Lead Data Scientist - Autonomous Goal Management

Humana Inc; Denver (CO); Remote; USD 142,000 - 196,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus incentive plan

Job summary

Humana Inc. is building advanced AI capabilities to design autonomous agents capable of planning, acting, and learning in real-world healthcare environments.

The team focuses on robust, interpretable AI modules, with emphasis on safety, risk management, and measurable outcomes across insurance and CenterWell segments. The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, development of production-ready AI solutions, and leadership in ML system design while enabling long-horizon goal achievement

Qualifications

• Master's degree and 4+ years in ML research/engineering.
• 2+ years leading development of AI/ML systems.
• PhD in CS/DS/ML preferred; autonomous agents experience OK.

Responsibilities

• Architect goal setting and decomposition for autonomous agents.
• Design dynamic planning systems and scratchpad/self-refinement loops.
• Collaborate on memory, tool-use, and feedback-loop designs for multi-step agents.
• Develop evaluation frameworks aligning with human intent and long-horizon goals.
• Prototype agents interfacing with APIs, MCP servers, search engines, databases, or actuators.
• Explore mechanisms to detect and mitigate goal misalignment or unsafe strategies.
• Work across teams to integrate safety, alignment, and operational reliability.

Skills

SQL

Python

PyTorch

JAX

LangChain

LangGraph

AutoGen

Transformers

Symbolic planning

ETL

Leadership

Education

Master's degree in a related field

4+ years ML research/engineering

2+ years leading AI/ML systems

PhD in CS/DS/ML preferred

Job description

Become a part of our caring community

The Enterprise AI organization at Humana is a pioneering force, driving AI innovation across our Insurance and CenterWell business segments. By collaborating with world-leading experts, we are at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge AI technologies for improving care quality and experience of millions of consumers. We are actively seeking top talent to develop robust and reusable AI modules and pipelines, ensuring adherence to best practices in accountable AI for effective risk management and measurement. Join us in shaping the future of healthcare through AI excellence.

We are building advanced agentic systems capable of autonomously managing and decomposing complex goals. We are seeking an expert in agent design, planning, and control to develop and evaluate agents that can set, adapt, and execute goals in dynamic, real-world environments. You’ll contribute to the scientific and engineering foundations that make AI agents reliable, interpretable, and robust across long-horizon tasks.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect goal setting and goal decomposition mechanisms for autonomous agents operating in uncertain or open-ended environments
• Design and implement dynamic planning systems (e.g., hierarchical planning, curriculum learning, scratchpad/self-refinement loops)
• Collaborate on memory, tool-use, and feedback-loop designs enabling multi-step, self-directed agent behavior
• Develop evaluation frameworks for alignment with human intent, consistency, progress against long-horizon objectives
• Prototype agents that interface with APIs, MCP servers, search engines, databases, or real-world actuators to pursue goals safely and efficiency
• Explore mechanisms to detect and mitigate goal misalignment, looping behavior, or undesirable emergent strategies
• Work across teams to integrate goal alignment with safety, alignment, and operational reliability mechanisms

Technical skills

• Proficiency in SQL, Python, and data analysis/data mining tools.
• Experience with machine learning frameworks like Pytorch, Jax, LangChain, LangGraph or AutoGen
• Experience with high performance, large-scale ML systems
• Experience with language modeling with transformers
• Experience with symbolic planning, causal reasoning, and model-based RL
• Experience with large-scale ETL

Use your skills to make an impact

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree and 4+ years of experience in research/ML engineering or an applied research scientist position preferably with a focus on developing production-ready AI solutions
• 2+ years of experience leading development of AI/ML systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience shipping autonomous, or semi-autonomous agents in production or simulation
• Experience with LLM-based agents with scratchpad/self-reflection or hierarchical task decomposition
• Understanding of autonomy risk mitigation strategies, including off-switch protocols, or bounded rationality

Additional Information

Location/Work Style: Remote US

#enterpriseAI

Work at Home Requirements: To ensure Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees’ ability to work effectively, the self-provided internet service of Home or Hybrid Home/Office employees must meet the following criteria: At minimum, a download speed of 25 Mbps and an upload speed of 10 Mbps is required; wireless, wired cable or DSL connection is suggested. In certain roles, the minimum recommended internet speed required by Humana may not be sufficient for business needs. Humana reserves the right to require associates to upgrade their internet service if necessary. Work from a dedicated space lacking ongoing interruptions to protect member PHI / HIPAA information.

Travel: While this is a remote position, occasional travel to Humana's offices for training or meetings may be required.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Pay Range

The compensation range below reflects a good faith estimate of starting base pay for full time (40 hours per week) employment at the time of posting. The pay range may be higher or lower based on geographic location and individual pay will vary based on demonstrated job related skills, knowledge, experience, education, certifications, etc.

$142,300 - $195,700 per year

This job is eligible for a bonus incentive plan. This incentive opportunity is based upon company and/or individual performance.

Description of Benefits

Humana, Inc. and its affiliated subsidiaries (collectively, “Humana”) offers competitive benefits that support whole-person well-being. Associate benefits are designed to encourage personal wellness and smart healthcare decisions for you and your family while also knowing your life extends outside of work. Among our benefits, Humana provides medical, dental and vision benefits, 401(k) retirement savings plan, time off (including paid time off, company and personal holidays, paid parental and caregiver leave), short-term and long-term disability, life insurance and many other opportunities.

Application Deadline: 10-20-2026

About us

About Humana: Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is a leading U.S. healthcare company. Through our Humana insurance services and our CenterWell healthcare services, we make it easier for the millions of people we serve to achieve their best health – delivering the care and service they need, when they need it. These efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare and Medicaid, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. Learn more about what we offer atHumana.comand atCenterWell.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of Humana not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. It is also the policy of Humana to take affirmative action, in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and VEVRAA, to employ and to advance in employment individuals with disability or protected veteran status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment.

Humana complies with all applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. We also provide free language interpreter services. See our https://www.humana.com/legal/accessibility-resources?source=Humana_Website.