Principal AI Data Scientist, E&I Affordability

UnitedHealth Group; Las Vegas (NV); Remote; USD 113,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work within the U.S.

Competitive salary & benefits

401k contribution

Job summary

UnitedHealthcare, a part of UnitedHealth Group, seeks a Principal Data Scientist to lead AI-driven affordability initiatives across data science, analytics, and tech teams. You will connect healthcare data sources, generate actionable insights, and build scalable solutions to improve cost management and outcomes.

This role offers remote work from anywhere in the U.S., with some on-site requirements for specific markets.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in data science, applied statistics, ML, or AI.
• 5+ years of SQL experience.
• 4+ years programming in Python and/or R.
• 3+ years working with healthcare payer, provider, or health plan data.
• Hands-on experience with healthcare claims data.
• Experience deploying models to production and measuring impact.
• Experience mentoring data scientists and setting technical direction.
• Excellent communication skills with executive audiences.
• Willing and able to travel 10% +/- depending on business need.

Responsibilities

• Lead large, complex Data Science and AI initiatives from problem framing through deployment, measurement, and value realization.
• Translate ambiguous business challenges into scalable analytical, ML, causal inference, optimization, or AI-driven solutions.
• Design and build AI-enabled products, research agents, and analytical capabilities that connect enterprise data sources.
• Provide technical architecture and solution design guidance for analytical products and production AI systems.
• Establish best practices for feature engineering, model development, validation, governance, and deployment.
• Conduct technical reviews and ensure analytical rigor, scalability, and business impact.
• Partner with business, product, engineering, and technology leaders to identify opportunities and realize value.
• Drive innovation through emerging AI technologies and reusable frameworks.
• Develop workflow, portfolio management, and decision-support capabilities for execution efficiency.
• Communicate insights and value to executive leadership to influence decisions.
• Represent Data Science in enterprise architecture, governance, and technology strategy discussions.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives focused on affordability, cost management, and business transformation.

Skills

Data science experience

SQL

Python/R

Healthcare data

Model deployment

Mentoring

Communication

Travel willingness

Tools

Snowflake

Databricks

Job description

At UnitedHealthcare, we're simplifying the health care experience, creating healthier communities and removing barriers to quality care. The work you do here impacts the lives of millions of people for the better. Come build the health care system of tomorrow, making it more responsive, affordable and optimized. Ready to make a difference? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together

The E&I Affordability team is transforming how affordability opportunities are identified, prioritized, and executed through the use of artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and automation. As a Principal Data Scientist, you will serve as a strategic leader responsible for developing AI-driven solutions that accelerate affordability outcomes at scale. This role will work across affordability, medical cost data/analytics, and technology teams to connect complex healthcare datasets, generate actionable insights, and build intelligent solutions that improve medical cost management. You will help shape the future of affordability by reducing the time required to identify opportunities, increasing the impact of interventions, and advancing enterprise AI capabilities. This aligns with broader E&I Affordability efforts to leverage AI-powered affordability engines, unified healthcare data assets, and intelligent workflow automation to drive medical cost savings and operational efficiencies.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of affordability within UnitedHealthcare by developing innovative AI solutions that improve speed, scale, and impact. You'll work on highly visible initiatives, partner with enterprise leaders, and help redefine how affordability opportunities are discovered and executed across the organization.

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 large, complex Data Science and AI initiatives from problem framing through deployment, measurement, and value realization.
• Translate ambiguous business challenges into scalable analytical, machine learning, causal inference, optimization, or AI-driven solutions
• Design and build AI-enabled products, research agents, and analytical capabilities that connect enterprise data sources and generate actionable insights
• Provide technical architecture and solution design guidance for analytical products and production AI systems
• Establish best practices for feature engineering, model development, validation, evaluation, governance, and deployment
• Conduct technical reviews and ensure analytical rigor, scalability, and business impact across initiatives
• Partner with business, product, engineering, and technology leaders to identify opportunities, prioritize investments, and realize measurable value
• Drive innovation through emerging AI technologies, reusable frameworks, intellectual property, and modernized analytical platforms
• Develop intelligent workflow, portfolio management, and decision-support capabilities that improve execution efficiency and outcome tracking
• Communicate insights, recommendations, and business value to executive leadership and influence strategic decision-making
• Represent Data Science in enterprise architecture, governance, and technology strategy discussions
• Lead cross-functional initiatives focused on affordability, cost management, operational efficiency, and business transformation

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:

• 7+ years of experience in data science, applied statistics, machine learning, or artificial intelligence
• 5+ years of SQL experience
• 4+ years of programming experience in Python and/or R
• 3+ years working with healthcare payer, provider, or health plan data
• Hands-on experience with healthcare claims data (medical, pharmacy)
• Demonstrated experience deploying models into production environments and measuring real-world impact on cost, quality, or outcomes
• Experience mentoring data scientists and setting technical direction for a team
• Proven excellent communication skills, with experience presenting to actuarial, clinical, and executive audiences
• Willing and able to travel 10% +/- depending on business need

Preferred Qualification:

• Experience with Snowflake or Databricks

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 make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.

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