Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
The Senior Data Analyst is responsible for leading the end-to-end development, deployment, and support of CI/CD data pipelines, analytics solutions, and AI-enabled data products managed by PIDI Strategic Metrics & Insights team supporting Payment Integrity Decision Intelligence clinical and non-clinical analytics teams. This role combines expertise in data engineering, business intelligence, and artificial intelligence to deliver scalable, high-quality solutions that improve operational efficiency, data quality, and business decision-making. The individual will independently manage project delivery, collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, leverage AI/ML capabilities to optimize data processes, and drive continuous improvement through automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent monitoring.
Also responsible for advancing the PI organization's analytical capabilities through the development, refinement and deployment of AI solutions uncover actionable opportunities and generate measurable business value.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Lead the end-to-end delivery and support of scalable data engineering, analytics, and BI solutions, including requirements analysis, solution design, development, testing, deployment, CI/CD implementation, documentation, and production support, while ensuring reusable, maintainable, and high-quality code
- Own operational excellence and platform performance by monitoring production processes, resolving incidents, conducting root-cause analysis, optimizing ETL workflows, databases, and system resources, and implementing proactive measures to improve reliability, scalability, throughput, and infrastructure utilization
- Drive data quality, governance, and compliance initiatives through the establishment of robust validation, reconciliation, monitoring, audit, and control frameworks that ensure data integrity, security, regulatory compliance, and adherence to organizational standards
- Lead change management and continuous improvement efforts by participating in solution reviews, testing, release management, deployment activities, and identifying opportunities to streamline processes, reduce defects, improve efficiency, and enhance business outcomes
- Partner with business and technology stakeholders to deliver strategic solutions, leading cross-functional discussions, stakeholder engagement, technical presentations, and project coordination while effectively managing multiple priorities and ensuring timely, accurate, and business-aligned delivery
- AI/ML & Intelligent Automation Responsibilities
- Leverage AI/ML, predictive analytics, and anomaly detection techniques to proactively identify data quality opportunities, job failures, performance degradation, processing anomalies, and capacity constraints, enabling early intervention and improved operational reliability
- Lead intelligent automation initiatives that streamline data engineering and operational processes through automated monitoring, validation, issue detection, root-cause analysis, and decision support
- Champion the adoption of emerging AI technologies, including Generative AI and Agentic AI, to drive innovation, improve scalability and productivity, and deliver measurable business value across data and analytics functions
- Comply with all applicable Company policies, procedures, and business directives, changes including those relating to work location, team assignments, work schedules, and flexible work arrangements
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's or higher degree in Operational Research, Business Analytics, Applied Mathematics/Statistics, or a related quantitative field
- 3+ years of experience in SAS (including Advanced SAS, SAS Macros), SQL, and Teradata
- 3+ years of experience in Data Visualization and BI reporting (Tableau or other BI tools)
- 3+ years of experience in Quality Analysis and Automation
- Hands-on experience with ETL processes, Unix shell scripting, and stored procedures
- Knowledge of Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics, and Anomaly Detection
- Knowledge of Generative AI, LLMs, RAG, and Agentic AI concepts
- Knowledge of Cloud Data Platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP)
- Familiarity with version control and deployment tools such as GitHub, Airflow, Docker containerization
- Solid expertise in data processing and warehousing technologies including Teradata and Snowflake
- Proficiency in Python/PySpark and Microsoft Excel/PowerPoint
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or higher degree in Operational Research, Business Analytics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or a related quantitative field
- 3+ years of experience with SAS, including Advanced SAS and SAS Macros
- 3+ years of experience with SQL and Teradata
- 3+ years of experience in data visualization and BI reporting, including Tableau or other BI tools
- 3+ years of experience in quality analysis and automation
- Hands-on experience with ETL processes, Unix shell scripting, and stored procedures
- Knowledge of Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics, and Anomaly Detection
- Knowledge of Generative AI, LLMs, RAG, and Agentic AI concepts
- Knowledge of cloud data platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP
- Familiarity with GitHub, Airflow, and Docker containerization
- Expertise in data processing and warehousing technologies including Teradata and Snowflake
- Proficiency in Python, PySpark, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint
Optum Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — PTO is generally described as decent or good, and many note it as a strong part of the package. Actual ability to take time off can depend on workload and team coverage.
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Retirement Support — Offerings include a 401(k) with employer match and access to an employee stock purchase plan, which are highlighted as meaningful components of total rewards. These programs are consistently referenced among core benefits.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental and caregiver leave, along with adoption assistance, are publicly highlighted and viewed as notable elements of the package. Availability can be role-specific, but these supports contribute to overall breadth where offered.
Optum Insights
What We Do
Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. At Optum, we support your well-being with an understanding team, extensive benefits and rewarding opportunities. By joining us, you’ll have the resources to drive system transformation while we help you take care of your future. We recognize the power of connection to drive change, improve efficiency and make a difference in health care. Join a team where your skills and ideas can make an impact and where collaboration is key to creating technology that produces healthier outcomes.
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Optum Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
Optum has three workplace models that balance the needs of the business and the responsibilities of each role. These models, core on‑site (5 days/week), hybrid (4 days/week) and telecommute or fully remote, vary by country, role and location.