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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead Data Scientist - Underwriting AI - **Company:** Manulife - **Location:** Toronto, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft Azure, Big Data, Cloud Computing, Decision Support Systems, Apache Hadoop, Python (Programming Language), Machine Learning, SAS (Software), SQL Databases, Toolchain, Large Language Models, Prompt Engineering, Apache Spark, Model Validation, Generative AI, Data Strategy, Data Analytics, Performance Monitor, Machine Learning Operations, Databricks - **Published:** August 25, 2026 - **Apply:** https://arc.dev/remote-jobs/j/redirect/peciyrzgae ## About the Role * 10+ years of experience in AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics, preferably within financial services. * Strong underwriting, insurance, or reinsurance domain knowledge (highly preferred). * Proven experience leading complex analytics initiatives in highly regulated environments. Technical & GenAI Skills * Strong hands-on expertise in ML/statistical modeling, segmentation, and underwriting or claims analytics. * Advanced proficiency in Python, SQL, and common data science toolchains (R, SAS a plus). * Practical experience with Generative AI, including: * Large Language Models (LLMs) * Prompt engineering and RAG architectures * Model evaluation, bias mitigation, and explainability * AI governance and responsible AI practices * Experience with cloud and big data platforms (e.g., Azure, Spark, Databricks, Hadoop). * Strong understanding of deploying models into production, including monitoring and lifecycle management. Leadership & Communication * Demonstrated ability to lead and scale teams, mentor data scientists, and manage ambiguity. * Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leaders across regions. * Excellent communication and presentation skills, translating technical concepts into business language. ## Description You will lead and grow a team of data scientists focused on underwriting AI, while also acting as a hands-on technical leader shaping advanced predictive, prescriptive, and generative solutions. The role partners closely with underwriting, risk, technology, and regional stakeholders, and supports the Chief AI Officer in delivering the Asia AI Value agenda and building world-class, revenue-generating analytics., Technical & Business Leadership * Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI, ML, and Generative AI solutions supporting underwriting use cases, including: * Underwriting summarization and document intelligence * Risk assessment and decision support * Straight-through processing (STP) and workflow automation * Data-driven underwriting rules optimization * Translate complex underwriting and business problems into scalable analytical and GenAI solutions with measurable business outcomes. * Drive adoption of AI solutions by embedding them into end-to-end underwriting workflows, ensuring usability, governance, and regulatory compliance. * Partner with reinsurers, vendors, and external technology providers to co-develop or integrate advanced underwriting solutions. * Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of data scientists focused on underwriting AI and analytics. Generative AI & Advanced Analytics * Lead the application of AI and especially GenAI in underwriting, including: * Large Language Models (LLMs) for text-heavy underwriting data (e.g., medical reports, financial statements, applications) * Prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and evaluation frameworks * Model orchestration, guardrails, and human-in-the-loop designs * Ensure AI solutions are responsible, explainable, auditable, and compliant with internal AI governance and regulatory expectations. * Establish standards for model lifecycle management, performance monitoring, and value tracking for AI and GenAI solutions. Strategy, Governance & Stakeholder Management * Contribute to AI and data strategy, focusing on data optimization, monetization, and external data enrichment. * Collaborate with global and regional teams to define common modeling standards, governance, and reusable AI assets, aligned with AI CoE guidelines. * Maintain a regional/global model repository to track models in use, performance, and risks. * Act as a trusted advisor to underwriting and business leaders, influencing prioritization and investment decisions. * Proactively identify risks, data challenges, and stakeholder conflicts, and drive alignment and mitigation plans. ## Related Videos - [Alibaba Big Data and Machine Learning Technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/37-alibaba-big-data-and-machine-learning-technology) - [Inside the AI Revolution: How Microsoft is Empowering the World to Achieve More](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/869-inside-the-ai-revolution-how-microsoft-is-empowering-the-world-to-achieve-more) - [Cutting LLM Costs Without Cutting Quality: How to Beat Proprietary LLMs with Fine-Tuned Open Source](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100151-cutting-llm-costs-without-cutting-quality-how-to-beat-proprietary-llms-with-fine-tuned-open-source) - [Speeding up Web Apps performance with WebAssembly and Emscripten](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1985-speeding-up-web-apps-performance-with-webassembly-and-emscripten) - [AI in High-Stakes Industries: Lessons Learned](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100253-ai-in-high-stakes-industries-lessons-learned) - [OLTP in the Lakehouse: Redefining Data for AI Workloads](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2038-oltp-in-the-lakehouse-redefining-data-for-ai-workloads) ## Related Articles - [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou - Making AI understandable for all in production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/475-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou-making-ai-understandable-for-all-in-production) - [What Industries Outside of AI Are Hiring The Most AI Experts?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/98-what-industries-outside-of-ai-are-hiring-the-most-ai-experts) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Got AI ideas but no money? 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