Home Mortgage Retail Underwriter Senior Specialist

We are seeking an experienced Senior Mortgage Underwriter to evaluate residential mortgage loan applications including Conventional, Portfolio, and Non-QM loan products. The Senior Underwriter will analyze borrower credit, income, assets, and collateral to determine loan eligibility while ensuring compliance with company credit policy, investor guidelines, and regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate has strong analytical skills and the ability to exercise independent credit judgment beyond automated underwriting findings, particularly when reviewing complex borrower scenarios.

Key Responsibilities

• Underwrite residential mortgage loans including Conventional, Portfolio, and Non-QM products.
• Review borrower documentation including credit, income, assets, appraisal, and title.
• Analyze complex borrower profiles including self-employed borrowers and alternative income documentation such as bank statements, asset utilization, and DSCR programs.
• Perform manual underwriting and risk analysis when automated underwriting systems are not applicable.
• Ensure all loans comply with Ability-to-Repay (ATR) requirements and applicable regulatory standards.
• Issue clear underwriting decisions, approvals, and conditions.
• Communicate effectively with processors, loan officers, and operations staff to move loans efficiently through the pipeline.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of mortgage underwriting experience required
• Experience underwriting Conventional, Portfolio, and Non-QM loan programs
• Strong knowledge of mortgage credit analysis and income calculation
• Experience evaluating self-employed borrowers and complex financial documentation
• Familiarity with DU/LPA and manual underwriting
• Ability to exercise sound credit judgment and risk assessment

Hours and Work Schedule

Hours per Week:  40

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday

The salary range for this position is $70,000 - $100,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn additional incentive earnings. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience. 

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

Equal Employment and Opportunity Employer

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Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.