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Chief Technology Officer (CTO)

Written by Upsolve Team
Updated December 4, 2024


About Upsolve:

Upsolve is a tech-focused nonprofit that combats intergenerational poverty by helping low-income Americans overcome debt and rebuild credit at scale. Upsolve was founded in Harvard Law School’s Access to Justice Lab in 2016. Since then, Upsolve has become the nation’s most visited nonprofit financial education site. Upsolve.org educates approximately 2.9 million people a year with its debt content and its free bankruptcy filing tool has been used by 15,000 families to relieve $650 million in debt. Upsolve users are disproportionately people of color with an average household income of $25,000. Upsolve is expanding with Upsolve Assist, an AI-powered Financial Assistant for low-income Americans. Upsolve Assist helps you understand your best path out of debt and poor credit and, wherever possible, takes action for you. Upsolve's funders include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Robin Hood Foundation, and the Legal Services Corporation.

Position Overview:

Upsolve is seeking a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to oversee our engineering team in developing and scaling innovative tools that help low-income Americans access debt relief and credit building resources. As CTO, you will spearhead the development of our new AI-powered tool, which empowers people to explore different debt relief options–like debt settlement, debt consolidation, and Chapter 7 bankruptcy–tailored to their unique financial situations.

You’ll work closely with the rest of the Executive team to align technical strategies with our mission, oversee product development, ensure security and reliability, and promote innovative solutions that make a tangible impact. This role is ideal for a senior software engineer or former CTO who is passionate about using technology for social good and excited to oversee a team in a fast-paced, mission-centered environment.

Location:

Remote, United States (Boston or San Francisco preferred)

Key Responsibilities:
  • Oversee the development and scaling of our AI-powered tool designed to help people navigate various debt relief options.

  • Manage a team of engineers and data specialists, providing mentorship, direction, and support.

  • Code: develop features, improve our codebase/infrastructure, and set the standard for technical excellence.

  • Ensure data security, privacy, and compliance across all technology initiatives.

  • Collaborate closely with the rest of the Executive team to align technology efforts with organizational goals and user needs.

Essential Qualifications:
  • Proven experience in a senior technical role.

  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

  • Strong technical leadership: champions code quality and modern development practices, is experienced in balancing feature delivery with craftsmanship, and uses data to inform decision-making.  

  • Well-rounded individual contributor: 4+ years of experience in a software engineering role. Has exposure to frontend, backend, and infrastructure and is strong in one or more of the three.

  • Demonstrated ability to build and oversee a high-performing tech team, balancing strategic vision and hands-on management.

  • Product-minded: understands usability and what goes into an effective product.

Bonus Qualifications (but not required):
  • Background in nonprofit or social enterprise work, with an understanding of mission-centered technology applications.

  • Experience with developing financial or legal products.

  • Experience with developing AI products.

Tech Stack Familiarity:

Typescript, Node, React, Postgres, AWS, OpenAI 

Compensation:

$200,000

Why Join Us:
  • Opportunity to work in a fast-paced, innovative, and mission-centered environment.

  • Chance to make a significant impact on the lives of low-income families.

  • Collaborative and inclusive company culture.

  • Dedicated group of passionate team members.

  • Opportunity to work at one of the few nonprofits with an emphasis on technology and a modern technical stack.

How to Apply:

To express your interest in the position, please apply directly through our job application page linked here, including your resume and a cover letter telling us why you think you would be a good fit for the role.

Upsolve's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:

Upsolve is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the people we serve. Black, Indigenous, Latinos, and all people of color, as well as women and gender non-conforming candidates are especially invited to apply.



Y-Combinator

Upsolve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that started in 2016. Our mission is to help low-income families resolve their debt and fix their credit using free software tools. Our team includes debt experts and engineers who care deeply about making the financial system accessible to everyone. We have world-class funders that include the U.S. government, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and leading foundations.

To learn more, read why we started Upsolve in 2016, our reviews from past users, and our press coverage from places like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.