Underwriter Life Sciences

AXIS (AXIS Capital)•Los Angeles, CA

2d•$135,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This is your opportunity to join AXIS Capital – a trusted global provider of specialty lines insurance and reinsurance. We stand apart for our outstanding client service, intelligent risk taking and superior risk adjusted returns for our shareholders. We also proudly maintain an entrepreneurial, disciplined and ethical corporate culture. As a member of AXIS, you join a team that is among the best in the industry. At AXIS, we believe that we are only as strong as our people. We strive to create an inclusive and welcoming culture where employees of all backgrounds and from all walks of life feel comfortable and empowered to be themselves. This means that we bring our whole selves to work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, civil union status, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in the selection process. AXIS Capital’s Life Sciences Practice seeks a dynamic Underwriter to support the continued build‑out and expansion of its specialty Life Sciences platform. This role will focus on underwriting Excess and Primary Life Sciences liability risks, with particular emphasis on a primary product liability offering targeting insureds across the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. The Senior Underwriter will act within the established underwriting guidelines and authority to analyze, review, evaluate, and monitor new and renewal accounts across the Life Sciences portfolio, partnering closely with specialist brokers and internal stakeholders to drive profitable growth. The Underwriter will be a hands‑on technical underwriter with experience supporting Life Sciences, risks within a top‑tier commercial insurance carrier. The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of product liability, professional liability, and clinical trial exposures, with the ability to underwrite emerging and growth‑stage Life Sciences organizations as well as more mature enterprises. Candidates will have experience working with specialist broker distribution both retail and wholesale, managing full underwriting lifecycle, and contributing to portfolio strategy within a developing specialty line. Furthermore, the candidate should exhibit strong executive presence by effectively communicating, influencing others, and establishing robust relationships that enhance AXIS's value and support its long-term strategic objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Minimum of 5+ years of underwriting experience in Life Sciences, healthcare liability, excess casualty, or a related specialty line
Solid understanding of life sciences product liability, clinical trial risk, and professional exposures
Experience underwriting emerging, middle‑market and complex commercial risks
Working knowledge of policy forms, coverage structures, and pricing concepts
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build credibility with brokers and internal partners
Strong analytical and risk‑assessment capabilities
Ability to operate effectively in a growing, build‑out environment
Strategic thinking with a disciplined underwriting mindset
Excellent communication and relationship‑management skills
Highly collaborative, adaptable, and able to manage competing priorities

Responsibilities

Underwrite primary and excess Life Sciences liability business, including Product Liability, Professional Liability, and Clinical Trials Liability, in accordance with AXIS underwriting guidelines and assigned authority
Support the expansion of AXIS’s primary Life Sciences offering targeting biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, CRO, and life sciences service organizations as insureds
Manage a portfolio of new and renewal business, balancing growth, profitability, and disciplined risk selection
Develop and maintain strong relationships with specialist Life Sciences brokers, serving as a trusted underwriting partner
Analyze submissions, financial information, clinical data, and risk characteristics to structure appropriate coverage, pricing, and terms
Collaborate with internal partners including claims, actuarial, legal, and product development to support underwriting decisions and portfolio performance
Monitor market trends, regulatory developments, and emerging risks across the Life Sciences sector, contributing insights to underwriting strategy
Participate in audits, peer reviews, and underwriting governance initiatives to ensure adherence to best practices
Support continued product development and refinement as the Life Sciences platform scales