Director of Product Design
Upstart, Columbus, OH, United States
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 Team Upstart’s Product Experience team brings together product design, research, and content strategy to shape the future of lending, auto retail, and capital markets. We focus on high‑craft execution, deep customer insight, and measurable business impact, partnering across product areas to build experiences that are clear, trustworthy, and human. Our senior and principal practitioners work across the full product lifecycle, driving vision, systems, and delivery while navigating complex domains.
Our customers experience Upstart as one person, one journey — even when that journey crosses many verticals internally. As a Director of Product Design reporting to the VP of Product Design, you will lead the Consumer Experiences pillar, organizing design around that reality. Your team owns the borrower experience across Growth, Unsecured Lending, Secured Lending, and Servicing — from discovery and evaluation through origination, funding, repayment, and financial health. You will guide design quality and execution across these surfaces, help teams move through ambiguity, and strengthen cross‑functional decision‑making. Your leadership will elevate craft and culture alike — developing designers, aligning strategy with partners, and creating the conditions for exceptional work across a multi‑product ecosystem.
Position Location 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 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 develop a multidisciplinary team by providing mentorship, actionable feedback, and career guidance while building a culture of clarity, curiosity, and accountability
Shape the design vision and execution across Growth, Unsecured Lending, Secured Lending, and Servicing, ensuring experiences are intuitive, consistent, and measurably impactful across the full borrower journey
Partner with Product and Engineering leaders to define strategy, prioritize work, and help teams balance user needs with business goals
Set clear expectations and success metrics for design work, championing outcomes and ensuring design has an informed and influential voice in product decisions
Drive alignment across complex, multi‑product journeys by connecting experiences through shared systems, standards, and principles
Foster strong cross‑functional collaboration by encouraging experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement in how teams work and deliver
Contribute to operating model improvements by working with the VP of Product Design and peers to refine processes, rituals, and systems that enable high‑quality design at scale
Support hiring and onboarding efforts to attract and grow exceptional, diverse design talent while reinforcing an inclusive, mission‑driven culture
Minimum Qualifications
15 or more years designing and launching digital products, including 5 or more years managing designers or leading design teams
Proven track record guiding end‑to‑end product design with measurable customer and business impact
Strong portfolio that demonstrates leadership, craft excellence, and systems thinking across multiple product surfaces or ecosystems
Experience developing designers at a range of career stages and elevating overall team capability
Deep understanding of user‑centered design, interaction design, and data‑informed iteration
Strong collaboration and communication skills with an ability to influence cross‑functional peers and executives
Proficiency in Figma and familiarity with modern design, research, and prototyping tools
Clear perspective on how AI can elevate design and research workflows and shape more intelligent, personalized customer experiences
Preferred Qualifications
Experience scaling design teams or practices within high‑growth, cross‑functional environments
Background in fintech, or other complex systems involving regulated data or sensitive user journeys
Familiarity with experimentation frameworks such as A/B testing and hypothesis‑driven design
History of partnership with product, research, and engineering leaders to define and deliver a shared vision
Demonstrated ability to connect multi‑product or platform experiences through systems and standards
Passion for mentoring senior ICs and emerging design leaders
Compensation & Benefits At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is within the range $217,900—$301,500 USD, depending on your geographic location and relevant experience. Base pay will be determined by location, job-related skills, experience, and education. In addition, Upstart provides target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)).
What You’ll Love
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 candidate_accommodations@upstart.com.
Upstart Candidate Privacy Policy: https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy
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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 Team Upstart’s Product Experience team brings together product design, research, and content strategy to shape the future of lending, auto retail, and capital markets. We focus on high‑craft execution, deep customer insight, and measurable business impact, partnering across product areas to build experiences that are clear, trustworthy, and human. Our senior and principal practitioners work across the full product lifecycle, driving vision, systems, and delivery while navigating complex domains.
Our customers experience Upstart as one person, one journey — even when that journey crosses many verticals internally. As a Director of Product Design reporting to the VP of Product Design, you will lead the Consumer Experiences pillar, organizing design around that reality. Your team owns the borrower experience across Growth, Unsecured Lending, Secured Lending, and Servicing — from discovery and evaluation through origination, funding, repayment, and financial health. You will guide design quality and execution across these surfaces, help teams move through ambiguity, and strengthen cross‑functional decision‑making. Your leadership will elevate craft and culture alike — developing designers, aligning strategy with partners, and creating the conditions for exceptional work across a multi‑product ecosystem.
Position Location 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 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 develop a multidisciplinary team by providing mentorship, actionable feedback, and career guidance while building a culture of clarity, curiosity, and accountability
Shape the design vision and execution across Growth, Unsecured Lending, Secured Lending, and Servicing, ensuring experiences are intuitive, consistent, and measurably impactful across the full borrower journey
Partner with Product and Engineering leaders to define strategy, prioritize work, and help teams balance user needs with business goals
Set clear expectations and success metrics for design work, championing outcomes and ensuring design has an informed and influential voice in product decisions
Drive alignment across complex, multi‑product journeys by connecting experiences through shared systems, standards, and principles
Foster strong cross‑functional collaboration by encouraging experimentation, learning, and continuous improvement in how teams work and deliver
Contribute to operating model improvements by working with the VP of Product Design and peers to refine processes, rituals, and systems that enable high‑quality design at scale
Support hiring and onboarding efforts to attract and grow exceptional, diverse design talent while reinforcing an inclusive, mission‑driven culture
Minimum Qualifications
15 or more years designing and launching digital products, including 5 or more years managing designers or leading design teams
Proven track record guiding end‑to‑end product design with measurable customer and business impact
Strong portfolio that demonstrates leadership, craft excellence, and systems thinking across multiple product surfaces or ecosystems
Experience developing designers at a range of career stages and elevating overall team capability
Deep understanding of user‑centered design, interaction design, and data‑informed iteration
Strong collaboration and communication skills with an ability to influence cross‑functional peers and executives
Proficiency in Figma and familiarity with modern design, research, and prototyping tools
Clear perspective on how AI can elevate design and research workflows and shape more intelligent, personalized customer experiences
Preferred Qualifications
Experience scaling design teams or practices within high‑growth, cross‑functional environments
Background in fintech, or other complex systems involving regulated data or sensitive user journeys
Familiarity with experimentation frameworks such as A/B testing and hypothesis‑driven design
History of partnership with product, research, and engineering leaders to define and deliver a shared vision
Demonstrated ability to connect multi‑product or platform experiences through systems and standards
Passion for mentoring senior ICs and emerging design leaders
Compensation & Benefits At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is within the range $217,900—$301,500 USD, depending on your geographic location and relevant experience. Base pay will be determined by location, job-related skills, experience, and education. In addition, Upstart provides target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k)).
What You’ll Love
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 candidate_accommodations@upstart.com.
Upstart Candidate Privacy Policy: https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy
#J-18808-Ljbffr