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 in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
UnitedHealthcare is accelerating its next-generation AI transformation through Claims AI 10.0 and Enterprise Agentic AI initiatives. We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Manager AI/ML Engineering to lead multiple AI engineering teams responsible for building and scaling enterprise-grade AI, Generative AI, Agentic AI, and intelligent automation solutions.
This leader will oversee delivery of strategic AI platforms and business-critical AI products supporting claims automation, intelligent decision systems, knowledge-driven workflows, and healthcare operational transformation. The role requires a solid blend of technical leadership, organizational leadership, people management, platform strategy, delivery excellence, and enterprise AI governance.
The ideal candidate will have experience leading large-scale AI engineering organizations, driving AI platform adoption, managing complex cross-functional programs, and delivering measurable business outcomes using AI technologies.
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:
- Lead AI/ML adoption across the team, driving innovative use of both Generative AI and traditional ML techniques
- Design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and continuously improve AI-powered software solutions to meet customer and business needs
- Build responsible AI solutions and service components to support the Provider community, ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory standards
- Leverage emerging offerings from cloud service providers to enable efficient and cost effective AI solutions
- Develop new features leveraging AI/ML, including Generative AI models, predictive analytics, and automation capabilities
- Provide technical leadership for AI initiatives, including Chatbots and conversational AI solutions
- Partner with product management, architects, and engineering leadership to deliver creative, scalable AI solutions for healthcare challenges
- Drive alignment with enterprise AI strategies and ensure solutions meet business objectives and engineering best practices
- Accountable for high-quality software deliverables and operational excellence
- Mentor and train team members on AI/ML technologies, frameworks, and responsible AI practices
- Collaborate with broader engineering teams to integrate AI into cloud modernization efforts and digital-first initiatives
- Exercise independent judgment to prioritize, plan, and manage AI-related activities and projects
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.
#OptumTechPJ
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Engineering, or related technical field
- 12+ years of software engineering experience
- 8+ years of AI/ML engineering experience
- 5+ years managing engineering teams, managers, and technical leaders
- 5+ years delivering enterprise-scale AI, ML, Data, or Cloud platforms
- 4+ years hands-on experience with Generative AI, LLMs, NLP, and AI architecture
- 3+ years experience with Agentic AI, RAG, AI orchestration, and intelligent automation
- Demonstrated solid Python development background and familiarity with enterprise-scale AI platforms
- Experience with AWS cloud-native services including Bedrock, SageMaker, Lambda, ECS/EKS, OpenSearch, and S3
- Experience leading AI governance, model lifecycle management, operationalization, and production support processes
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience managing multi-million-dollar AI transformation programs
- Proven exposure to healthcare payer, claims, provider operations, utilization management, or regulated industries
- Experience driving enterprise cloud modernization and platform transformation initiatives
- Demonstrated solid executive communication, strategic planning, stakeholder management, and organizational leadership skills
*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 $148,900 - $255,300 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 help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are 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 and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Engineering, or a related technical field
- 12+ years of software engineering experience
- 8+ years of AI/ML engineering experience
- 5+ years managing engineering teams, managers, and technical leaders
- 5+ years delivering enterprise-scale AI, ML, data, or cloud platforms
- 4+ years of hands-on experience with Generative AI, LLMs, NLP, and AI architecture
- 3+ years of experience with Agentic AI, RAG, AI orchestration, and intelligent automation
- Solid Python development background and familiarity with enterprise-scale AI platforms
- Experience with AWS cloud-native services including Bedrock, SageMaker, Lambda, ECS/EKS, OpenSearch, and S3
- Experience leading AI governance, model lifecycle management, operationalization, and production support processes
- Experience managing multi-million-dollar AI transformation programs
- Exposure to healthcare payer, claims, provider operations, utilization management, or regulated industries
- Experience driving enterprise cloud modernization and platform transformation initiatives
- Executive communication, strategic planning, stakeholder management, and organizational leadership skills
Optum Compensation & Benefits Highlights
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
Gallery
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.