Senior Software Engineering Lead - Python Fullstack, FastAPI, GenAI, AI ML

Optum India; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Optum India is seeking a senior AI backend engineer to architect and deliver scalable cloud-native AI platforms. You will lead Python/FastAPI development for GenAI solutions, optimize performance, and guide a team of engineers across design and production support.

You will own end-to-end AI service lifecycle, enforce standards, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet evolving business needs in a fast-growing global health tech environment.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in computer science or equivalent.
• 9+ years of experience in Python.
• Solid hands-on experience with FastAPI, including high-performance asynchronous implementations.
• Proven experience designing large-scale backend systems and APIs.
• Extensive hands-on experience with GCP, Azure, or AWS.
• Experience deploying and operating mission-critical AI workloads in production.
• Deep experience with vector databases (e.g., Redis, ChromaDB, or equivalent).
• Expert-level experience with Docker.
• Experience operationalizing GenAI systems with reliability and governance in mind.
• Solid working knowledge of Kubernetes, including scaling, resiliency, and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and deliver scalable, secure, cloud-native AI platforms.
• Lead development of Fullstack Development in Python and Generative AI and Agentic AI solutions, including multi-agent systems.
• Improve application functionality to meet changing business needs and requirements.
• Create high-level and detailed design specifications for troubleshooting and day-to-day build activities.
• Own end-to-end AI service lifecycle: design, development, deployment, performance tuning, and production support.
• Define and enforce AI engineering standards, evaluation frameworks, and observability practices.
• Perform deep performance profiling, optimization, and reliability improvements for backend AI systems.
• Mentor senior and junior engineers; provide technical guidance and design reviews.

Skills

Python

FastAPI

API design

Kubernetes

Docker

SQL

NoSQL

AI observability

Prompt engineering

GenAI systems

Education

B.Tech/MS in computer science

Tools

Redis

ChromaDB

Google ADK

Anthropic MCP

GCP

Azure

AWS

Job description

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 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.

Primary Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and deliver scalable, secure, cloud-native AI platforms
• Lead development of Fullstack Development in Python and Generative AI and Agentic AI solutions, including multi-agent systems
• Improving application functionality to meet changing business needs and requirements
• Creating high-level and detailed design specifications that enable troubleshooting and day-to-day build activities
• Own end-to-end AI service lifecycle: design, development, deployment, performance tuning, and production support
• Define and enforce AI engineering standards, evaluation frameworks, and observability practices
• Perform deep performance profiling, optimization, and reliability improvements for backend AI systems
• Mentor senior and junior engineers; provide technical guidance and design reviews
• Comply with the terms and conditions of the employment contract, company policies and procedures, and any and all directives (such as, but not limited to, transfer and/or re-assignment to different work locations, change in teams and/or work shifts, policies in regards to flexibility of work benefits and/or work environment, alternative work arrangements, and other decisions that may arise due to the changing business environment). The Company may adopt, vary or rescind these policies and directives in its absolute discretion and without any limitation (implied or otherwise) on its ability to do so

Required Qualifications

• Graduate - B. Tech and/or MS in computer science or equivalent
• 9+ years of experience in Python
• Solid hands-on experience with FastAPI, including high-performance asynchronous implementations
• Proven experience designing large-scale backend systems and APIs
• Extensive hands-on experience with GCP, Azure, or AWS
• Experience deploying and operating mission-critical AI workloads in production
• Deep experience with vector databases (e.g., Redis, ChromaDB, or equivalent)
• Expert-level experience with Docker
• Experience operationalizing GenAI systems with reliability and governance in mind
• Solid working knowledge of Kubernetes, including scaling, resiliency, and troubleshooting
• Knowledge or Handson experience in:
• LLMs and agentic AI architectures
• Multi-agent frameworks
• Google ADK, Anthropic MCP, or similar platforms
• Solid understanding of cloud architecture, networking, IAM, security, and cost optimization
• Proven solid command of SQL and NoSQL databases, indexing strategies, and performance tuning
• Proven advanced skills in prompt engineering, evaluation frameworks, and AI observability

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.