Director Data Engineering - Remote

UnitedHealth Group; Eden Prairie (MN); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 231,000; Full time

Job summary

UnitedHealth Group is seeking a Director of Data Engineering to lead cloud-based data solutions enabling HEDIS retrospective processing across lines of business. You will oversee data engineering teams, drive GenAI integration, and partner with product and stakeholders to deliver scalable, compliant outcomes aligned to NCQA requirements.

Remote work is possible within the U.S., with in-office requirements for Minneapolis or DC areas four days a week.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years in the health insurance industry with HEDIS SME experience.
• 8+ years of experience with Onprem/Cloud SQL databases.
• 5+ years leading data engineering teams and SMEs.
• 5+ years Agile/Kanban delivery, CI/CD, TDD, automated testing, and code reviews.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for clients.
• Experience translating analyses into actionable insights.
• Experience with GenAI in cloud environments.
• Ability to work with cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Operations & Maintenance delivery lead for LOB HEDIS data processing and AI implementations.
• Lead a large team of data engineers and SMEs.
• Communicate with stakeholders and auditors on logic and issues.
• Collaborate with product and source teams to manage dependencies.
• Resolve issues promptly and escalate when needed.
• Guide discussions with accountability and leadership presence.
• Ask insightful questions to uncover risks and opportunities.
• Stay updated on Quality measures and NCQA changes.
• Evaluate trends to inform design and strategic innovation.

Skills

HEDIS knowledge

Cloud data engineering

SQL databases

GenAI adoption

Leadership

Agile/Kanban

Communication

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Data governance

FHIR (preferred)

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience

Tools

GenAI tools

Job description

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.

This Director of Data Engineering role will lead delivery of cloud-based data engineering solutions supporting UHC HEDIS Retrospective data processing across lines of business. The leader will oversee data engineering teams and SMEs, drive AI/GenAI adoption into technical workflows, partner closely with business and product stakeholders, and ensure scalable, compliant solutions aligned to Quality measures, NCQA requirements, and business outcomes.

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:

• Operations & Maintenance delivery lead for all UHC LOB HEDIS Retrospective data processing responsible for delivering Cloud based data engineering solutions along with driving AI implementations
• Lead a large team of data engineers and SMEs with different skill levels in functional and technical roles
• Manage communications with business stakeholders and auditors on functional logic and issue tracking
• Collaborate effectively with product, cross-functional enhancement, and source teams to identify, manage, and resolve dependencies that ensure seamless delivery.
• Drive timely resolution by escalating as needed and convening the right stakeholders
• Engage in high-stakes conversations, navigating difficult discussions with professionalism and clarity
• Demonstrate solid leadership presence to guide discussions, challenge assumptions, and drive accountability
• Ask insightful, forward-looking questions to uncover functional and technical risks, gaps, and opportunities
• Remove barriers to execution by facilitating decisions and navigating organizational complexity
• Stay up to date on Quality measures, NCQA changes and impact to the technical solutions and business outcomes
• Evaluate emerging trends to inform solution design and strategic innovation

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:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience
• 8+ years of experience in the health insurance industry with core expertise in HEDIS, serving as a subject matter expert
• 8+ years of experience using Onprem/Cloud based SQL databases in a research, consulting, or business environment
• 5+ years of experience and understanding of HEDIS concepts and understanding of the engines in the market, expertise in HEDIS measures and HEDIS data domains (Member, Eligibility, Medical, Rx, Clinical data), including Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial LOB nuances
• 5+ years of experience managing personnel, including leading, coaching, and mentoring data SMEs
• 5+ years of Agile/Kanban based delivery experience, engineering best practices including unit testing, test-driven development (TDD), continuous Integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), pair programming, automated testing, and code reviews
• Proven excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate analyses and findings to clients
• Experience communicating technical and methodological nuances to a non-technical audience
• Demonstrated ability to translate analytical results into meaningful insights that inform decision-making
• Proven problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• Proven ability to interact collaboratively with internal business partners across multiple departments and business segments
• Proven self-starter who can operate well in a changing and sometimes ambiguous environment
• Exposure to incorporating GenAI and Agentic AI into technical workflows and Cloud environments/Databases

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in FHIR standards and Clinical data
• Solid experience incorporating GenAI and Agentic AI into technical workflows

*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 $134,600 to $230,800 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.