Senior Data Engineer

Optum; Eden Prairie (MN); Remote; USD 92,000 - 164,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Equity stock purchase

401k contribution

Job summary

UnitedHealth Group is seeking a Sr Data Engineer for Optum Rx to manage and modernize enterprise databases (SQL Server, Azure SQL, MongoDB) across on-prem and cloud. You’ll automate, optimize performance, and drive AI-based improvements while supporting production workloads.

Remote work is allowed from anywhere in the U.S., with on-call rotations and a strong emphasis on reliability and security. The role requires 7+ years with SQL Server, 2+ years MongoDB, and experience with T-SQL/PowerShell.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, IT, or related field.
• 7+ years of MS SQL Server DB administration in production environments (2012–2025) with Azure SQL.
• 2+ years of MongoDB/MongoDB Atlas administration in production environments.
• 2+ years of T-SQL and PowerShell for data transformation and automation.
• Ability to participate in a rotational on-call schedule.

Responsibilities

• Administer, maintain, and optimize enterprise SQL Server, Azure SQL, MongoDB environments.
• Ensure high availability and disaster recovery readiness.
• Troubleshoot DB, infrastructure, and application issues using native tools across MSSQL and MongoDB.
• Lead automation and AI-driven database engineering initiatives.
• Participate in end-to-end migration planning and execution for Azure SQL.
• Provide on-call support on a rotational basis.

Skills

SQL Server administration

MongoDB administration

PowerShell scripting

T-SQL programming

On-call rotation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field

Job description

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

Our Company

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, and data 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.

Position Summary

The Optum Rx team is seeking a Sr Data Engineer to manage, optimize, and modernize critical enterprise database environments. In this role, you will play a critical role in the administration, operational ownership, and architectural evolution of enterprise Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL, MongoDB, and MongoDB Atlas platforms supporting mission-critical health care applications. You will leverage on-prem and cloud-native database services, continuous automation, and AI-driven database engineering solutions to enhance database performance, reliability, security, and operational efficiency.

You’ll enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities

• Administer, maintain, and optimize enterprise SQL Server, Azure SQL, MongoDB environments supporting critical business applications
• Ensure high availability, disaster recovery readiness, and optimal database performance
• Troubleshoot and resolve database, infrastructure, and application-related issues using native SQL Server, Windows tools, Azure SQL, MongoDB, MongoDB Atlas
• Provide expert support in administration and operational ownership of enterprise-scale MSSQL and MongoDB environments, ensuring high availability, security, scalability, and performance across mission-critical production workloads
• Perform installation and upgrades, performance tuning, high availability and disaster recovery (Always-On Availability Groups, Replication etc.), monitoring, patching, TDE/TLS encryption, backup and recovery, security, automation (T-SQL/PowerShell), capacity planning, and troubleshoot mission-critical enterprise database environments
• Demonstrate expertise in SQL Server performance tuning, including Query Store, Execution Plans, Extended Events, SQL Profiler, Missing Index Analysis, Dynamic Management Views (DMVs), Wait Statistics, Windows and SQL Server Error Logs, and Performance Monitor
• Participate in administering Azure SQL database and Managed Instance, including end-to-end migration planning and execution
• Design, deploy, and manage MongoDB Atlas Projects, Clusters, Private Endpoints, Backup policies, and Disaster Recovery configurations in cloud environments
• Serve as key expert for MongoDB Atlas architecture, including replica sets, sharding, multi-region deployments, Atlas Search, and cloud-native database services
• Participate in architecture and design reviews, providing expert guidance on database solutions and performance optimization
• Lead database-related projects and drive continuous improvement through automation and adoption of emerging technologies, including AI-driven solutions
• Drive the adoption of AI-assisted database engineering solutions to improve operational efficiency, automate routine administrative tasks, accelerate root cause analysis, and optimize database performance and reliability
• Provide on-call support on a rotational basis and be available during scheduled support windows

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.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field
• 7+ years of Microsoft SQL Server database administration experience in handling versions between Microsoft SQL Server 2012–2025 and Azure SQL database or Managed Instance in production environments
• 2+ years of MongoDB or MongoDB Atlas administration experience in enterprise production environments
• 2+ years of experience in programming using T-SQL and PowerShell for data transformation and infrastructure automation
• Ability to participate in a rotational on-call support schedule 4-7 weeks as rotation

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) and cloud data services
• Experience with cloud-native monitoring and alerting tools (e.g., Grafana, Azure Monitor, Datadog)
• Experience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipeline integration, and Infrastructure as Code, such as Terraform or Ansible
• Professional certifications in database administration or cloud architecture, such as MongoDB Certified DBA or Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
• Hands-on experience with multi-region cloud deployments, Private Endpoints, Atlas Search, and cloud-native database services in Microsoft Azure
• Demonstrated experience utilizing AI-assisted software and database engineering tools to optimize queries, script workflows, and improve operational productivity

*All Telecommuters will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

• 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.

Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. The salary for this role will range from $91,700 to $163,700 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.

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.