Mortgage Underwriter II

About the Company

Valon is building the AI-native operating system for regulated finance, starting with mortgage servicing.

We're a Series C company backed by a16z, transforming industries that others have written off as too complex to innovate.

Rather than build on top of broken legacy systems, we took a different approach: we built and operate our own mortgage servicing business managing $110+ billion in loans. This wasn't the end goal, it was how we deeply understood the complexity needed to build software that actually works in regulated industries.

The results speak for themselves. We've transformed mortgage servicing from a 0% margin business into 60%+ margins while dramatically improving customer experience. Major enterprise contracts are now deploying across the industry.

ValonOS is our unified platform that makes every process structured and programmable and it is perfectly positioned for the AI era. When everything flows through one system with rich data, AI agents don't just automate tasks, they continuously improve entire operations. Mortgage servicing is just the beginning of our vision to transform regulated industries and beyond.

Valon Lending

Valon is currently scaling up its mortgage lending business, which aims to provide the ability to access low-cost, streamlined mortgage credit to Valon borrowers and tools to retain borrowers in their portfolio for Valon partners. We are looking for experienced and innovative individuals to help build our team and business who are eager to change the mortgage industry for the better.

About this Role

The Mortgage Underwriter II will be responsible for underwriting residential loans to ensure compliance with company, investor, and agency guidelines. This role requires reviewing loan documentation for accuracy and completeness, collaborating with processors and loan originators to resolve conditions, and ensuring loans meet all credit and collateral requirements.

Valon currently originates conventional and FHA loans, and underwriters can expect to be involved in both programs, with the possibility of additional programs being added in the future.

You may be required to escalate complex loan scenarios to senior underwriters or the underwriting manager for guidance.

Responsibilities

• Analyze borrower credit, income, assets, collateral, and capacity to determine creditworthiness
• Review and calculate borrower income, including tax returns when required
• Maintain working knowledge of secondary market, investor, and private mortgage insurance guidelines
• Review new loans and clear conditions on resubmissions within SLA
• Respond to audits and support quality control reviews on mortgage files
• Maintain a focus on enhancing customer service skills and knowledge
• Ensure KPIs are met as set forth by the underwriting manager
• Maintain the quality and data integrity of all loan files
• Ability to multitask in a high-volume environment
• Strong attention to detail and effective problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently while following company policies and procedures

Minimum Qualifications

• 3+ years of conventional mortgage underwriting experience
• 1–2 years of FHA DE underwriting experience (TOTAL Scorecard and Manual)
• Experience using Encompass LOS (ICE Technology/EllieMae)
• Knowledge of Fannie Mae/DU, Freddie Mac/LPA, and FHA guidelines and automated underwriting systems
• Ability to review credit, income, assets, title, and appraisals for adherence to underwriting guidelines
• Understanding of relevant mortgage industry federal regulations, including RESPA, TILA, ECOA, TRID, CFPB, etc.

Ideal Background

• 5+ years of mortgage underwriting experience
• Active FHA DE designation
• Exposure to VA underwriting a plus
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
• Strong communicator with excellent writing skills
• High integrity with strong ethical values
• Team player with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions

What we can offer:

• Compensation: competitive salary and 401 (k) plan
• Health & well-being: comprehensive medical, dental, & vision benefits to support your health
• Food & meals: in-office snacks and drinks, and Bagel Fridays
• Commuter benefits: pre-tax deductions for public transportation, rideshare services, and parking expenses
• Grow together: company-wide orientation, learning & development opportunities, and regular review cycles with 360° feedback
• Generous time off: 17 days paid time off, sick days, and 11 company holidays
• Baby bonding time!: 12 weeks off for both birthing and non-birthing parents — fully paid so you can focus on your newest addition