Start-up Ventures: Data (Science/Engineering) Lead at Leopard

OVERVIEW:

Leopard, a startup venture that spun out of the D. E. Shaw group in 2023, is currently seeking a full-time Data (Science/Engineering) lead to help us modernize the life insurance and annuities markets as the first dedicated member of our data team. Leopard is an early-stage insurance technology startup looking to revolutionize the life insurance and annuities markets. We’ve developed technology that makes it easy for insurance brokers and financial advisors to find best-fit coverage for their clients on an ongoing basis. Our mission is to build a data business that fundamentally changes the way life and annuities products are sold. This role is with Leopard, not with the D. E. Shaw group. As a portfolio company of the D. E. Shaw group’s venture studio, DESCOvery, Leopard benefits from the firm’s entrepreneurial experience and industry connectivity. Please note that Leopard will be reviewing all applications and making hiring decisions independently of the D. E. Shaw group. This role is based out of our New York office.

As a Data (Science/Engineering) lead, you’ll work closely with our Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and engineering team to build and grow our policy management platform and deliver our clients data-driven analytics and AI-enabled workflows. This role offers the opportunity to use state-of-the-art AI to deliver transformative products, be an early part of our journey to bring data and analytics to insurance distribution, and contribute to a high-performing team with unlimited room for growth in an inclusive, collaborative, and engaging working environment.

WHAT YOU’LL DO DAY-TO-DAY:

You’ll build and enhance our data pipelines using a combination of Node and Python on AWS, focusing on accuracy and reliability. You’ll conduct research studies involving predictive modeling and prompt engineering, working with our CTO and engineering team to ensure we’re maximizing our use of LLMs and other AI technologies in the platform. You’ll develop our initial work processes and establish success metrics for our data team to support its contribution to our feature roadmap and drive growth in 2025. You’ll stay up-to-date on developments in AI, machine learning, natural language processing, and related areas of research, ensuring we remain on the cutting edge of using these tools to build products and workflows for the insurance industry.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, or an equivalent, along with at least seven years of experience in data roles, ideally in data engineering, data science, and/or data analytics.
• Applicants should have impressive analytical skills using Python, NumPy, and Pandas, as well as some development experience in Python, JavaScript, or similar languages for building reliable, cloud-based data pipelines.
• Professional experience with prompt engineering and LLMs, as well as leading and mentoring data professionals and/or building a data team from the ground up, is required.
• Individuals who are accustomed to owning projects end-to-end and delivering them on schedule are highly sought after.
• We seek applicants with keen attention to detail, impressive communication and collaboration skills, and excellent problem-solving abilities.
• Experience in, or familiarity with, the life insurance industry and early-stage startups is preferred, as is proficiency in Spanish.
• The expected annual base salary for this position is $175,000 to $225,000 with equity to be discussed on offer. Leopard’s benefits package includes health, vision, and dental coverage.