Senior Manager, Software Engineering - Remote

Optum; Montgomery (AL); Hybrid; USD 113,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Equity stock purchase

401k contribution

Telecommuter policy

Job summary

Optum seeks a Sr. Manager, Software Engineering to lead 3–8 feature teams in a hybrid, US-wide delivery model.

You will own platforms and systems, drive delivery quality, and mentor engineers while partnering with product, architecture, security, data, and operations stakeholders. The role emphasizes Agile/DevOps maturity, incident remediation, and proactive governance to enable scalable, secure solutions that improve customer outcomes.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience including enterprise backend/frontend development
• 5+ years leading engineering teams in a complex enterprise environment
• 3+ years of experience designing and operating scalable web apps and APIs
• 3+ years partnering with product, security, data, and operations stakeholders
• Experience working with cloud-native AWS services
• Solid understanding of GenAI concepts and AI architectures
• Proven collaboration, influence, problem‑solving and negotiation skills

Responsibilities

• Lead 3–8 feature pods, driving delivery accountability and system ownership
• Partner with product leaders to understand strategy, vision, and priorities
• Act as technical owner for platforms, portals and systems within scope
• Address vulnerabilities, incidents and remediation with teams
• Implement and mature Agile and DevOps practices including automation and CI/CD
• Participate in agile ceremonies and use metrics to improve predictability
• Identify skill gaps and mentor engineering leaders and engineers
• Ensure SDLC/AI-DLC compliance, security, and governance
• Collaborate with Scrum Masters, Delivery Managers, and vendors
• Drive cross‑team alignment to achieve highest priority business outcomes

Skills

Engineering leadership

Web APIs

Cloud/DevOps

Team leadership

Agile/CI‑CD

GenAI knowledge

Cross‑functional collaboration

Security & governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

AWS

AWS Lambda

API Gateway

DynamoDB

S3

CloudWatch

Step Functions

Job description

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.

The Sr. Manager, Software Engineering is both a technology and people leader, accountable for engineering operational excellence, system ownership, and delivery outcomes across 3-8 feature teams. Software Engineering applies disciplined engineering practices to the design, development, testing, deployment, and operation of software systems. Our leaders in this space are responsible for building quality into every outcome, ensuring teams take full ownership of the systems they build and the customer outcomes those systems enable.

This Role Exists To

• Drive accountability for the platforms, services, and customer experiences owned by the teams
• Ensure engineering excellence, predictability, and quality in delivery
• Foster solid ownership from every engineer for the code they write and the systems they operate

You will lead teams operating in a hybrid delivery model-planning work against fixed requirements and deadlines while executing through Agile principles. You will balance execution with mentorship, helping teams and leaders navigate digital and organizational transformation.

This role requires a leader who can set clear expectations, hold teams accountable, and remove obstacles-while empowering engineers to own outcomes end-to-end.

Key Leadership Expectations

• Company-level thought leader in engineering practices and delivery excellence
• Recognized functional subject matter expert
• Applies a broad business lens to technical decision-making
• Trusted advisor and resource to senior leadership
• Develops and applies forward-looking approaches aligned to emerging industry and technology trends

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

• Partner with product, business, and technology leaders to understand business strategy, vision, and priorities
• Lead multiple engineering teams (3-8 feature POD teams), driving accountability for delivery, quality, and system ownership
• Serve as the technical owner and decision maker for platforms, portals, and systems within scope, ensuring team alignment to highest-priority business outcomes
• Partner with Product Owners, Architects, and teams to address vulnerabilities, incidents, and remediation efforts
• Implement and mature Agile and DevOps practices, including automation, CI/CD, observability, and continuous improvement
• Actively participate in product-area agile events (Daily Scrum, Refinement, Sprint Reviews, Retrospectives) and use data/metrics to improve predictability and quality
• Identify skill gaps within teams, align upskilling efforts to organizational priorities, conduct regular 1:1s, and reinforce accountability and growth
• Ensure adherence to and continuous improvement of SDLC and AI-DLC standards, policies, security, and governance
• Partner with Scrum Masters, Delivery Managers, and Resource Partners (vendors) to optimize team performance across full-time and contracted resources
• Mentor engineering leaders and engineers, fostering solid business partnerships and guiding teams through organizational change

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including enterprise backend and frontend development, AI-Driven development, full stack application delivery, and platform modernization
• 5+ years of hands‑on experience with modern web and API technologies (e.g., Java, Python, React, REST, GraphQL, microservices, and full stack frameworks)
• 4+ years of experience leading engineering teams, people leaders, AI-builders or large cross-functional delivery teams in a complex enterprise environment
• 3+ years of experience designing, modernizing, and operating scalable, secure, and resilient web applications, APIs, Advanced deployment strategies (Blue/Green, Canary, Rolling), and distributed systems
• 3+ years of experience partnering with product, architecture, security, data, and operations stakeholders to align roadmaps and drive delivery accountability
• Experience working with Cloud-native development AWS services such as Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3, CloudWatch, and Step Functions
• Working knowledge of data management, privacy, security, compliance, governance, and responsible use of emerging technologies
• Solid understanding of GenAI concepts, LLMs, Agentic AI, Bedrock models, and conversational AI architectures
• Demonstrated track record of delivering multi‑quarter, cross‑team technology programs with execution discipline, risk management, and measurable business outcomes
• Proven exceptional collaboration, influence, problem‑solving, and negotiation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent work experience)
• Proven ability to partner with Data Science and Engineering teams to build and scale AI/ML or GenAI-powered capabilities
• Proven ability to leverage enterprise‑approved AI tools to enhance productivity and innovation by streamlining workflows and automating repetitive tasks
• Healthcare & Payment Integrity Alignment
• Claims lifecycle
• Incorporate domain expertise in US Healthcare Payer systems, especially claims and Payment Integrity workflows
• Drive product innovation that improves cost efficiency, claim accuracy, and operational effectiveness
• 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.