Director, Data Architecture (AIML Foundations)

We are Hiring!

Location: La Jolla CA

The Details:

If you have built a data foundation that actuaries auditors and data scientists all trusted and you want your next one to power AI where the answers drive actionable insights and measurable efficiency savings this is that job.

Palomar is a fast-growing specialty insurer and AI is a top company priority. We are hiring a Director Data Architecture - AI/ML Foundations to design and build the connected data foundation that our analytics actuarial data science AI and machine learning work runs on. This is a new role: you will set the architecture make the key design decisions and build much of the first version with a small dedicated team that you will help staff.

You will build a trusted connected record of our business from submission to policy to claim at the transaction level with temporal history so any figure can be reproduced as of any date. You will lead the data modeling entity resolution and semantic layer that give brokers insureds policies locations and claims one consistent identity and make that data usable by people models and AI agents through governed access.

You will report to the EVP Head of AI and work closely with Actuarial Data & Analytics Underwriting Claims and Finance your first customers. As a public company we hold our data to a high bar: governed reconciled and auditable without slowing the work down.

You will spend most of your first year designing and building hands-on with a small team of AI data engineers focused on entity resolution features and retrieval.

What will you do:

Design and build the foundation

• Own the target architecture data model and roadmap for the AI/ML data foundation on Snowflake and the design decisions that go with them.
• Design append-only temporal models at the transaction level so every figure can be traced to its source and reproduced as of any date.
• Build entity resolution and master data across internal systems and external partners with match quality measured and every merge traceable.
• Bring structured and unstructured data including submissions documents bordereaux loss runs and third-party data into the foundation once governed and queryable and define data specifications for external data.
• Build governance in from the start: role-based access separated environments lineage data quality checks and reconciliation in line with Palomars governance and change-management standards.
• Maintain the data dictionary and metadata with definitions shared across the companys reporting.

Enable AI and machine learning

• Build what models and agents run on: feature pipelines training datasets retrieval and vector search and governed tool access over the entity layer using Snowflake ML (Feature Store Model Registry) and Cortex where they fit.
• Work with our AI scientists and actuaries who build the models for underwriting claims and catastrophe risk; you own the features retrieval and lineage from source to feature to model.
• Measure the foundations value: entity coverage data quality adoption and the time it takes to answer a new business question.

Lead the team and the partnerships

• Hire lead and develop a small team of AI data engineers and set standards for testing documentation code review data quality and cost.
• Partner with Actuarial and Data & Analytics as your closest collaborators: you own the architecture decisions review designs with them early and share standards and definitions.
• Work with Technology Information Security Legal and Compliance so data is accessed protected and retained in line with Palomars policies and advise on what to build buy or retire.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Mathematics Statistics Engineering Information Systems or a related field or equivalent practical experience. A proven build record matters more than pedigree.
• 10 years in data engineering or data architecture including an enterprise data model you personally designed and built from raw sources to a conformed layer (dimensional Data Vault or temporal). Experience leading or mentoring engineers.
• Entity resolution or master data at scale: matching golden records and measured match quality.
• Production Snowflake and dbt strong SQL and Python and engineering fundamentals: Git automated testing CI/CD and infrastructure as code.
• Hands-on experience making data usable by AI and ML: features LLM-based extraction from documents retrieval and vector search semantic layers and agent tool access such as MCP. You use AI coding tools every day.
• Data work in a SOX-audited or similarly regulated environment: lineage access control and change management.
• Clear communication with actuaries finance leaders executives and engineers: you explain tradeoffs plainly and bring partners with you.
• Able to work on-site 3x/week in a hybrid capacity.

Additional experience we value:

• P&C insurance or reinsurance data especially specialty or E&S: policy exposure claims bordereaux or statistical reporting.
• Taking in messy third-party data and writing the specifications that fix it at the source.
• Snowflake ML (Feature Store Model Registry) Cortex AI or another production ML platform; SnowPro or dbt certification.
• Semantic layers ontologies or knowledge graphs.
• Standing up a data function or platform from the ground up.
• Geospatial or catastrophe exposure data.

We love people who want to:

• Build strong relationships through transparency trust and respect for each other.
• Work in an agile environment with a resilient mindset to find creative solutions to challenges.
• Collaborate and celebrate diverse perspectives promoting inclusivity and equality.
• Do the right thing with strong conviction and integrity.
• Be bold and innovative to help make an impact.
• Demonstrable track record of working autonomously and driving progress
• Be intellectually curious think creatively and pragmatic

If you thrive in a dynamic environment and like working with happy authentic talented people youll enjoy a career with Palomar!

What will you get in return

• Full Suite of Medical Benefits
• Long Term Financial Incentives STOCK!
• 401k with 3.5% Automatic Fully Vested Employer Contributions
• Competitive PTO Holiday Program
• Lifestyle Spending Allowance
• Professional Development Assistance
• Career Exploration Opportunities
• Regular company-wide social events (even virtually!)
• To learn more visit us at

Diversity at Palomar

At Palomar we are committed to diversity equality and inclusion in all facets of the organization. We have built an open culture that celebrates the diversity of our workforce while actively championing equality and inclusion practices that make us a company people want to work with and work for.

We believe that diversity equality and inclusion yields greater organizational creativity and productivity which helps us serve our customers and partners more effectively. Delivering on our diversity commitment returns greater value to our shareholders and ultimately makes a positive impact to the communities in which we do business and to the people who live in them

#PalomarPride #Insurancejobs #hiring

Accommodations:

Palomar will consider reasonable accommodations to ensure a qualified applicant with a disability can be considered for the position. Palomar will also consider necessary modifications to the physical work environment or to the way a job is usually performed so an individual with a disability can perform the essential functions of the position. Additional accommodations will be considered that enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment like those that are enjoyed by other employees without disabilities.

For more information about our company visit us at . Palomar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

No phone calls or agency solicitation please

CCPA Job Applicant:

Pay Range: $185000 - $250000 Bonus Potential & Participation in our Competitive Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program.

The above pay range is for all US-based roles based on function and level benchmarked against companies of similar size and scope. To be compliant with local legislation as well as provide greater transparency to candidates we disclose salary ranges on all job postings regardless of the desired job location. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and the opportunity for annual long-term incentive stock addition we offer a highly competitive benefits package. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and qualifications and may vary from the amounts listed above