By enabling more than 100 banks and credit unions to enhance their credit offerings, Upstart has positioned itself as a key player in improving loan accessibility while reducing risks. This event is particularly crucial as the company continues to innovate with products like the Cash Line, aiming to attract diverse consumer segments. Investors should pay close attention to any commentary regarding Upstart's growth trajectory, especially in light of potential economic headwinds and shifts in consumer demand. Gu's disclosures regarding partnerships, customer acquisition strategies, and advancements in AI capabilities could signal the company's resilience and adaptability - critical indicators for prospective growth. Moreover, insight into competitive positioning amid other fintech players will be vital. Given rising interest and scrutiny regarding financial technologies, Gu's remarks on compliance, regulatory challenges, and market expansion strategies will be telling. In conclusion, the fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs conference represents a key moment for Upstart. Investors should approach with cautious optimism, looking for affirming evidence of growth and innovation that can drive stock performance. Following the event, remain attentive to the replay to capture any actionable information that may influence investment decisions in this dynamic sector. **MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release. August 25, 2026 04:05:00 pm Upstart Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPST), the leading artificial intelligence (AI) lending marketplace, today announced that Paul Gu, Co-founder and CEO, will participate in a fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology Conference on Tuesday, September 8, at 11:30 am PT (2:30 pm ET). A live audio webcast of the event will be available on Upstart's investor relations website at ir.upstart.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for a limited period of time following the event. About Upstart Upstart (NASDAQ: UPST) is the leading AI lending marketplace, connecting millions of consumers to more than 100 banks and credit unions that leverage Upstart's AI models and cloud applications to deliver superior credit products. With Upstart AI, lenders can approve more borrowers at lower rates while delivering the exceptional digital-first experience customers demand. More than 90% of loans are fully automated, with no human intervention by Upstart. Founded in 2012, Upstart's platform includes personal loans, automotive loans, home equity lines of credit, and Upstart's new Cash Line product, a revolving line of credit. Upstart is based in Burlingame, California. FAQ**. How does Upstart Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: UPST) plan to enhance its AI lending technology to further improve borrower approvals and lending rates in the near future? Upstart Holdings Inc. plans to enhance its AI lending technology by incorporating more diverse data sources and advanced machine learning algorithms to optimize borrower risk assessment and improve approval rates and lending terms. Can you provide insights on how Upstart Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: UPST) is expanding its partnerships with banks and credit unions amid increasing competition in the fintech space? Upstart Holdings Inc. is strategically enhancing its partnerships with banks and credit unions by offering advanced AI-driven credit models and flexible integration solutions to address competitive pressures and improve lending outcomes for financial institutions. What are the key performance metrics that Upstart Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: UPST) focuses on to measure the success of its automated lending platform and customer satisfaction? Upstart Holdings Inc. primarily focuses on key performance metrics such as loan origination volume, approval rates, algorithms' predictive accuracy, default rates, and customer satisfaction scores to gauge the success of its automated lending platform. How is Upstart Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: UPST) adapting its offerings, such as personal loans and the new Cash Line product, to meet changing market demands and consumer preferences? Upstart Holdings Inc. is enhancing its offerings by integrating advanced AI algorithms to tailor personal loans and introducing the Cash Line product to provide flexible, on-demand financing options that align with shifting consumer preferences for accessibility and convenience. **MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Upstart Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: UPST).
Scott Darling, chief legal officer of Upstart Holdings, sold 7,696 shares of common stock on 20 August for approximately $216,000, according to an SEC filing. The transaction was a non-discretionary sale to cover tax liabilities from vesting restricted stock units. Following the sale, Darling retains 73,306 directly held shares and 120,000 total shares including holdings through the Darling Family Trust, valued at $3.46 million. Insiders collectively hold 0.13% of outstanding shares. Upstart is a fintech company operating an AI-powered lending platform for personal loans, auto loans, and home equity lines of credit. The San Mateo-based firm has a market capitalisation of $2.8 billion and TTM revenue of $1.2 billion.