Lead AI Software Engineer - Remote

Optum; Minnetonka (MN); Remote; USD 113,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Optum is seeking a Lead AI Software Engineer to design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain AI-powered solutions that blend Generative AI with traditional ML. You will drive responsible AI practices and govern model lifecycle across production environments.

You will provide technical leadership, collaborate with product, architecture, and engineering leaders, and help shape healthcare-focused AI initiatives while delivering scalable platforms for the Provider community.

Qualifications

• 12+ years software engineering with 4+ years AI/ML focus.
• 3+ years in a technical leadership role — setting technical direction and mentoring engineers.
• 3+ years in hands-on AI/ML with Generative AI, LLMs, NLP, and agentic AI patterns.
• 4+ years delivering enterprise-scale AI/ML platforms in production.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI/ML adoption for the team — designing, developing, testing, deploying, and maintaining AI-powered solutions.
• Provide technical leadership for AI initiatives, partnering with product management, architecture, and engineering leadership.

Skills

Python

AI/ML engineering

Leadership

Cloud platforms

GenAI/LLMs

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/AI or related field

Tools

AWS Bedrock/SageMaker

Azure OpenAI Service

GCP Vertex AI

Job description

Improve the lives of others while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Job Description - Lead AI Software Engineer - Remote (2386395)

Lead AI Software Engineer - Remote - 2386395

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 in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

You’ll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

Lead AI/ML adoption for the team — designing, developing, testing, deploying, and maintaining AI-powered solutions that combine Generative AI and traditional ML techniques

Provide technical leadership for AI initiatives (e.g., conversational AI/chatbots, predictive analytics, intelligent automation), partnering with product management, architecture, and engineering leadership to solve healthcare-specific challenges

Build responsible AI solutions and services for the Provider community, ensuring compliance with ethical and regulatory standards, and lead AI governance, model lifecycle management, and production support

Evaluate and leverage emerging cloud AI/ML offerings to deliver efficient, cost-effective solutions, including integrating AI into broader cloud modernization and digital-first initiatives

Drive alignment between AI initiatives and enterprise strategy, independently prioritizing and planning work against business objectives

Own the quality and operational excellence of AI software deliverables in production

Mentor and train team members on AI/ML technologies, frameworks, and responsible AI practices

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 or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience

12+ years of software engineering experience, including 4+ years focused on AI/ML engineering

4+ years delivering enterprise-scale AI, ML, Data, or Cloud platforms in production

3+ years in a technical leadership role — setting technical direction, leading engineering teams, and mentoring engineers (formal people-management experience is a plus, not a requirement)

Hands-on experience with Generative AI, including 3+ years with LLMs, NLP, and AI architecture, and 2+ years of applied experience with agentic AI patterns, RAG, and AI orchestration/automation frameworks

Experience with cloud-native AI/ML services and infrastructure across major providers — e.g., managed GenAI/ML platforms (AWS Bedrock/SageMaker, Azure OpenAI Service/Azure ML, GCP Vertex AI), serverless compute (Lambda/Azure Functions/Cloud Functions), container orchestration (ECS/EKS, AKS, GKE), managed search/vector stores (OpenSearch, Azure AI Search, Elasticsearch), and object storage (S3, Blob Storage, Cloud Storage)

Experience with AI governance, model lifecycle management, and production operationalization/support processes

Strong Python development skills and familiarity with enterprise-scale AI/ML platforms

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience scoping and delivering large, cross-team AI initiatives (budget/program-management experience is a plus)

Exposure to healthcare payer, claims, provider operations, utilization management, or other regulated industries

Experience driving enterprise cloud modernization or platform transformation initiatives

Strong stakeholder communication and cross-functional collaboration skills

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

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 $112,700 - $193,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.

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.

UnitedHealth Group is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or accommodation for any part of the application process, please call 1-866-566-8715 to be connected to Recruitment Services. Recruitment Services hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

UnitedHealth Group is a registered service mark of UnitedHealth Group, Inc. The UnitedHealth Group name with the dimensional logo, as well as the dimensional logo alone, are both service marks for the UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.