Software Engineer, Backend

WHAT WE DO Commercial insurance still runs on processes built decades ago. Underwriting is slow, and pricing leans on broad averages instead of the specifics of each risk. Technology can change how commercial risk is priced and managed, as long as it's paired with real underwriting expertise. The companies that get this right will shape the next era of the industry, and Shepherd intends to lead it. Shepherd is a Managing General Underwriter (MGU) building the fastest and smartest AI-native commercial risk platform in the industry, where underwriters, data, and automation work together. The result is faster decisions for our broker partners and pricing that reflects the actual risk. We started where the gap is widest: construction and energy, two of the most complex and highest-hazard segments in commercial insurance. Today we write Primary and Excess Casualty, Builder’s Risk, and Workers' Compensation distributed through a nationwide network of retail brokers. Our mission is to make risk frictionless for the builders and operators shaping the physical world, from concept through construction and into decades of operation.   🚀 OUR INVESTORS Shepherd has raised over $67M, including a $42M Series B led by Intact Private Capital. Intact also partners with Shepherd to provide capacity across its insurance products. Shepherd is also backed by leading institutional investors, including Costanoa Ventures, Spark Capital, Susa Ventures, and Y Combinator.   THE ROLE We're looking for a talented software engineer who's passionate about what we're building and ready to do the best work of their career. You thrive on ownership, drive results, and care deeply about both technical excellence and customer impact. You would be our dream candidate if... - You aren't afraid of ambiguity, and it may even excite you - You enjoy shipping product every day (maybe multiple times a day) while maintaining high quality standards - You enjoy wearing multiple hats while solving problems; as an engineer, product manager, and designer - You take end-to-end ownership of features and systems, from conception through release - You care about the built-world and how to improve construction safety and productivity - You care about others' growth and welcome mentoring other engineers — you've led or been a major contributor on significant projects - You have strong opinions, weakly held — you advocate for your ideas but adapt when presented with better solutions - You communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders - You have some experience with insurance – either from a prior InsurTech role or actuarial role - You have experience working with Javascript/Typescript (backend and/or frontend) - You have at least 5+ years of working experience (preferably as a full-stack engineer) with a track record of delivering high-impact products About the Role Shepherd's platform consists of three primary elements: data collection, automated underwriting, and policy administration. - You will lead major initiatives and own a large area of Shepherd's product experience, in each vertical while driving technical decisions for your domain - You will work across the stack, even across different disciplines (e.g. underwriting, design, product management) - You will play an integral role in building our culture as the company grows and mentor other engineers as we scale the team - You will balance innovation with pragmatic delivery — staying current with emerging tech while shipping quality products - You will contribute to product strategy and architectural decisions, not just implementation - You will collaborate closely with PM, Mo (CTO) and the insurance team (underwriters, actuaries and more!) Our Tech Stack Frontend - React & Next.js - Typescript - GraphQL w/ Apollo Backend - Node.js - Postgres & Redis - Typescript - GraphQL APIs HOW WE WORK Shepherd runs on four values. Here's what each one means in this seat. - Think big, build big. We exist to protect progress and the industries that rely on it. The work here is aimed at a system that runs on its own, and the roadmap gets sequenced backward from that rather than forward from what's easy. - Win together. We rise as one. We support each other, raise the bar, and celebrate collective success. Come set a standard the rest of the team inherits. - Cross the aisle. Collaboration wins. We listen deeply, work across boundaries, and prioritize shared success over individual lanes. The best product calls here come from engineers who've sat with underwriters and underwriters who understand where the model breaks, and much of this job is listening closely enough on both sides to make that happen. - Go get it. We act with urgency, move with confidence, take smart risks, and push forward with intention. Nobody hands you the roadmap, the data, or the meeting invite. You pull the failing runs, book the time with the underwriters, and decide what matters.   BENEFITS  🏥 Premium Healthcare 100% contribution to top-tier health, dental, and vision 🥕 Fertility benefits and family building support 🏖️ Unlimited PTO Flexibility to take the time off, recharge, and perform 🥗 Daily lunches, dinners, and snacks We work together, and enjoy meals together too 🖥️ SF, NYC, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago and LA Offices 📚 Professional Development Access to premium coaching, including leadership development 🏦 Competitive 401(k) Plan 🐶 Dog-friendly office Plenty of dogs to play with and make friends with in the SF office