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.
The Sr. Manager, Software Engineering is both a technology and people leader, accountable for engineering operational excellence, system ownership, and delivery outcomes across 3-8 feature teams. Software Engineering applies disciplined engineering practices to the design, development, testing, deployment, and operation of software systems. Our leaders in this space are responsible for building quality into every outcome, ensuring teams take full ownership of the systems they build and the customer outcomes those systems enable.
This role exists to:
- Drive accountability for the platforms, services, and customer experiences owned by the teams
- Ensure engineering excellence, predictability, and quality in delivery
- Foster solid ownership from every engineer for the code they write and the systems they operate
You will lead teams operating in a hybrid delivery model-planning work against fixed requirements and deadlines while executing through Agile principles. You will balance execution with mentorship, helping teams and leaders navigate digital and organizational transformation.
This role requires a leader who can set clear expectations, hold teams accountable, and remove obstacles-while empowering engineers to own outcomes end-to-end.
Key Leadership Expectations
- Company-level thought leader in engineering practices and delivery excellence
- Recognized functional subject matter expert
- Applies a broad business lens to technical decision-making
- Trusted advisor and resource to senior leadership
- Develops and applies forward-looking approaches aligned to emerging industry and technology trends
You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Partner with product, business, and technology leaders to understand business strategy, vision, and priorities
- Lead multiple engineering teams (3-8 feature POD teams), driving accountability for delivery, quality, and system ownership
- Serve as the technical owner and decision maker for platforms, portals, and systems within scope, ensuring team alignment to highest-priority business outcomes
- Partner with Product Owners, Architects, and teams to address vulnerabilities, incidents, and remediation efforts
- Implement and mature Agile and DevOps practices, including automation, CI/CD, observability, and continuous improvement
- Actively participate in product-area agile events (Daily Scrum, Refinement, Sprint Reviews, Retrospectives) and use data/metrics to improve predictability and quality
- Identify skill gaps within teams, align upskilling efforts to organizational priorities, conduct regular 1:1s, and reinforce accountability and growth
- Ensure adherence to and continuous improvement of SDLC and AI-DLC standards, policies, security, and governance
- Partner with Scrum Masters, Delivery Managers, and Resource Partners (vendors) to optimize team performance across full-time and contracted resources
- Mentor engineering leaders and engineers, fostering solid business partnerships and guiding teams through organizational change
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:
- 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including enterprise backend and frontend development, AI-Driven development, full stack application delivery, and platform modernization
- 5+ years of hands-on experience with modern web and API technologies (e.g., Java, Python, React, REST, GraphQL, microservices, and full stack frameworks)
- 4+ years of experience leading engineering teams, people leaders, AI-builders or large cross-functional delivery teams in a complex enterprise environment
- 3+ years of experience designing, modernizing, and operating scalable, secure, and resilient web applications, APIs, Advanced deployment strategies (Blue/Green, Canary, Rolling), and distributed systems
- 3+ years of experience partnering with product, architecture, security, data, and operations stakeholders to align roadmaps and drive delivery accountability
- Experience working with Cloud-native development AWS services such as Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3, CloudWatch, and Step Functions
- Working knowledge of data management, privacy, security, compliance, governance, and responsible use of emerging technologies
- Solid understanding of GenAI concepts, LLMs, Agentic AI, Bedrock models, and conversational AI architectures
- Demonstrated track record of delivering multi-quarter, cross-team technology programs with execution discipline, risk management, and measurable business outcomes
- Proven exceptional collaboration, influence, problem-solving, and negotiation skills
- United States Citizenship
- If you are offered this position, you will be required to provide extensive personal information to obtain and maintain a suitability or determination of eligibility for a Confidential/Secret or Top Secret security clearance as a condition of your employment
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent work experience)
- Proven ability to partner with Data Science and Engineering teams to build and scale AI/ML or GenAI-powered capabilities
- Proven ability to leverage enterprise-approved AI tools to enhance productivity and innovation by streamlining workflows and automating repetitive tasks
- Healthcare & Payment Integrity Alignment
- Claims lifecycle
- Incorporate domain expertise in US Healthcare Payer systems, especially claims and Payment Integrity workflows
- Drive product innovation that improves cost efficiency, claim accuracy, and operational effectiveness
*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy
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 $112,700 - $193,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
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.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including enterprise backend and frontend development, AI-driven development, full-stack application delivery, and platform modernization
- 5+ years of hands-on experience with modern web and API technologies, including Java, Python, React, REST, GraphQL, microservices, and full-stack frameworks
- 4+ years of experience leading engineering teams, people leaders, AI builders, or large cross-functional delivery teams in a complex enterprise environment
- 3+ years of experience designing, modernizing, and operating scalable, secure, and resilient web applications, APIs, advanced deployment strategies, and distributed systems
- 3+ years of experience partnering with product, architecture, security, data, and operations stakeholders to align roadmaps and drive delivery accountability
- Experience with cloud-native AWS services, including Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3, CloudWatch, and Step Functions
- Working knowledge of data management, privacy, security, compliance, governance, and responsible use of emerging technologies
- Solid understanding of GenAI concepts, LLMs, Agentic AI, Bedrock models, and conversational AI architectures
- Track record of delivering multi-quarter, cross-team technology programs with execution discipline, risk management, and measurable business outcomes
- Exceptional collaboration, influence, problem-solving, and negotiation skills
- United States citizenship
- Ability to obtain and maintain eligibility for a Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret security clearance
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, information technology, or a related field, or equivalent work experience
- Ability to partner with Data Science and Engineering teams to build and scale AI/ML or GenAI-powered capabilities
- Ability to leverage enterprise-approved AI tools to improve productivity and innovation
- Healthcare payer systems expertise, especially claims lifecycle and Payment Integrity workflows
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.