Software Engineer

Optum; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 73,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Telecommute from anywhere in the U.S.

Job summary

Optum is recruiting a Software Engineer to design, build, and maintain data-intensive applications and scalable infrastructure. You will work in an agile team, leveraging Snowflake, Spark, and cloud tech to deliver high-quality solutions across enterprise platforms.

You will apply AI-assisted tools and IaC practices, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and contribute to secure, scalable development while ensuring adherence to governance and performance standards.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of Software development, Data engineering, or AI/ML experience.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience building and deploying modern cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• 3+ years of hands-on experience with Databricks and Apache Spark using Scala or Python.
• 3+ years of experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and delivering production-quality, fully tested, and maintainable code.
• 1+ years of experience using AI-assisted developer and coding tools to accelerate software delivery and technical documentation.
• 1+ years of experience managing cloud infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain data-intensive applications using Snowflake, SQL, Java, Python, Spark/Databricks, and AWS/Azure cloud technologies.
• Build and maintain scalable data pipelines to ingest, transform, validate, and publish data across enterprise platforms.
• Develop and support Spark and Databricks jobs for large-scale data processing and analytics workloads.
• Build, schedule, monitor, and troubleshoot automated data workflows using Airflow or similar orchestration tools.
• Design, develop, and deploy backend services, APIs, and AI-powered solutions to address complex business challenges with an emphasis on responsible AI use.
• Utilize enterprise-approved AI tools and agentic coding assistance to accelerate software creation, automate tasks, and streamline development workflows.
• Manage infrastructure using IaC tools like Terraform on public cloud platforms.
• Collaborate with product owners, architects, and cross-functional teams to deliver secure, scalable, and high-quality solutions against agile roadmaps.
• Evaluate emerging technology trends and AI capabilities to inform solution design, architectural standards, and strategic engineering innovation.
• Support UI integration needs, validate API responses, and ensure adherence to rigorous design, security, and coding standards.

Skills

Snowflake

SQL

Java

Python

Spark/Databricks

AWS/Azure

Airflow

APIs

Git

Terraform

IaC

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/Data Science or related field

Tools

Databricks

Terraform

Git

Airflow

Job description

Our CompanyOptum 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 SummaryAs a

Our CompanyOptum 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 SummaryAs a Software Engineer on our engineering team, you will design, build, and maintain high-performance, data-intensive applications and scalable infrastructure. You will work in an agile environment collaborating with architects, product owners, and business stakeholders to drive innovation across enterprise platforms. In this role, you will leverage modern cloud architectures, data pipelines, and AI-assisted engineering tools to build robust applications, optimize delivery pipelines, and solve complex business challenges with a focus on code quality, security, and scalability. You'll enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain data-intensive applications using Snowflake, SQL, Java, Python, Spark/Databricks, and AWS/Azure cloud technologies
• Build and maintain scalable data pipelines to ingest, transform, validate, and publish data across enterprise platforms
• Develop and support Spark and Databricks jobs for large-scale data processing and analytics workloads
• Build, schedule, monitor, and troubleshoot automated data workflows using Airflow or similar orchestration tools
• Design, develop, and deploy backend services, APIs, and AI-powered solutions to address complex business challenges with an emphasis on responsible AI use
• Utilize enterprise-approved AI tools and agentic coding assistance (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Claude) to accelerate software creation, automate tasks, and streamline development workflows
• Manage infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform on public cloud platforms
• Collaborate with product owners, architects, and cross-functional teams to deliver secure, scalable, and high-quality solutions against agile roadmaps
• Evaluate emerging technology trends and AI capabilities to inform solution design, architectural standards, and strategic engineering innovation
• Support UI integration needs, validate API responses, and ensure adherence to rigorous design, security, and coding standards

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

• 4+ years of Software development, Data engineering, or AI/ML experience
• 3+ years of hands-on experience building and deploying modern cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• 3+ years of hands-on experience with Databricks and Apache Spark using Scala or Python
• 3+ years of experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and delivering production-quality, fully tested, and maintainable code
• 1+ years of experience using AI-assisted developer and coding tools to accelerate software delivery and technical documentation
• 1+ years of experience managing cloud infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform

Preferred Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in Software Development, Data Engineering, or AI/ML engineering (or Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field with equivalent experience)
• Healthcare industry experience
• Strong understanding of data modeling principles, including conceptual, logical, and physical models
• Comprehensive knowledge of data warehousing concepts, data lakehouse patterns, and data engineering best practices
• Demonstrated familiarity with agentic frameworks and Model Context Protocol (MCP)
• Experience with AI/ML concepts, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and enterprise productivity tools
• Working knowledge of one or more high-level programming languages such as C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python
• Strong analytical, quantitative, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to diverse technical and business stakeholders
• All Telecommuters 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 $72,800 to $130,000 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.