Data Scientist

WHO WE ARE | Descartes Underwriting is an award-winning InsurTech founded in 2018 by former members of X, ENS and HEC and headquartered in Paris. We provide data-driven insurance products based on satellite imagery and IoT to protect businesses and governments against climate risk and natural catastrophes. Following a Series A funding of 18m USD in September 2020, we opened Hubs in New York, Houston & Singapore. Today, Descartes’ ambitious and international team of 35 is proud to protect 100+ clients – several from the Fortune 500 – with exposure in 60+ countries.

OUR PURPOSE | Losses from catastrophes and man-made disasters are likely to increase year after year due to demographic density and climate change. We firmly believe that the insurance sector can and must play a critical role in helping enterprises and individuals cope with climate risk. This will require, however, a deep transformation of the sector, as current insurance products often lack transparency, carry expensive premiums, and come with slow claims processing.

OUR APPROACH | True to our namesake, René Descartes, one of the greatest European scientific philosophers of the 17th Century, our company draws a distinct advantage in challenging the approach adopted by traditional insurers. Utilizing forward-looking models and real-time monitoring from satellite imagery, IoT and big data analytics, Descartes’ products help businesses bounce back faster. In collaboration with our partners, our parametric insurance products can serve clients across the globe, from mid-size tickets to EUR +100 million.

Due to rapid growth, we are seeking to expand our Data Science and Product Development teams. At the core of our company’s strategy, your missions will focus on making direct contributions to the development of new forecasting tools.

Key missions will include:

• Improving and/or developing new algorithms, new risk models and products for our B2B clients

• Identifying, implementing and deploying new statistical and machine learning methods to differentiate Descartes from its competitors

• Participating in the development of Descartes’ technological platform

• Collaborating with the business team to understand client needs and issues to further strengthen our technical excellence

• Taking on management responsibilities as both you and the company develop

• Participating in our R&D sessions

• Working autonomously and pragmatically to make appropriate technical decisions

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Masters student in computer science, applied mathematics, statistics or meteorological studies

• Ideally a previous experience (long-term internship) in data science or climate modelling

• Proficient in statistics, applied mathematics and machine learning methods

• Capable of building high-performance algorithms

• Proficiency in Python (e.g. scikit)

• Fluency in English (written and verbal communication) required

• Good command of one additional language (e.g. Chinese, French, Italian, German, Spanish…) valued

MINDSET

• Interested in weather and natural perils modelling (wildfires, hail, tsunamis, earthquakes etc)

• Strong team spirit and ability to work under pressure

• Highly motivated, able to meet deadlines set

• Strong desire to learn and commitment to the organization’s mission

• Results oriented, high energy, with the ability to work in a dynamic and multi-cultural environment

• Motivated to help improving businesses’ and communities’ resilience to climate change

• Eagerness to work in an international environment

WHY JOIN DESCARTES UNDERWRITING?

• Opportunity to work and learn with top data scientists from the most prestigious schools and research labs in France, allowing you to progress towards technical excellence

• Commitment from Descartes to its staff of continued learning and development (think annual seminars, training etc.)

• Work in a collaborative & professional environment

• Be part of an international team, passionate about diversity

• Benefit from a referral scheme for successfully referring peers

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Step 1: Call with our Talent Recruiter, Aicha

Step 2: Technical online test

Step 3: In-person interview with a Data Scientist

Step 4: In-person interview with Head of our R&D or Underwriting

Step 5: Final round interview with our CEO & Data science team (this stage is for full time roles only)