Director, Software Engineering - AI Platform and Full Stack Engineering - Office-based in Minneapolis, MN

UnitedHealth Group; Minnetonka (MN); On-site; USD 135,000 - 231,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Equity stock purchase

401k contribution

Job summary

UnitedHealth Group's Optum Tech seeks a Director of Software Engineering to lead AI-first, full stack platform capabilities for enterprise-scale intelligence and decisioning. You will provide technical direction and people leadership, building and scaling high-performing teams that deliver secure, scalable, and compliant software solutions.

Located in Minneapolis, MN, the role follows an office-based schedule with four in-office days per week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years of software engineering experience including full stack development.
• 5+ years leading engineering teams and large-scale delivery.
• 2+ years using AI-assisted development tools to improve delivery.
• Experience with CI/CD, DevOps tooling, and cloud platforms (AWS preferred).
• Experience with AI/ML development, governance, data management, and responsible AI practices.
• Strong Python, Node.js, and modern full stack frameworks (React/Angular, REST, GraphQL).
• Proven experience leading AI-enabled platform and full stack engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and scale high-performing engineering teams across full stack and AI platform development.
• Drive hiring, coaching, and performance management to develop solid engineering talent aligned to AI-first capabilities.
• Establish clear ownership, accountability, and delivery governance across teams.
• Define and govern architecture for AI-driven applications, full stack platforms, APIs, and microservices ecosystems.
• Establish enterprise guardrails for open-source usage, AI models, and data governance.
• Partner with product and architecture leaders to align technical strategy with business outcomes.
• Own end-to-end delivery of engineering roadmaps with a focus on quality, speed, and reliability.
• Manage cross-team dependencies and ensure alignment across engineering, data science, and platform teams.
• Track execution, manage risks, and proactively address capacity and delivery gaps.
• Ensure governance and oversight of AI models, training data, and externally exposed capabilities.
• Drive adoption of compliance-as-code practices embedded into CI/CD and SDLC workflows.
• Oversee development of end-to-end full stack solutions (UI, APIs, services, and data layers).
• Enable scalable platforms supporting AI-driven use cases, analytics, and decision intelligence.
• Champion adoption of AI-assisted development tools to accelerate engineering productivity.
• Drive engineering excellence through automation, reusable patterns, and modern development practices.
• Partner with business, product, and executive stakeholders to translate strategy into execution.
• Communicate progress, risks, and outcomes to senior leadership.
• Influence enterprise decisions on engineering standards and AI adoption.

Skills

Engineering Leadership

Full Stack Development

AI-assisted development

CI/CD & DevOps

Cloud Platforms (AWS)

Python

Node.js

React/Angular

REST/GraphQL

AI governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

AWS

CI/CD tooling

DevOps tooling

GraphQL

REST APIs

Microservices

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.

As Director of Software Engineering, you will lead the development and delivery of AI-first, full stack platform capabilities that enable enterprise-scale intelligence, optimization, and decisioning. You will be responsible for both technical direction and people leadership, building and scaling high-performing teams that deliver secure, scalable, and compliant software solutions.

This role combines engineering leadership, AI platform strategy, and execution excellence, ensuring alignment across architecture, engineering, and business priorities.

If you are located in Minneapolis, MN, you will follow an office-based schedule with four in-office days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Engineering Leadership & Organization Management
  • Build, lead, and scale high-performing engineering teams across full stack and AI platform development
  • Drive hiring, coaching, and performance management to develop solid engineering talent aligned to AI-first capabilities
  • Establish clear ownership, accountability, and delivery governance across teams
• Technology & Architecture Leadership
  • Define and govern architecture for AI-driven applications, full stack platforms, APIs, and microservices ecosystems
  • Establish enterprise guardrails for open-source usage, AI models, and data governance
  • Partner with product and architecture leaders to align technical strategy with business outcomes
• Delivery & Execution Accountability
  • Own end-to-end delivery of engineering roadmaps with a focus on quality, speed, and reliability
  • Manage cross-team dependencies and ensure alignment across engineering, data science, and platform teams
  • Track execution, manage risks, and proactively address capacity and delivery gaps
• AI/ML Governance & Compliance
  • Ensure governance and oversight of AI models, training data, and externally exposed capabilities
  • Drive adoption of compliance-as-code practices embedded into CI/CD and SDLC workflows
• Platform Engineering & Full Stack Enablement
  • Oversee development of end-to-end full stack solutions (UI, APIs, services, and data layers)
  • Enable scalable platforms supporting AI-driven use cases, analytics, and decision intelligence
• Engineering Productivity & Innovation
  • Champion adoption of AI-assisted development tools (LLMs, coding agents) to accelerate engineering productivity
  • Drive engineering excellence through automation, reusable patterns, and modern development practices
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
  • Partner with business, product, and executive stakeholders to translate strategy into execution
  • Communicate progress, risks, and outcomes to senior leadership
  • Influence enterprise decisions on engineering standards and AI adoption

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, or related field
• 12+ years of experience in software engineering, including full stack development
• 5+ years of experience leading engineering teams and managing large-scale delivery
• 2+ Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools and processes ( AI DLC) to improve delivery efficiency
• Experience with CI/CD, DevOps tooling, and cloud platforms (AWS preferred)
• Experience with AI/ML Development, model governance, data management, and responsible AI practices
• Solid experience with Python, Node.js, and modern full stack frameworks (React/Angular, REST, GraphQL)
• Proven experience leading AI-enabled platform and full stack engineering teams

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with AI/ML platforms, LLM-based applications, or agentic systems
• Experience building enterprise-scale platforms for analytics, optimization, or decision intelligence
• Experience in regulated industries (healthcare, financial services, etc.)
• Knowledge of responsible AI, model lifecycle management, and governance frameworks
• Deep expertise in microservices architecture and distributed systems
• Track record of delivering multi-quarter, cross-team engineering programs

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.

At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are 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 and its affiliated brands are a drug‑free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.