Distinguished Engineer

Elevance Health; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 255,000 - 382,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Equity stock purchase

401(k) contribution

Job summary

Elevance Health in Chicago is seeking a Distinguished Engineer to lead design, development, and deployment of large-scale AI systems across the enterprise. The role focuses on scalable AI platforms, governance, and modern data architectures to drive healthcare innovation.

The ideal candidate will have 15+ years in software engineering, expertise in Python/Java, APIs and microservices, cloud and DevOps, and a track record of delivering enterprise AI solutions in regulated environments.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience in software engineering, including experience leading, designing, implementing, and operating distributed systems and large-scale architectures.
• Experience designing, developing, and maintaining software solutions using Python, Java, or comparable object‑oriented programming languages; experience with APIs, microservices, event‑driven architectures, cloud, CI/CD and DevOps.

Responsibilities

• Architect and deliver scalable, resilient AI solutions leveraging agentic systems, 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.

Skills

Python

Java

APIs

Microservices

CI/CD

DevOps

Distributed systems

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Please note: This position is not eligible for current or future visa sponsorship

Hybrid: 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 Engineer is 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 designing and delivering enterprise AI solutions that drive measurable business outcomes across healthcare domains including medical cost management, payment integrity, utilization management, claims, care management, pharmacy, and clinical operations.
• Deep expertise in agentic AI, LLMs, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), knowledge graphs, semantic layers, ontologies, conversational analytics, AI orchestration, and intelligent automation.
• Experience defining enterprise data strategies and modern data architectures, including open table formats (Apache Iceberg), data catalogs and catalog federation, metadata management, semantic models, data products, and interoperable multi‑platform data ecosystems.
• Experience building enterprise AI platforms and reusable capabilities, including AI gateways, semantic models, vector databases, governance, security, and responsible AI.
• Healthcare payer experience, including healthcare data, FHIR/HL7 interoperability, and regulated environments.
• Demonstrated ability to partner with business, clinical, and technology leaders to translate business strategy into scalable AI‑enabled products and enterprise capabilities.
• Recognized technical leader with experience defining enterprise architecture, influencing technology strategy, and driving adoption of modern AI engineering practices.
• Experience designing, building, and operating large‑scale distributed systems and cloud‑native applications.
• Experience developing software using Python, Java, or comparable object‑oriented programming languages.
• Experience designing APIs, microservices, event‑driven architectures, and implementing CI/CD and DevSecOps practices.
• Experience leading architecture and technical design for complex enterprise software platforms and mentoring engineering teams.
• Experience applying AI, machine learning, or generative AI technologies to develop production software solutions.

For candidates working in person or virtually in the below locations, the salary* range for this specific position is $254,584.00 - $381,876.00 USD Annual.

Location: Chicago, IL

In addition to your salary, Elevance Health offers benefits such as a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). The salary offered for this specific position is based on a number of legitimate, non-discriminatory factors set by the Company. The Company is fully committed to ensuring equal pay opportunities for equal work regardless of gender, race, or any other category protected by federal, state, and local pay equity laws.

* The salary range is the range Elevance Health in good faith believes is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future and actual compensation may vary from posting based on geographic location, work experience, education, and/or skill level. Even within the range, the actual compensation will vary depending on the above factors as well as market/business considerations. No amount is wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable under the terms and conditions of the applicable policies and plans. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company's sole discretion, consistent with the law.

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