Senior Underwriter​/Data Scientist

About Descartes Underwriting

Join Descartes and contribute to our mission:
Building Resilience in a World at Risk.

Senior Underwriter/Data Scientist (Parametric Insurance) to join the Underwriting Team based in London.

Reporting to the Underwriting Manager & Director of Descartes UK, you will be a key contributor to the development and deployment of climate risk models for the pricing, underwriting and monitoring of weather-related parametric policies for corporates and public entities.

• Collaborate with the business team and brokers to understand client needs and risk transfer challenges to successfully underwrite new business and renew accounts.
• Conduct thorough analyses for product design and coverage structuring to meet customer needs.
• Improve and develop pricing models to model risk, underwrite policies, and monitor portfolio performance and accumulation.
• Contribute to insurance proposals and underwriting documentation to finalize policies for corporate clients and public entities worldwide.
• Operate in the London market, leading discussions and projects with brokers and partners.
• Collaborate with various divisions of Descartes to sustain portfolio growth (e.g., R&D teams, Legal, Operations, Risk Management).
• Technical & Business Leadership: provide guidance on technical modeling matters & business requirements to underwriting data scientists.

• Graduated from a leading academic institution with a degree in mathematics, statistics, data science, physics or related.
• Minimum 4 years of data science or related post‑graduation experience.
• Track record of leading a small team and managing business projects (plus).
• Prior experience structuring, pricing & underwriting parametric insurance covers for climate risks (plus).

• Proficiency in Python (pandas, scikit‑learn).
• Strong background in statistics and mathematics, clear understanding of probabilities.
• Attention to detail, autonomous, quality oriented.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal). Additional language (e.g., Chinese, French, Italian, German, Spanish) a plus.

• Interest in insurance industry and climate risk modelling.
• Strong team spirit.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Eagerness to solve complex problems and technical challenges.
• Rigorous, creative and meticulous mind.
• Desire to learn and accept responsibility.
• Results oriented, able to work in fast‑paced and multi‑cultural environment.

• Opportunity to work and learn with teams from prestigious schools and research labs.
• Commitment to continued learning and development.
• Collaborative and professional environment.
• International team passionate about diversity.
• Competitive salary, bonus and benefits.

At Descartes Underwriting we cherish the value of diversity. We are committed to fighting discrimination, providing equal opportunities, and fostering an inclusive environment. Positions are open to people with disabilities.