Upstart's Mobile team is transforming into a scalable engineering platform, and there's a need for dedicated backend expertise to support the expansion of their iOS app and the launch of Android. The first backend engineer embedded in the mobile team will shape foundational systems for engagement, messaging, and performance, defining backend architecture for Upstart's mobile-first evolution.
Requirements
- 6+ years of backend engineering experience, including designing and scaling distributed systems
- Deep experience with service-oriented architecture, system design, and API development for mobile applications
- Proven ability to influence technical direction across teams and communicate architectural tradeoffs to stakeholders
- Experience collaborating with mobile teams or supporting mobile-first features at scale
- Proficiency in at least one backend language (e.g., Ruby, Go, Kotlin) and fluency in cloud infrastructure patterns
- Prior experience building systems that support mobile clients (e.g., push notifications, offline sync, background jobs)
- Experience working in a hybrid mobile architecture (e.g., React Native + native codebases)
Responsibilities
- Architect scalable, reusable backend systems that power critical mobile features, including push notifications, data synchronization, and cross-device user flows
- Shape the long-term backend strategy for mobile, reducing ad-hoc and duplicated efforts across teams
- Act as a technical bridge—translating mobile needs into backend capabilities and unblocking delivery velocity
- Drive architectural alignment across teams and domains, advocating for scalable patterns that support mobile growth
- Identify and resolve cross-functional technical challenges that span platform, product, and infrastructure boundaries
- Mentor engineers across mobile and backend teams, introducing sustainable practices and improving system maintainability
- Contribute directly to Upstart’s ability to scale its mobile engagement and retention—impacting both user experience and business performance
Other
- Strong communication and collaboration skills, especially in environments with competing priorities
- Demonstrated success operating without authority in complex, cross-functional organizations
- Exposure to both platform and product engineering challenges
- Familiarity with mobile-specific performance and reliability concerns
- Background in mentorship or technical leadership across multiple teams
