Data Science Intern
$141k - $150k USD
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
Machine Learning is at the heart of Upstart’s business model, our models are the product. Our team includes research scientists, data scientists, and machine learning engineers who build and improve production models and the systems around them across the funnel: underwriting and pricing, fraud detection, performance marketing, loan servicing and fair lending/explainability. We tackle high‑impact problems, from underwriting and pricing to monitoring and fairness, where creativity, rigor, and strong engineering directly move the business.
The Role
As a Data Scientist Intern, you will leverage your technical and business acumen to become a specialist in our models, products, business and how the models interact with the business. You will identify potential problems or opportunities for improvement, communicate these issues to the team and suggest solutions. This involves self-directed investigation into Upstart’s data and product, offline analyses using creative thinking as well as presentation to the ML team. You will receive mentorship from experienced DS/ML practitioners and collaborate closely with ML scientists to improve our products and models via data-driven insights.
How you’ll make an impact
- Understand the underpinnings of ML models and how they create value for the business
- Identify data sources, use statistical methods and write clean code to conduct offline analyses about ML models and/or Upstart products
- Communicate findings clearly to get buy-in for recommended next steps.
- Work with your mentor to align stakeholders, and drive next steps.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor (or above) degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, or a related quantitative field. We require that you are on track to graduate by the summer of 2027.
- Strong fundamentals in statistical, probability, and machine learning theory.
- Ability to perform data analysis in Python, as well as basic SQL foundations.
- Ability to communicate data insights to non-technical audiences
- Strong sense of intellectual curiosity, humility, drive and teamwork, as well as communication skills.
- Ability to use modern agentic tooling (Claude Code, Codex, …) efficiently.
Preferred Qualifications
- Phd in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Finance, or a related quantitative field. We require that you are on track to graduate by the summer of 2027.
- Expert-level statistical (frequentist, bayesian, causal) theory/econometrics knowledge.
- Strong coding skills in Python.
Position location This role is available in the following locations: Remote
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
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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
$141,000—$150,000 USD
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 candidate_accommodations@upstart.com