Commercial Real Estate - Senior Underwriter

U.S. Bank • Los Angeles, CA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Commercial Real Estate Senior Underwriter manages portfolio risk by ensuring timeliness and accuracy of all credit actions, by providing guidance on credit structure and risk rating decisions and by participating in pre-flight discussions. Coordinates work with Credit, Loan Administration and other groups, promoting consistent quality and conciseness of credit documents and streamlining workflow among underwriting, credit approval and loan administration. This role has a specialized focus on Data Centers, underwriting credit opportunities for existing hyperscale and colocation data centers and construction/build-to-suit turnkey and powered shell facilities. The role involves analyzing data center lease structures, credit drivers, construction, technical complexities, and resiliency metrics. The Senior Underwriter will support both existing property transactions (including refinancings) and ground-up construction projects, including budget monitoring and monthly construction draw reviews through project completion. They will also assist with new deal originations, evaluating opportunities with typical transaction sizes of $50MM–$100MM, with select transactions up to $750MM. Additionally, the role involves supporting Relationship Managers and Portfolio Managers in managing an assigned portfolio of commercial real estate client relationships, performing accurate and consistent spreading of borrower financial statements, preparing quarterly trend analyses, monitoring reports, and covenant compliance testing, and maintaining compliance monitoring and financial reporting databases. The Senior Underwriter will also participate in quarterly portfolio reviews and proactively identify and communicate emerging risks, mitigants, and other issues at the transaction and portfolio level. Collaboration with Credit Approvers and internal risk partners is essential, as is participation in client bank meetings to support underwriting, portfolio management, and risk discussions. The role serves as a reliable first line of credit analysis, escalating issues appropriately.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent work experience
• Five or more years of commercial lending experience
• Strong foundation in CRE underwriting across multiple property types (cash flow, valuation, sponsor analysis, structure, and covenants).
• Demonstrated experience underwriting and/or financing data centers
• Experience authoring credit memoranda and presenting key risks, mitigants, and recommendations to approval committees
• Strong analytical and technical writing skills; able to translate complex sponsor/tenant/technical diligence into clear credit narratives
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across origination, portfolio management, credit risk, and technical advisors
• Comfort operating with accountability—independently driving analyses while partnering closely with Relationship Managers, Portfolio Managers, and Credit Approvers
• Familiarity with banking credit policy, loan documentation concepts, and CRE underwriting processes (construction, bridge, term, and portfolio facilities)
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (cash flow modeling and scenario analysis) and the broader Microsoft Office Suite

Nice To Haves

• Experience with nCino, CoStar, and/or other CRE/data center research platforms preferred

Responsibilities

• Underwrite new originations and portfolio exposures for a broad range of CRE asset classes.
• Analyze borrower financials, property cash flows, collateral valuation, sponsor strength, covenant sensitivities, and market conditions.
• Prepare clear, comprehensive written credit analyses and supporting documentation.
• Execute straightforward credit requests for existing clients with limited supervision.
• Assist with annual company‑wide credit reviews for clients with multiple property holdings, including analysis beyond bank‑financed properties.
• Underwrite credit opportunities for existing hyperscale and colocation data centers and construction/ build-to-suit turnkey and powered shell facilities.
• Analyze data center lease structures, credit drivers, construction, technical complexities, and resiliency metrics.
• Support both existing property transactions (including refinancings) and ground‑up construction projects, including budget monitoring and monthly construction draw reviews through project completion.
• Assist with new deal originations, evaluating opportunities with typical transaction sizes of $50MM–$100MM, with select transactions up to $750MM.
• Participate in the preparation and negotiation of term sheets, as applicable.
• Support Relationship Managers and Portfolio Managers in managing an assigned portfolio of commercial real estate client relationships.
• Perform accurate and consistent spreading of borrower financial statements in accordance with bank standards and credit policies.
• Prepare quarterly trend analyses, monitoring reports, and covenant compliance testing.
• Maintain compliance monitoring and financial reporting databases, including tracking credit agreement requirements, borrower financial receipt, and key credit metrics.
• Participate in quarterly portfolio reviews, including analysis of operating statements, rent rolls, and risk assessments.
• Proactively identify and communicate emerging risks, mitigants, and other issues at the transaction and portfolio level.
• Collaborate effectively with Credit Approvers and internal risk partners.
• Participate in client bank meetings, as needed, to support underwriting, portfolio management, and risk discussions.
• Serve as a reliable first line of credit analysis, escalating issues appropriately.

Benefits

• Healthcare (medical, dental, vision)
• Basic term and optional term life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Pregnancy disability and parental leave
• 401(k) and employer-funded retirement plan
• Paid vacation (from two to five weeks depending on salary grade and tenure)
• Up to 11 paid holiday opportunities
• Adoption assistance
• Sick and Safe Leave accruals of one hour for every 30 worked, up to 80 hours per calendar year unless otherwise provided by law

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior