Principal Architect

Requisition Number: 2375106
Optum Tech is a global leader in health care innovation. Our teams develop cutting-edge solutions that help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. From advanced data analytics and AI to cybersecurity, we use innovative approaches to solve some of health care's most complex challenges. Your contributions here have the potential to change lives. Ready to build the next breakthrough? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
Optum is seeking an experienced Technical Solutions Architect to own the technical architecture and AI-accelerated proposal engineering behind State Medicaid RFP and RFI responses. This role designs the cloud, data, application, and integration architecture that supports the solution the pursuit team is proposing, builds the supporting technical artifacts (diagrams, integration patterns, technical cost inputs), and uses modern AI tooling to speed up and improve the quality of that technical work. You'll work as the technical right hand to the pursuit's Solution Lead and business development team, not as the owner of the overall customer solution, but as the person who makes sure the technology underneath it is sound, buildable, and well-articulated.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Design the technical architecture for State Medicaid RFP/RFI responses, cloud, data, application, and integration layers, that supports the solution approach set by the pursuit's Solution Lead
• Translate RFP/RFI technical requirements into feasible architecture options, flagging technical risks, dependencies, and differentiators for the Solution Lead and pursuit team
• Develop technical artifacts: architecture diagrams, solution matrices, integration patterns, and technical cost/estimate inputs that feed the overall pricing model owned by the pursuit team
• Ensure technical designs align with enterprise standards, regulatory requirements, and Medicaid domain frameworks (e.g., MITA, CMS guidelines) across claims, eligibility, provider management, and Data and Analytics
• Use AI tools (e.g., Azure OpenAI, GitHub Copilot) to accelerate technical solution drafting, documentation, and architecture diagramming
• Generate technical narrative content, reusable technical assets, and compliance-ready technical response sections
• Design AI-enabled architectures leveraging generative AI, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and automation where they improve the client's proposed solution
• Act as the technical subject matter expert supporting the Solution Lead, business development, and delivery teams during solutioning, not as the owner of the overall solution narrative or customer relationship
• Participate in technical deep-dive sessions, client technical Q&A, and proposal technical response reviews
• Escalate technical feasibility concerns or architecture trade-offs to the Solution Lead for resolution within the broader solution strategy
• Drive adoption of AI tools and frameworks across the technical RFP development process
• Build reusable technical accelerators, architecture templates, and knowledge assets for the broader engineering and pursuit teams
• Stay current on emerging AI, cloud, and digital technologies relevant to public sector health programs

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or graduate degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
• 10+ years of experience in solution architecture, technical pre-sales, or technical consulting roles
• 8+ years of experience providing technical architecture for large-scale RFP/RFI responses, particularly in state or government domains
• 8+ years expertise in cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP etc), enterprise architecture design, and integration, data, or application modernization

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with Azure OpenAI, generative AI solutions, or AI/ML-based architectures
• Experience providing technical cost estimation inputs for financial modeling and solution pricing owned by others
• Knowledge of healthcare or public sector systems (e.g., Medicaid, eligibility systems, claims platforms) and frameworks such as MITA and CMS guidelines
• Solid understanding of security, compliance, and regulatory considerations in government health IT
• Familiarity with GitHub Copilot or other AI-assisted development tools

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $134,600 - $230,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
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.
UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.