Head of AI/ML Engineering — Claims Orchestration

Optum; Eden Prairie (MN); Remote; USD 177,000 - 303,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Equity stock purchase plan

401k contribution

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

Optum is seeking a Director of AI/ML Engineering - Claims Automation & Orchestration to lead the design and delivery of an AI-enabled orchestration layer across claims platforms. You will connect automation, AI services, and workflow engines, while guiding a team of engineers to improve claims speed, quality and efficiency.

The role combines hands-on technical work with strategic leadership, requiring collaboration with senior stakeholders to align the orchestration strategy with enterprise

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, automation engineering, platform engineering or related technology leadership roles.
• 5+ years of experience designing or delivering automation solutions across multiple systems, platforms or business processes.
• 5+ years of experience establishing engineering standards, governance, observability, validation or control mechanisms for production technology solutions.
• 5+ years of experience designing integration patterns, APIs, event-driven architectures, workflow orchestration, platform services or reusable engineering capabilities.
• 3+ years of experience applying AI/ML, generative AI, agentic AI, workflow automation, rules engines, RPA or related technologies to improve business process execution.
• 3+ years of experience building or leading engineering teams, including direct or matrixed leadership of engineers, architects or technical delivery teams.
• 3+ years of experience partnering with business, product, operations, compliance, security and architecture stakeholders in a complex matrixed environment.
• Experience partnering with business, product, operations, compliance, security, and architecture stakeholders in a complex matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and delivery of a cross-platform claims orchestration layer coordinating AI, automation, and workflow tools.
• Design a runtime routing model for AI vs deterministic vs manual escalation based on task type and risk.
• Establish durable execution patterns for multi-step, multi-day claims processes across platforms.
• Create reusable interfaces and handoff patterns to connect platform teams to a shared orchestration capability.
• Build validation, scoring, and human-review mechanisms for high-risk or high-dollar scenarios.
• Instrument the layer with observability and telemetry to monitor throughput, quality, and impact.
• Align orchestration strategy with enterprise standards through collaboration with multiple stakeholders.
• Recruit and lead a team of 5–20 AI/ML engineers and solution architects while remaining hands-on.
• Define success measures, milestones, risks, and operating model needs to leadership.

Skills

AI/ML leadership

Automation engineering

Platform engineering

Software engineering

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Team leadership

Enterprise architecture

Technical mentorship

Tools

AI evaluation tools

Observability platforms

BI/Dashboarding tools

Facets/enterprise claims systems

Job description

Optum is seeking a Director of AI/ML Engineering - Claims Automation & Orchestration to lead the design and delivery of an AI-enabled orchestration layer across claims platforms. You will connect automation, AI services, and workflow engines, while guiding a team of engineers to improve claims speed, quality and efficiency.

The role combines hands-on technical work with strategic leadership, requiring collaboration with senior stakeholders to align the orchestration strategy with enterprise