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The Role
The Principal Software Engineer will lead architecture and design of AI applications, ensuring scalable systems while mentoring teams and driving best practices in full stack development.
Summary Generated by Built In
Requisition Number: 2365825
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.
As a Principal Software Engineer, you will serve as a senior individual contributor responsible for designing and delivering AI-driven, full stack platform capabilities that enable enterprise-scale intelligence, optimization, and decisioning.
You will combine deep hands-on engineering with architectural leadership, defining standards for AI/ML systems, platform design, and modern software development while enabling scalable, secure, and high-performing applications.
This position follows a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week.
Primary Responsibilities:
Architecture & Technical Leadership
AI/ML Enablement & Governance
Full Stack Engineering
Platform Engineering & DevOps
AI-Enabled Engineering & Productivity
Technical Influence & Mentorship
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:
Preferred Qualifications:
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 to $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.
#BI-Hybrid
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.
As a Principal Software Engineer, you will serve as a senior individual contributor responsible for designing and delivering AI-driven, full stack platform capabilities that enable enterprise-scale intelligence, optimization, and decisioning.
You will combine deep hands-on engineering with architectural leadership, defining standards for AI/ML systems, platform design, and modern software development while enabling scalable, secure, and high-performing applications.
This position follows a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week.
Primary Responsibilities:
Architecture & Technical Leadership
- Define scalable architecture and engineering patterns for AI-powered applications, APIs, and platform services
- Establish guardrails for open-source usage, AI models, and data governance
- Lead design decisions across frontend, backend, and cloud layers ensuring performance, scalability, and reliability
AI/ML Enablement & Governance
- Design and integrate AI/ML and Generative AI capabilities into production applications
- Review and guide usage of AI models and datasets ensuring compliance with licensing, regulatory, and enterprise standards
- Enable responsible AI practices across application development
Full Stack Engineering
- Design and build end-to-end applications (UI, APIs, services, data layers)
- Develop scalable microservices, domain APIs, and distributed systems using modern frameworks
- Implement cloud-native and event-driven architectures
Platform Engineering & DevOps
- Drive engineering excellence through CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and automation
- Build reusable platform components, services, and developer tooling to improve scalability and speed
- Ensure system reliability including observability, performance tuning, and resiliency
AI-Enabled Engineering & Productivity
- Leverage AI-assisted development tools (coding agents, LLMs) to improve engineering productivity
- Build intelligent tooling and workflows to streamline development and governance processes
Technical Influence & Mentorship
- Provide technical leadership, code reviews, and design guidance across teams
- Collaborate with product, architecture, and data science teams to deliver integrated solutions
- Drive adoption of best practices, reusable patterns, and modern engineering standards
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 degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering with solid full stack development expertise
- 6+ years of experience designing microservices and distributed systems
- 5+ years of experience with CI/CD, containerization (Docker), and DevOps practices
- 4+ years of experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred)
- Solid experience with Java, Python, Node.js, and modern frontend frameworks (React/Angular, TypeScript, REST, GraphQL)
- Experience building AI-enabled applications and platform services
- Experience integrating AI/ML or Generative AI capabilities (e.g., APIs, embeddings, decisioning features)
- Experience delivering complex, multi-team engineering initiatives
- Experience using AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with AI/ML platforms, LLM-based applications, or agentic systems
- Experience building enterprise-scale platforms for analytics, optimization, or decision intelligence
- Proven knowledge of responsible AI, model lifecycle, and governance frameworks
- Experience in regulated industries (healthcare, financial services, etc.)
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 to $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.
#BI-Hybrid
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
- 10+ years of experience in software engineering
- 6+ years of experience designing microservices and distributed systems
- 5+ years of experience with CI/CD, containerization (Docker), and DevOps practices
- 4+ years of experience with cloud platforms (AWS preferred)
- Solid experience with Java, Python, Node.js, and modern frontend frameworks
- Experience building AI-enabled applications and platform services
- Experience integrating AI/ML or Generative AI capabilities
- Experience delivering complex, multi-team engineering initiatives
- Experience using AI-assisted development tools to accelerate delivery
Optum Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers copay and HSA medical options with dental, vision, company‑paid life and disability, and free or low‑cost virtual visits. Feedback suggests the offering is comprehensive and competitive on paper.
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Parental & Family Support — Time off and family supports include PTO, eight paid holidays plus a floating day, six weeks paid parental leave, up to two weeks paid caregiver leave, Bright Horizons back‑up care, and adoption assistance up to $10,000. Feedback suggests these resources are meaningful for caregivers and family needs.
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Retirement Support — Savings programs include a 401(k) with employer match (after one year, vesting after two) and a 10%‑discount Employee Stock Purchase Plan. These programs bolster long‑term financial security when combined with other savings resources.
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The Company
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.
Typical time on-site:
Not Specified
