Staff Software Engineer ($200k-$240k + Equity) at Shepherd

Shepherd is a $67M venture-backed AI-native commercial insurance platform transforming how high-hazard industries like construction and renewable energy manage risk and secure coverage.

About the role

Join Shepherd as the first NYC-based engineering hire to lead the development of our autonomous underwriting platform. You will build sophisticated systems for data collection and policy administration, collaborating directly with underwriters and actuaries. This role offers the unique opportunity to bridge insurance and technology, shipping high-impact products to the built-world.

Why this role is remarkable

• Join as the first engineering hire in the NYC office, working alongside underwriters and actuaries to build the office culture and technical standards from the ground up.
• Massive growth momentum with a $42M Series B led by Intact Private Capital and total funding of $67M from top investors like Spark Capital and Y Combinator.
• Impact the physical world by building agentic AI that automates commercial insurance underwriting, transforming week-long manual processes into seconds for high-hazard infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead major initiatives across the full stack, owning core product domains like automated underwriting, data collection, and policy administration.
• Work closely with the CTO and cross-functional teams in NYC to translate complex actuarial and insurance requirements into scalable, reliable software.
• Balance rapid product innovation with architectural excellence, mentoring other engineers while building out the foundational technical systems of the NYC office.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of professional experience as a full-stack engineer with a proven track record of delivering high-impact products in fast-growing startups.
• Deep expertise in the modern TypeScript and JavaScript ecosystem, specifically with technologies like React, Next.js, Node.js, and GraphQL APIs.
• An owner’s mindset with the ability to bridge engineering, product, and design while navigating the ambiguity of an early-stage, mission-driven environment.

Pay

$200k–$240k + Equity

Location

New York, USA