Principal Data Scientist - Hybrid

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.

UHC Technology is focused on driving change, modernization, and ensuring reliable and stable systems so that we can help to transform health care - making it easier, more affordable, and more effective for those we serve. We are passionate about technology and the role it plays to create distinctive experiences to our constituents. While we are always focused on how technology can help us deliver faster and with improved quality, we are far more enthusiastic about the ways technology can reinvent how we deliver on our mission in partnership with the UHC lines of business and Optum Technology.

We are seeking an experienced Data Scientist to lead the design, development, and implementation of cutting-edge artificial intelligence solutions across the organization. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping our AI strategy, defining architecture standards, and ensuring the creation of scalable, secure, and high-performance AI-driven products and services.

If you are located within a commutable distance to Minnetonka, MN, you will have the flexibility to work from home and the office in this hybrid role* as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Architecture & Standards:
  
  
  
  • Design end-to-end AI/ML architecture aligned to business and technical goals
  • Develop, maintain, and enforce AI/ML architecture guidelines, standards, and comprehensive review checklists
  • Keep documentation current and ensure all AI projects align with established architecture best practices and compliance requirements
  
  
  
  
• Governance & Review:
  
  
  
  • Proactively review and assess AI solution architectures across projects
  • Provide actionable feedback, coaching, and guidance to teams implementing AI/ML solutions
  • Approve solution designs and ensure adherence to architecture standards before implementation
  
  
  
  
• Innovation & Prototyping:
  
  
  
  • Stay abreast of emerging advancements in AI and machine learning, evaluating their potential through hands-on development
  • Build rapid prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and accelerators to assess and demonstrate new technologies or approaches
  • Publish point-of-view papers, technical blogs, and thought leadership content to guide internal and external stakeholders
  
  
  
  
• Collaboration:
  
  
  
  • Work closely with product managers, data scientists, engineers, and other business stakeholders to drive the development and deployment of AI solutions
  
  
  
  
• Leadership & Mentorship:
  
  
  
  • Foster a culture of excellence and continuous learning within the AI/ML engineering community
  • Mentor and upskill team members in architecture best practices, new technologies, and design patterns
  
  
  
  
• Compliance & Security:
  
  
  
  • Ensure all AI systems follow data governance, privacy standards, and ethical AI principles
  • Collaborate with the Responsible Use of AI (RUAI) team to ensure that the solutions are compliant with company policies and 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:

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in AI/ML, including architecting, designing, developing and deploying production-grade AI solutions using techniques such as regression, classification, and deep neural networks, with experience using frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow
• 3+ years of experience working with at least one major cloud AI platform (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)
• 2+ years of experience developing and deploying production AI solutions utilizing Generative AI, including Large Language Models, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), text embeddings, and vector databases
• 2+ years of experience with MLOps processes, including managing end-to-end machine learning deployment and monitoring

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of Exploratory data analysis, data engineering and building data pipelines
• Understanding of data privacy, security, and ethical considerations in AI system design
• Willingness to lead and manage global teams, including teams based in India

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 re 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 $110,200 to $188,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

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.