Senior Director AI/ML Engineering - Remote

Optum; Eden Prairie (MN); Hybrid; USD 203,000 - 348,000; Full time

Job summary

Optum seeks a Senior Director of AI/ML Engineering to define and execute enterprise data and AI strategy across PBM, health services, financials and corporate functions. This role will build scalable data platforms, AI-enabled analytics, and self-service BI, delivering trusted insights and governance across the organization.

You'll lead data engineering, data architecture, AI engineering, and analytics enablement, partnering with executives to translate data into business outcomes, leveraging

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 8+ years in data engineering/architecture/cloud platforms.
• 5+ years leading enterprise data modernization initiatives.
• Deep expertise with Databricks, Snowflake, Lakehouse architectures, and governance.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the enterprise data and AI engineering strategy.
• Develop a multi-year roadmap for modernizing data platforms and AI enablement.
• Establish data governance, quality, lineage, metadata, and observability standards.
• Lead design, implementation, and operation of cloud-based data platforms.
• Lead enterprise architecture patterns leveraging Databricks and Snowflake.
• Transform reporting environments into AI-powered analytics ecosystems.
• Drive AI adoption for BI, including natural language analytics and predictive insights.
• Enable self-service analytics with trusted data for business users.
• Define enterprise semantic layer architecture for consistent metrics.

Skills

Databricks

Snowflake

Data engineering

Data architecture

AI/ML leadership

Enterprise analytics

Cloud platforms

Stakeholder alignment

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Unity Catalog

Delta Lake

dbt

Job description

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

Job Description - Senior Director AI/ML Engineering - Remote (2386098)

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 inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Senior Director, Data & AI Engineering is a strategic technology leader responsible for defining and executing the enterprise data and AI engineering strategy across all business verticals, including Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM), Pharmacy Services, Financial Services, and Corporate Functions.

This leader will build and scale modern data platforms, AI-enabled analytics capabilities, and self-service business intelligence solutions that transform enterprise data into actionable business insights. The role is accountable for establishing a trusted, governed, and scalable data ecosystem that enables advanced analytics, AI/ML solutions, generative AI applications, and data-driven decision-making across the organization.

The Senior Director will lead teams responsible for data engineering, data architecture, AI engineering, data products, semantic modeling, and analytics enablement. The position requires deep expertise in modern cloud data platforms, including Databricks and Snowflake, as well as experience establishing enterprise semantic layers that deliver consistent business metrics and trusted insights to internal and external consumers.

This executive will partner closely with business leaders, product teams, analytics organizations, and external stakeholders to ensure data is treated as a strategic enterprise asset and serves as the foundation for business intelligence, operational excellence, and AI innovation.

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:

• Define and execute the enterprise data and AI engineering strategy aligned with business objectives and growth priorities
• Develop a multi-year roadmap for modernizing data platforms, analytics capabilities, and AI enablement
• Establish enterprise standards for data management, governance, quality, lineage, metadata, and observability
• Lead the design, implementation, and operation of modern cloud-based data platforms
• Establish enterprise architecture patterns leveraging Databricks, Snowflake, and cloud-native services
• Lead the transformation of traditional reporting environments into AI-powered analytics ecosystems
• Drive adoption of AI for Business Intelligence, including natural language analytics, intelligent reporting, automated insights, and predictive decision support
• Enable self-service analytics capabilities that allow business users to access trusted data and insights
• Partner with analytics and business teams to deliver enterprise KPI frameworks and measurement standards
• Define and implement enterprise semantic layer architecture that delivers consistent business definitions and metrics across all reporting and analytics platforms
• Develop reusable business data models that simplify access to complex enterprise data
• Establish enterprise capabilities that enable scalable AI and machine learning development
• Build AI-ready data architectures supporting machine learning, generative AI, agentic AI, and advanced analytics

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:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Data Science, Mathematics, or a related field
• 8+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, data architecture, analytics, or cloud data platforms
• 5+ years of experience building large-scale enterprise data platforms supporting analytics and AI workloads
• 5+ years of experience leading enterprise data modernization initiatives
• Deep expertise with Databricks, Snowflake, Lakehouse Architectures, Data Warehousing, Data Modeling, Semantic Layers, Cloud Data Platforms (Azure preferred), Modern ETL/ELT Frameworks, data Governance and Metadata Management
• Demonstrated success partnering with executive stakeholders and business leaders to translate data into business outcomes

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Analytics, Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• Solid understanding of business intelligence platforms, analytics engineering, and self-service analytics
• Solid communication and influencing skills with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience within PBM, healthcare, pharmacy, payer, financial services, or other highly regulated industries
• Deep understanding of healthcare and PBM data domains including claims, formulary, clinical, rebate, pricing, eligibility, and provider analytics
• Experience implementing enterprise semantic layers using modern analytics platforms
• Experience building data products and domain-oriented architectures
• Knowledge of Fabric, Power BI, dbt, Unity Catalog, Delta Lake, and modern metadata management platforms
• Experience enabling AI-powered BI and conversational analytics experiences
• Experience supporting Generative AI, RAG, and Agentic AI architectures through enterprise data services
• Solid understanding of data privacy, regulatory compliance, governance, and responsible AI frameworks
• Proven ability to lead complex enterprise transformations involving data, analytics, and AI capabilities

*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 $203,200 - $348,400 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.

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.