Distinguished AI Engineer

Elevance Health; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Elevance Health is seeking a Distinguished AI Engineer to lead the design, development, and deployment of enterprise-grade AI systems that empower modernization across the organization.

You will drive scalable AI solutions, set architecture standards, and oversee AI governance while mentoring teams to deliver high-impact results. The role combines in-office collaboration with hybrid/remote flexibility where allowed.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field and 15+ years of software engineering leadership, including distributed systems and large-scale architectures.
• Experience designing, developing, and maintaining software solutions using Python, Java, APIs, microservices, and event-driven architectures.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms, CI/CD, and DevOps practices is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of large-scale AI systems and platforms across the enterprise.
• Define and enforce enterprise-wide technical direction, architecture patterns, and reusable platform capabilities.
• Modernize legacy systems through automated code transformation and service decomposition to improve velocity and quality.
• Establish AI governance, monitoring, and responsible AI practices; mentor engineers and guide technical decisions across teams.

Skills

Python

Java

APIs

Microservices

Distributed systems

LLMs

CI/CD

DevOps practices

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/Engineering

Tools

Cloud platforms

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD tooling

Job description

Distinguished AI Engineer

Please note that per our policy on hybrid/virtual work, candidates not within a reasonable commuting distance from the posting location(s) will not be considered for employment, unless an accommodation is granted as required by law.

The Distinguished AI Engineer will be responsible for leading the design, development, and deployment of large-scale, production-grade artificial intelligence (AI) systems and platforms that enable enterprise-wide innovation and modernization.

How you will make an impact:

• Architect and deliver scalable, resilient AI solutions leveraging technologies such as agentic systems, large language models (LLMs), distributed systems, and event-driven architectures.
• Define enterprise-wide technical direction, including architecture patterns, integration standards, and reusable platform capabilities.
• Lead AI-driven modernization of legacy systems through automated code transformation, service decomposition, and continuous optimization.
• Design and implement AI-enabled software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices to improve engineering velocity and quality.
• Establish technical standards, governance frameworks, and best practices for AI systems, including monitoring, evaluation, and responsible AI.
• Partner with engineering teams and stakeholders to enable adoption of AI-assisted development and drive continuous improvement in system performance and productivity.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship while influencing enterprise technology decisions through deep expertise and hands‑on engineering.

Requires a bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and a minimum of 15 years of experience in software engineering, including experience leading, designing, implementing, and operating distributed systems and large-scale architectures, or any combination of education and experience which would provide an equivalent background. Experience designing, developing, and maintaining software solutions using Python, Java, or comparable object-oriented programming languages also required, as well as experience designing and implementing APIs, microservices, and event-driven architectures, and applying cloud, CI/CD, and DevOps practices.

Preferred Skills, Capabilities and Experiences:

• Experience delivering production-grade AI/ML systems at scale, building agentic systems or complex LLM-based applications, modernizing large, complex legacy systems, and delivering high-quality systems is preferred.
• Strong programming expertise in Python, Java, or similar technology is preferred.
• Deep experience with APIs, microservices, and event-driven architectures, cloud platforms, and CI/CD and DevOps practices is preferred.
• Advanced experience designing and leading distributed systems and large-scale architectures is strongly preferred.
• Experience establishing enterprise technology standards and influencing technical direction across multiple teams or business domains is preferred.
• Experience serving as a technical authority for software engineering practices, architecture, platform strategy, and modern application architectures, including APIs, microservices, cloud technologies, and DevOps practices, is strongly preferred.

Distinguished AI Engineer

Location:

This role requires associates to be in-office 3 days per week, fostering collaboration and connectivity, while providing flexibility to support productivity and work-life balance. This approach combines structured office engagement with the autonomy of virtual work, promoting a dynamic and adaptable workplace. Alternate locations may be considered if candidates reside within a commuting distance from an office.

Please note that per our policy on hybrid/virtual work, candidates not within a reasonable commuting distance from the posting location(s) will not be considered for employment, unless an accommodation is granted as required by law.

