Lead Data Scientist — Underwriting AI & Automation

John Hancock; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 127,000 - 236,000; Full time

Job summary

John Hancock is seeking a Lead Data Scientist in Boston to develop machine-learning and statistical solutions for automated underwriting and related business challenges. You will translate business needs into rigorous analytical methods, ensuring models are accurate, interpretable, scalable, and business-ready.

This hands-on role also provides technical direction, reviews work, mentors junior data scientists, and communicates recommendations to stakeholders across teams.

Qualifications

• 8 years of experience applying statistics, machine learning, or predictive analytics to complex business problems.
• Strong knowledge of statistical modeling, machine learning, model evaluation, and experimental design.
• Proficiency in Python or R and SQL, with experience working with large and complex datasets.
• Demonstrated experience developing analytical solutions from concept through production implementation and monitoring.
• Experience leading analytical workstreams and providing technical guidance to other data scientists.
• Solid experience in life insurance underwriting, automated underwriting, risk selection, or related insurance analytics.
• Experience with cloud-based analytics platforms, model governance, external data evaluation, or third-party model assessment is an asset.
• Familiarity with actuarial concepts, mortality analytics, or an actuarial designation is an asset but not required.

Responsibilities

• Partner with underwriting, business, product, and technology stakeholders to identify and prioritize data science opportunities.
• Lead data science projects from problem definition and data exploration through modeling, evaluation, implementation, and enhancement.
• Develop statistical and machine-learning models using techniques appropriate to the business problem, available data, and intended use.
• Analyze large and complex datasets to identify patterns, generate insights, and support business decisions.
• Define model-evaluation approaches and ensure solutions are accurate, interpretable, stable, and aligned with business objectives.
• Evaluate new data sources, analytical methods, and third-party solutions through structured analysis and experimentation.
• Collaborate with data engineers, machine-learning engineers, software engineers, and technology teams to implement analytical solutions in production.
• Monitor model performance, investigate unexpected outcomes, and recommend improvements as data and business conditions evolve.
• Prepare clear technical documentation to support implementation, validation, governance, and ongoing model management.
• Provide technical direction, review analytical work, and mentor data scientists and other analytical contributors.

Education

Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Actuarial Science, Economics, or related quantitative field

Tools

Python

SQL

Job description

John Hancock is seeking a Lead Data Scientist in Boston to develop machine-learning and statistical solutions for automated underwriting and related business challenges. You will translate business needs into rigorous analytical methods, ensuring models are accurate, interpretable, scalable, and business-ready.

This hands-on role also provides technical direction, reviews work, mentors junior data scientists, and communicates recommendations to stakeholders across teams.