Optum is a worldwide leader in healthcare innovation, leveraging technology to empower millions to achieve healthier lives. Joining our team means that your contributions will play a pivotal role in enhancing health outcomes by connecting individuals with essential care, pharmacy benefits, data, and resources to help them thrive. Here, you’ll thrive in a culture anchored in diversity and inclusion, surrounded by talented colleagues, and benefit from comprehensive career development opportunities. Join us in making a difference in the communities we serve, as we strive to advance global health equity. Together, let’s embark on a journey of Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Optum AI team, part of UnitedHealth Group, is at the forefront of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) engineering for healthcare. Our dedicated scientists and engineers create innovative AI/ML solutions to tackle the most significant challenges across UnitedHealth Group’s varied businesses—UnitedHealthcare, Optum Financial, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. We are committed to not only transforming the healthcare landscape through responsible AI/ML innovations but also developing and supporting a comprehensive enterprise AI/ML development platform.

What Makes the Optum AI Team Unique?

• Impact at Scale: We harness the power of data and resources to make profound impacts across the healthcare system. Our deployed solutions enhance efficiency and access for everyone.
• Ground-Breaking Work: Engage with cutting-edge machine learning, natural language processing, and large language model techniques. We are continuously enhancing generative AI methods to work with both structured and unstructured healthcare data.
• Collaboration with Experts: Our team is focused on developing unique AI/ML solutions to address business challenges, often leading to opportunities for patent applications and academic publications. We collaborate with top-tier university researchers in AI/ML.

Enjoy the flexibility of working remotely from anywhere in the U.S. as you tackle challenging and transformative projects.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead a data science team in the design, development, and maintenance of AI/ML models specifically targeting disease progression and patient engagement initiatives.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand requirements and craft optimal solutions.
• Evaluate and enhance AI/ML model concepts and engineering designs, proposing innovative approaches.
• Establish and refine the Data Science and Engineering roadmap for disease progression and patient engagement.
• Elevate standards for execution excellence in quality, timeliness, and scalability.
• Partner with teams across geographical locations to ensure successful project execution.
• Play a key leadership role within Optum AI, focusing on talent development, process optimization, and capability enhancement.
• Recommend suitable technical patterns and solutions aligned with architectural guiding principles through regular delivery and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Work closely with Product and Capability Architects to ensure alignment of inferred solutions with enterprise architecture principles.
• Manage technical debt and advocate for a balanced approach.
• Contribute to product management objectives by influencing product, capability, and engineering priorities.

You’ll not only be recognized and rewarded for your performance but also find a supportive environment that challenges you and provides clear paths for success and further development.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related discipline.
• Over 7 years of experience with programming languages (Python, SQL) to manipulate data and extract insights from large datasets, including proficiency in cloud platforms like Databricks and Azure AI Services.
• Familiarity with a variety of machine learning techniques (clustering, decision trees, neural networks, graph ML, OCR, sentiment analysis, etc.) including their practical applications and limitations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Computer Science or a related field.
• 7+ years of rich experience in data science.
• Expertise in advanced statistical techniques and their applications.
• Strong problem-solving skills with a focus on model development and engineering.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

Please note that all remote employees must adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

The salary range for this position is between $124,500 and $239,400 annually, based on full-time employment. Compensation is influenced by various factors, including regional labor markets, educational background, work experience, and certifications. UnitedHealth Group abides by all applicable minimum wage laws. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer an extensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, stock purchase options, and 401k contributions—all subject to eligibility criteria. Regardless of where you begin your journey with UnitedHealth Group, a wide array of benefits and incentives await you.

Application Deadline: This position will remain open for a minimum of 2 business days or until a suitable candidate pool is established. The posting may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received.

At UnitedHealth Group, we are committed to helping people live healthier lives and enhancing the functionality of the health system for everyone. We believe that individuals of all backgrounds—regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation, age, location, and income—deserve the opportunity for optimal health. We aim to minimize barriers to quality health, particularly for marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. Our focus includes environmental sustainability and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes—an integral part of our mission.

UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered for employment without discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace; candidates are required to pass a drug screening prior to employment.