Senior Principal Data Scientist - Remote

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated; Leeds; Remote; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global health organization is seeking a Senior Principal Data Scientist in Leeds, England. This role involves developing and enhancing AI models to address crucial healthcare challenges. Candidates must have solid programming skills in R and Python, along with experience in data science. A genuine passion for problem-solving and effective communication with various stakeholders is essential. Join our innovative team to make a significant impact on UK healthcare outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in building and/or fine-tuning transformer-based AI models.
• Experience of managing the demands and various stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Ability to build/maintain predictive models and explain model processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for UK Product AI initiatives.
• Develop, deploy and maintain AI models for product enhancement.
• Collaborate with team members to achieve strategic goals.

Skills

Solid programming skills in R

Solid programming skills in Python

Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders

Attention to detail

Experience with AI models

Education

Advanced degree in a quantitative discipline

PhD Level qualification or equivalent

Job description

Overview

This role sits within Optum UK Health Analytics team responsible for taking large data sets from various sources and converting them into meaningful insights on UK healthcare. You will play a key role in developing and implementing Optum UK's data science capabilities in the UK. Integrated within the UK Product team, you will use artificial intelligence (AI) models to create new and augment existing products that solve important problems faced by the UK healthcare system. We are a collaborative team, we work hard and are passionate about what we do, but we ensure we have fun along the way.

What you’ll do

• Provide strategic and technical direction for UK Product AI initiatives, communicating technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and building consensus from various stakeholders
• Develop, deploy and maintain advanced AI models to create new and augment existing products that solve important problems faced by the UK healthcare system
• Work with autonomy and in collaboration with other team members, including data scientists, analysts, developers, and clinicians, to contribute to the strategic goals of the UK Product team.
• Manage multiple priorities and projects to meet tight deadlines within a heavily matrixed business environment
• Horizon scan for internal and external advances in AI that can be applied to the UK business

Responsibilities & Requirements

• Senior Principal Data Scientist with solid technical skills using either Python or R, experience leading teams and the ability to communicate with both technical and non-technical teams across the business

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a quantitative discipline
• Proven solid programming skills in R and Python
• Demonstrated well-rounded data science skill set including the ability to build/maintain predictive models and explain model processes/outputs
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and build solid business relationships as a trusted partner
• Ability to deal with multiple priorities
• Demonstrated astute attention to detail and the integrity to openly report errors in a timely fashion
• Demonstrated passion for solving problems and making a difference with data science
• Experience of gathering requirements from, and documenting processes for, end users
• Experience in building and/or fine-tuning transformer-based AI models
• Experience of managing the demands and various stakeholders within a highly matrixed business environment
• Ability to build/maintain predictive models and explain model processes/outputs
• Experience with agentic AI

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD Level qualification or equivalent

Optum 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 diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. © 2025 UnitedHealth Group. All rights reserved.