Senior Product Design Manager

  • R-5988
  • Product Design
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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 Product Design team is shaping the future of lending experiences, where design, technology, and data come together to make financial progress more accessible for everyone. We are  a group of senior and principal designers leading research, content strategy, visioning, and execution, partnering  across product areas to craft experiences that are clear, trustworthy, and human.

As a Senior Product Design Manager reporting to the Director of Product Design, you’ll lead a group of talented product designers focused on delivering intuitive, impactful, and high-performing borrower experiences. You’ll guide design quality and team growth across a fast-evolving portfolio of products, helping Upstart move from a collection of experiences toward a cohesive, customer-centered ecosystem. Your leadership will elevate both design craft and design culture, mentoring designers, aligning strategy with product and engineering peers, and building the conditions where exceptional work can thrive.

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.

 

How you’ll make an impact

  • Lead and grow a team of product designers, providing mentorship, feedback, and professional development while creating a culture of excellence, curiosity, and accountability.
  • Drive the design vision and execution across key product areas, ensuring consistency, usability, and measurable business and customer impact.
  • Partner closely with Product and Engineering leaders to shape product strategy and define priorities that balance user needs with business goals.
  • Establish clear expectations and success metrics for design work, championing outcomes over outputs and ensuring design is an equal voice in product decisions.
  • Guide cross-functional alignment on initiatives that span multiple products, unifying experiences through shared systems, standards, and principles.
  • Foster collaboration across disciplines, encouraging experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement in how teams work and deliver.
  • Collaborate with the Director of Product Design and peers to evolve our operating model, processes, and rituals to scale high-quality design across Upstart.
  • Contribute to hiring and onboarding strategies that attract diverse, exceptional talent and reinforce an inclusive, mission-driven design culture..

Minimum Qualifications 

  • 10+ years of experience designing and launching digital products, with 3+ years leading design teams or managing designers in a product development environment.
  • Proven track record guiding end-to-end product design, from strategy to execution, with measurable impact on business and user outcomes.
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating design leadership, craft excellence, and systems thinking across multiple product surfaces or ecosystems.
  • Experience managing and developing design talent at different career stages, with evidence of elevating team capability and influence.
  • Deep understanding of user-centered design processes, interaction design, and data-informed iteration.
  • Excellent collaboration and communication skills; able to influence and inspire peers, partners, and executives.
  • Proficiency in Figma and familiarity with modern design and research tools.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience building and scaling design practices or teams within high-growth, cross-functional organizations.
  • Background in fintech, marketplaces, or other complex systems involving regulated data or sensitive user journeys.
  • Familiarity with experimentation frameworks (A/B testing, hypothesis-driven design) and using insights to guide strategy.
  • History of partnership with product, research, and engineering leaders to define and execute on a shared vision.
  • Demonstrated ability to unify multi-product or platform experiences through systems and standards.
  • Passion for mentoring and coaching design leaders and senior-level ICs.
  • A strong point of view on how AI can elevate design and research workflows, and shape more intelligent, personalized customer experiences..

What you'll love: 

  • Competitive Compensation (base + bonus & equity)
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart 
  • 401(k) with 100% company match up to $4,500 and immediate vesting and after-tax savings
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Generous holiday, vacation, sick and safety leave  
  • Supportive parental, family care, and military leave programs
  • Annual wellness, technology & ergonomic reimbursement programs
  • Social activities including team events and onsites, all-company updates, employee resource groups (ERGs), and other interest groups such as book clubs, fitness, investing, and volunteering
  • Catered lunches + snacks & drinks when working in offices

 

#LI-REMOTE

#LI-MidSenior

 

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
$198,700—$275,000 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

https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy

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