The Distinguished AI Engineer will be responsible for leading the design, development, and deployment of large-scale, production-grade artificial intelligence (AI) systems and platforms that enable enterprise-wide innovation and modernization.

How you will make an impact:

• Architect and deliver scalable, resilient AI solutions leveraging technologies such as agentic systems, large language models (LLMs), distributed systems, and event-driven architectures.
• Define enterprise-wide technical direction, including architecture patterns, integration standards, and reusable platform capabilities.
• Lead AI-driven modernization of legacy systems through automated code transformation, service decomposition, and continuous optimization.
• Design and implement AI-enabled software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices to improve engineering velocity and quality.
• Establish technical standards, governance frameworks, and best practices for AI systems, including monitoring, evaluation, and responsible AI.
• Partner with engineering teams and stakeholders to enable adoption of AI-assisted development and drive continuous improvement in system performance and productivity.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship while influencing enterprise technology decisions through deep expertise and hands‑on engineering.

Minimum Requirements:

Requires a bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and a minimum of 15 years of experience in software engineering, including experience leading, designing, implementing, and operating distributed systems and large-scale architectures, or any combination of education and experience which would provide an equivalent background. Experience designing, developing, and maintaining software solutions using Python, Java, or comparable object-oriented programming languages also required, as well as experience designing and implementing APIs, microservices, and event-driven architectures, and applying cloud, CI/CD, and DevOps practices.

Preferred Skills, Capabilities and Experiences:

• Experience delivering production-grade AI/ML systems at scale, building agentic systems or complex LLM-based applications, modernizing large, complex legacy systems, and delivering high-quality systems is preferred.
• Strong programming expertise in Python, Java, or similar technology is preferred.
• Deep experience with APIs, microservices, and event-driven architectures, cloud platforms, and CI/CD and DevOps practices is preferred.
• Advanced experience designing and leading distributed systems and large-scale architectures is strongly preferred.
• Experience establishing enterprise technology standards and influencing technical direction across multiple teams or business domains is preferred.
• Experience serving as a technical authority for software engineering practices, architecture, platform strategy, and modern application architectures, including APIs, microservices, cloud technologies, and DevOps practices, is strongly preferred.

Desired Skills and Experience

The Distinguished AI Engineer will be responsible for leading the design, development, and deployment of large-scale, production-grade artificial intelligence (AI) systems and platforms that enable enterprise-wide innovation and modernization.

Please be advised that Elevance Health only accepts resumes for compensation from agencies that have a signed agreement with Elevance Health. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Elevance Health.

Who We Are

Elevance Health is a health company dedicated to improving lives and communities - and making healthcare simpler. We are a Fortune 25 company with a longstanding history in the healthcare industry, looking for leaders at all levels of the organization who are passionate about making an impact on our members and the communities we serve.

How We Work

At Elevance Health, we are creating a culture that is designed to advance our strategy but will also lead to personal and professional growth for our associates. Our values and behaviors are the root of our culture. They are how we achieve our strategy, power our business outcomes and drive our shared success - for our consumers, our associates, our communities and our business.

We offer a range of market-competitive total rewards that include merit increases, paid holidays, Paid Time Off, and incentive bonus programs (unless covered by a collective bargaining agreement), medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability benefits, 401(k) +match, stock purchase plan, life insurance, wellness programs and financial education resources, to name a few.

Elevance Health operates in a Hybrid Workforce Strategy. Unless specified as primarily virtual by the hiring manager, associates are required to work at an Elevance Health location at least once per week, and potentially several times per week. Specific requirements and expectations for time onsite will be discussed as part of the hiring process.

The health of our associates and communities is a top priority for Elevance Health. We require all new candidates in certain patient/member-facing roles to become vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza. If you are not vaccinated, your offer will be rescinded unless you provide an acceptable explanation. Elevance Health will also follow all relevant federal, state, and local laws.

Elevance Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Applicants who require accommodation to participate in the job application process may contact [e-mail] assistance. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, including, but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act