Principal AI/ML Applied Scientist

Optum; Bellevue (WA); Remote; USD 182,000 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Equity stock purchase

401k contribution

Job summary

Optum AI is UnitedHealth Group’s enterprise AI team. We are hiring a Principal AI/ML Applied Scientist to lead advanced modeling efforts and collaborate with cross‑functional partners. This role offers remote flexibility within the U.S.

with the Bellevue, WA location for in‑person collaboration when needed. The position requires a PhD and 10+ years of machine learning experience, with a focus on scalable healthcare AI, NLP, and multimodal modeling.

Qualifications

• PhD in AI, CS, data science or related technical field.
• 10+ years of ML/AI industry or academic experience.
• 5+ years building models for business applications.
• Experience with state-of-the-art algorithms and architectures (GNNs, Transformers, LLMs).
• Strong Python programming and deep learning framework experience.

Responsibilities

• Build ML models and deploy into production with software engineers.
• Perform analytics on healthcare data to generate Insights and value.
• Run A/B experiments and statistical analyses.
• Create scalable data analysis and model development processes.
• Research innovative ML approaches and pursue IP submissions.
• Mentor and recruit AI/ML scientists and engineers to the team.

Skills

Python

Deep Learning

GNNs

Transformers

LLMs

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Education

PhD in AI/CS/Data Science

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Job description

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

Job Description - Principal AI/ML Applied Scientist (2385351)

Principal AI/ML Applied Scientist - 2385351

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 to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Optum AI is UnitedHealth Group’s enterprise AI team. We are AI/ML scientists and engineers with deep expertise in AI/ML engineering for health care. We develop AI/ML solutions for the highest impact opportunities across UnitedHealth Group businesses including UnitedHealthcare, Optum Financial, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. In addition to transforming the health care journey through responsible AI/ML innovation, our charter also includes developing and supporting an enterprise AI/ML development platform.

Optum AI team members:

• Have impact at scale: We have the data and resources to make an impact at scale. When our solutions are deployed, they have the potential to make health care system work better for everyone
• Do ground-breaking work: Many of our current projects involve cutting edge ML, NLP and LLM techniques. Generative AI methods for working with structured and unstructured health care data are continuously being developed and improved. We are working in one of the most important frontiers of AI/ML research and development
• Partner with world-class experts on innovative solutions: Our team members are developing novel AI/ML solutions to business challenges. In some cases, this includes the opportunity to file patents and publish papers about the methods we develop. We also collaborate with AI/ML researchers at some of the world’s top universities

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:

• Build Machine Learning models, perform proof-of-concept, experiment, optimize, and deploy your models into production; work closely with software engineers to assist in productionizing the ML models and AI agents
• Perform hands‑on analysis and modeling of healthcare data sets to develop insights that increase business value
• Run A/B experiments, gather data, and perform statistical analysis
• Establish scalable, efficient, automated processes for large‑scale data analysis, machine‑learning model development, model validation and serving
• Research and implement innovative machine learning approaches
• Mentor and help recruit AI/ML scientists and machine learning engineers to the team
• Present findings and insights to senior leadership and at internal venues
• Be the thought leader in cutting‑edge AI research and proactively pursue IP submissions

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:

• A PhD in AI, computer science, data science, applied math or related technical fields
• 10+ years of industry/academic experience in machine learning or a related field
• 5+ years of building models for business application experience
• Experienced mathematical background, especially in optimization theory, stochastic algorithms, and/or numerical methods
• Experience with state‑of‑the‑art algorithms and topologies including, but not limited to: GNNs, GANs, Transformers, deep and wide, SSMs, LLMs among others
• In‑depth knowledge of Generative AI technology and Large Language Models (LLM) with focus in LLM optimization
• Advanced understanding of Deep Learning with applications in NLP and multimodal modeling
• Solid Python programming skills and experience with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in AI/ML in the healthcare and or Fintech sector
• Experience working with cross‑functional and distributed teams in a global and diverse environment
• Experience in establishing AI/ML best practices, standards, and ethics

*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 $182,100 - $227,700 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

• a comprehensive benefits package
• incentive and recognition programs
• equity stock purchase
• 401k contribution

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.

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.