Vice President of IT Observability & Resiliency

Requisition Number: 2374885
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.
Join the Global Technology Services (GTS) team as our Vice President of IT Observability & Resiliency. In this high-impact executive role, you will define and drive our enterprise observability strategy across hybrid-cloud and on-premise platforms, moving the organization from reactive monitoring to proactive, predictive operations. You will champion the transformation of our enterprise reliability by building a centralized, 'always-on' observability data platform that integrates metrics, events, logs, and traces (MELT). Utilizing cutting-edge AIOps, telemetry frameworks (such as OpenTelemetry), and automated self-healing capabilities, you will lead a highly talented team of platform and reliability engineers to deliver end-to-end visibility and world-class system availability for our global healthcare ecosystem.
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:

• Define and drive the enterprise observability strategy - metrics, events, logs, and traces ("MELT") - across hybrid-cloud and on-premise platforms, successfully transitioning the organization from reactive monitoring to proactive, predictive operations
• Own the architecture, standardization, and consolidation of enterprise observability platforms, including APM, logging, tracing, alerting, and dashboards, to establish robust standard telemetry frameworks
• Strategically deploy artificial intelligence and predictive modeling to solve complex infrastructure anomalies, proactively unlock platform performance opportunities, and deliver measurable business value
• Champion predictive technologies as core drivers of operational reliability, actively shaping how automated telemetry, self-healing systems, and proactive observability are developed and executed
• Partner closely with SRE and operations teams to reduce MTTR, build single-source-of-truth telemetry, and enable "always-on" enterprise reliability outcomes, including availability, resiliency, and recovery readiness
• Integrate modern, enterprise-approved AI and machine learning tools into operational workflows, setting continuous learning goals and building organizational competencies to accelerate adoption of automated operations
• Ensure compliance with security, resilience, and regulatory requirements, establishing strict telemetry data governance, including PII/PHI controls and access management
• Champion the ethical, transparent, and accountable use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies throughout the observability and telemetry lifecycle

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:

• 15+ years of experience in infrastructure, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), or platform engineering leadership
• 5+ years of experience directing large-scale, complex cloud or enterprise infrastructure transformation initiatives
• 5+ years of experience managing, scaling, or architecting enterprise observability, monitoring, or APM platforms
• 3+ years of experience applying AI/ML technologies, such as AIOps, anomaly detection, or predictive analytics, to optimize enterprise IT operations
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional engineering teams and influencing senior executive stakeholders at the CIO/CTO level

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
• Deep knowledge of modern cloud-native ecosystems, including Azure, AWS, GCP, Kubernetes, and microservices
• Solid understanding of telemetry standards, such as OpenTelemetry, and telemetry data governance frameworks
• Experience with FinOps practices for optimizing telemetry ingestion costs and tooling consolidation
• Proven ability to drive a cultural shift toward SRE, automated self-healing, and shared operational responsibility

*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 $200,400 to $343,500 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.