Head of Data Architecture & AI Strategy

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

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Incentive programs

Equity stock purchase

401k contribution

Job summary

Optum is seeking a data architecture leader to own the target-state data architecture for the Community & State business. You will guide data modeling, governance, and delivery through engineering teams, collaborating with enterprise data strategies and AI initiatives.

You will translate complex business needs into scalable data solutions, validate architectural choices through PoCs, and drive AI-enabled data platforms with strong governance and security practices.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in data architecture, engineering, analytics or related tech fields.
• 5+ years defining enterprise data architecture strategies and adoption.
• 4+ years with modern cloud data platforms and distributed architectures.
• 3+ years in senior architecture or technical leadership roles setting strategy.
• 3+ years designing/validating data models across paradigms (dimensional, Data Vault, semantic).
• 2+ years piloting Generative AI/LLM solutions with RAG and vector search.
• Hands-on with metadata, data governance, catalog, lineage, semantic/AI-ready platforms.
• Experience in regulated environments with security, privacy, and risk controls.
• Proficient in Python and SQL; able to review and challenge engineering work.
• Ability to drive architectural transformation through leadership and validated proof points.

Responsibilities

• Own target-state data architecture for Community & State LOB and align with enterprise strategy.
• Translate business needs into data sourcing, modeling, governance, and serving designs.
• Communicate architecture rationale and trade-offs to stakeholders and leaders.
• Review pilots and PoCs; guide engineering teams before adoption.
• Design semantic layers, ontologies, and knowledge systems for humans and AI.
• Evaluate AI trends (RAG, agentic patterns, vector/embedding) for solution design.
• Create reference architectures, data contracts, and governance models.
• Establish data governance, quality, privacy, security, and AI-safety frameworks.
• Drive alignment across engineering teams through influence and proof points.
• Collaborate with security, legal, compliance, and infra on build/buy decisions.
• Model responsible AI adoption and enterprise tooling usage.

Skills

Data architecture

Cloud data platforms

Python

SQL

Stakeholder influence

Communication

Pattern design

Data governance

AI readiness

Proofs of concept

Education

Master’s degree in CS/DS (or related)

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Engineering/DS

Tools

Snowflake

Databricks

BigQuery

Azure Synapse

Job description

Optum is seeking a data architecture leader to own the target-state data architecture for the Community & State business. You will guide data modeling, governance, and delivery through engineering teams, collaborating with enterprise data strategies and AI initiatives.

You will translate complex business needs into scalable data solutions, validate architectural choices through PoCs, and drive AI-enabled data platforms with strong governance and security practices.