# Subcontractor Default Underwriting Lead at Shepherd

- Company: Shepherd
- What the company does: The all-in-one learning co-pilot. Backed by Y Combinator.
- Company website: https://www.shepherd.study
- Type: Startups (AI role)
- Level: Senior
- Location: San Francisco
- Work setup: On-site
- Pay: $200K to $240K base salary per year (USD)
- Posted: 2026-10-19
- Apply by: 2026-12-03
- Apply: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/shepherd/c22eda7a-83f2-42d7-8859-8a1cb5192884?utm_source=1752vc&utm_medium=careers
- Page: https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/shepherd-subcontractor-default-underwriting-lead/

## About the role

Shepherd's underwriting approach is client-centric with a heavy emphasis on an efficient process. Our goal is to leverage our technology and data to make quick, informed underwriting decisions tailored to our clients' specific needs. Define and build Shepherd’s SDI strategy,including target contractor profiles, construction sectors, program sizes, limits and retentions, geographies, appetite, and growth and loss-ratio targets. Found on 1752vc Careers, the job board for startup and VC roles.

## What they're looking for

- 8+ years of underwriting experience, with significant direct experience underwriting Subcontractor Default Insurance at an established SDI carrier or program. Contract surety underwriters with meaningful SDI exposure will also be considered
- Deep knowledge of general contractors and construction managers across the construction industry
- A proven record of building and growing an SDI portfolio profitably: originating new business, quoting, binding, and scaling premium while managing to loss-ratio and combined-ratio targets
- Strong financial analysis skills, including reviewing contractor financial statements, work-in-progress (WIP) schedules, backlog, working capital, and bank lines, and judging a contractor's capacity to perform
- Deep understanding of how general contractors prequalify, select, and manage subcontractors, and the ability to evaluate the strength of a contractor's prequalification, monitoring, and default-management practices
- Technical command of SDI program structure, including enrollment, per-loss deductibles, co-pays, per-loss and aggregate limits, project and annual programs, and how SDI compares to subcontractor bonds

Tags: Underwriting

Source: 1752vc Careers, https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/shepherd-subcontractor-default-underwriting-lead/