Principal Data Engineer

Optum; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 113,000 - 193,000; Full time

Job summary

Optum is seeking a senior analytics engineering leader to drive design, implementation, and governance of enterprise analytics platforms across the organization. You will design, build, and optimize scalable data pipelines with Databricks, develop BI solutions using Power BI, and partner with product and engineering teams to define metrics that enable data-driven decisions.

This role emphasizes data quality, governance, and collaboration in a global delivery model to accelerate insights and

Qualifications

• Experience leading analytics engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of modern analytics platforms and BI tooling.
• Ability to translate business needs into data solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead analytics engineering across enterprise platforms.
• Build scalable data pipelines with Databricks.
• Develop and govern Power BI dashboards and models.
• Partner with product/engineering to define metrics for decisions.
• Apply advanced analytics and AI insights to surface trends.
• Ensure data quality, lineage, and governance across assets.
• Optimize data models, queries, and pipelines.
• Provide guidance to analytics engineers in global delivery.
• Participate in platform partner sessions to stay aligned with best practices.

Skills

Analytics leadership

Data analytics

BI reporting

Stakeholder collaboration

AI insights

Tools

Databricks

Power BI

SQL

Job description

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start 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 for a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for analytics engineering, owning solution design, implementation, and operationalization across enterprise analytics platforms
• Design, build, and optimize scalable analytics pipelines using modern data platforms (e.g., Databricks)
• Develop and govern business intelligence solutions (e.g., Power BI), including semantic models, dashboards, and executive reporting
• Partner with product, engineering, and business stakeholders to define metrics and enable data driven decision making
• Apply advanced analytics and AI enabled insights to surface trends, risks, and opportunities
• Ensure data quality, lineage, security, and governance across analytics assets
• Optimize performance through efficient data modeling, query tuning, and pipeline optimization
• Collaborate within global delivery models and provide technical guidance to analytics engineers
• Participate in analytics platform partner sessions and workshops to stay aligned with platform capabilities and best practices

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear directions on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

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.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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.

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.

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