Director, Enterprise Architecture - Remote

Optum; Minnetonka (MN); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 231,000; Full time

Job summary

Optum is seeking a strategic AI leader to define and evangelize the enterprise AI and GenAI vision, aligning business strategy with a scalable tech roadmap. You will partner with business, product, and executive stakeholders to identify high-value AI opportunities and justify investments.

You’ll work with governance and Responsible AI practices, guide architecture direction, and influence cross-functional teams across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in technology strategy, enterprise architecture, or technology consulting, including 3+ years focused on AI/GenAI transformation.
• Experience translating business strategy into technology roadmaps and influencing executive decisions.
• Experience embedding Responsible AI and governance practices into enterprise initiatives.
• Experience as an enterprise architect, technology strategist, or trusted technical advisor.
• Working knowledge of modern AI architecture concepts (LLMs, RAG, prompt orchestration, agent frameworks, model gateways).
• Broad familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure preferred) and enterprise architecture patterns.

Responsibilities

• Define and evangelize the enterprise AI and GenAI vision and translate business strategy into a prioritized technology roadmap.
• Partner with business, product, and executive stakeholders to identify high-value AI opportunities and build ROI cases.
• Serve as bridge between business leadership and technical teams, balancing business value and technical feasibility.
• Define governance and guardrails for Responsible AI and ensure alignment with regulatory standards.
• Communicate AI strategy through executive-level presentations and narratives to cross-functional groups.
• Drive adoption of AI across the organization and track business impact to refine the roadmap.

Skills

AI strategy

Enterprise architecture

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or related field

MBA or advanced degree (preferred)

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.

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

• Strategy & Business Alignment
  • Define and evangelize the enterprise AI and GenAI vision, translating business strategy and outcomes into a coherent, prioritized technology roadmap
  • Partner with business, product, and executive stakeholders to identify high-value AI opportunities and build the case for investment, including ROI and risk trade-offs
  • Act as the primary bridge between business leadership and technical teams - able to speak fluently in both business value and technical feasibility
  • Continuously scan the AI/GenAI landscape (models, platforms, frameworks, vendors) and translate emerging capabilities into practical business opportunity
• Architectural Direction (not detailed design)
  • Set enterprise-level direction and guardrails for AI architecture patterns (e.g., RAG, agent frameworks, model orchestration, foundation model selection) without owning detailed solution design
  • Evaluate and recommend AI platforms, foundation models, and tooling based on enterprise fit, cost, scalability, and risk - partnering with solution/technical architects to execute
  • Establish enterprise standards, reference patterns, and decision frameworks that solution architects and engineering teams use to design and build
  • Provide "second opinion" architectural judgment on major AI initiatives - enough technical depth to ask the right questions and stress-test decisions, without being the implementer
• Governance & Responsible AI
  • Define enterprise-level principles and guardrails for Responsible AI - privacy, fairness, explainability, model risk, auditability - and ensure they're embedded across initiatives
  • Partner with legal, compliance, and security to ensure AI initiatives meet regulatory and governance standards at a portfolio level
  • Establish a lightweight governance model (not heavy process) for how new AI use cases get vetted, approved, and scaled
• Communication & Influence
  • Build and deliver executive-level presentations and narratives that make AI strategy and value tangible to non-technical stakeholders
  • Serve as a trusted advisor and thought leader to business unit leaders on "what's possible, what's practical, and what's next" in AI
  • Facilitate alignment across cross-functional and onshore/offshore teams, ensuring shared understanding of AI direction and priorities
  • Represent AI strategy in forums, steering committees, and business reviews
• Adoption & Change Leadership
  • Drive organizational AI adoption and literacy - helping business and technical teams understand how to work with AI-first tools and practices (e.g., Copilot-assisted development, agentic workflows)
  • Identify modernization opportunities where GenAI can meaningfully improve automation, insight generation, or user experience
  • Track and communicate the business impact of AI initiatives, refining the roadmap based on outcomes and adoption patterns
• Cross-Org Alignment & Reuse
  • Stay closely connected to AI and technology initiatives across other domains and business units to identify reuse, avoid duplication, and align on shared direction before work kicks off
  • Build a solid peer network across the enterprise to enable early collaboration, and represent domain AI strategy in cross-functional architecture forums
  • Flag and help resolve misalignment or fragmentation risk across teams - championing reuse of existing patterns and platforms over redundant investment

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

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business, or related field
• 8+ years of progressive experience in technology strategy, enterprise architecture, or technology consulting, including 3+ years focused on AI/GenAI transformation
• Demonstrated experience translating business strategy into technology roadmaps and influencing executive-level decisions
• Experience embedding Responsible AI and governance practices (privacy, fairness, model risk, auditability) into enterprise initiatives
• Experience as an enterprise architect, technology strategist, or trusted technical advisor solidly preferred
• Working knowledge of modern AI architecture concepts (LLMs, RAG, prompt orchestration, agent frameworks, model gateways) sufficient to evaluate options and guide direction - deep hands-on implementation not required
• Broad familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure preferred) and enterprise architecture patterns (APIs, microservices, event-driven systems) sufficient to set direction, not design
• Proven ability to build cross-organizational relationships and drive alignment across teams with no direct reporting relationship - able to influence without formal authority
• Proven exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a track record of presenting to and influencing senior/executive audiences
• Proven comfort operating in ambiguity - able to set direction before all details are known and adjust as the AI landscape evolves

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced degree
• Experience as an enterprise architect, technology strategist, or trusted technical advisor
• 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 - $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.