Lead Legal Counsel - HELOC

The role

You will serve as the primary legal partner for the Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) product. You will provide strategic legal guidance to Product, Engineering, Risk, Compliance, and Operations teams to support product lifecycle and regulatory compliance.

What you will do

• Provide strategic legal counsel to support the HELOC product and transition to a national bank
• Advise on federal and state consumer lending laws and mortgage regulations
• Provide legal counsel on future products including purchase-money mortgages
• Partner with stakeholders to design compliant product features and operational processes
• Lead legal support for new product initiatives and regulatory change management
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders including regulators and bank partners
• Identify and communicate key legal risks to business partners

Required qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
• Active membership in at least one U.S. state bar
• 7+ years of legal experience advising financial services, fintech, or mortgage lending organizations
• Substantial experience serving as the primary legal advisor for complex product organizations with a focus on real-estate secured products
• Deep expertise in consumer financial services laws and mortgage regulations including TILA, RESPA, ECOA, FCRA, HMDA, UDAAP, and applicable state lending and federal banking laws
• Experience advising cross-functional product development teams and supporting the launch or expansion of regulated financial products

Nice to have

• Experience supporting HELOC, mortgage, or other secured lending products throughout the full product lifecycle
• Experience supporting regulatory examinations, enforcement matters, or interactions with federal and state regulators
• Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and develop practical, scalable solutions for product teams
• Experience building legal processes and governance frameworks within rapidly growing technology or fintech organizations
• Familiarity with AI-enabled financial products, digital lending platforms, or emerging regulatory developments affecting financial technology

Benefits

• Base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly
• 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) for eligible employees in the US
• Medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources
• Health Savings Account contributions for eligible plans in the US
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays
• Paid family and parental leave
• Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Financial wellness resources including financial planning tools and a financial concierge service in the US
• Annual wellness allowance

About the company

Upstart is an AI lending marketplace that partners with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit. The company is digital-first and aims to reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans.