Associate Data Engineer

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 makes 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.

As an Associate Data Engineer to join SAS Platform Services team within the Chief Data Analytics Office (CDaO), you will play a critical role in supporting and optimizing our enterprise-wide Optum SAS Platform. This team is focused on maintaining high-performance SAS environments, ensuring platform stability, and delivering robust infrastructure engineering solutions. You will have the unique opportunity to work with SAS technology and infrastructure systems, helping to drive the capabilities of our data analytics environment. This role is ideal for a junior SAS administrator and infrastructure engineer looking to expand their skills, collaborate with senior experts, and directly impact on our mission to build a healthier world through data.

If you live near Eden Prairie, MN, you will enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid-remote role as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage and maintain SAS environments under senior SAS Administrator guidance to ensure high availability and performance
• Use enterprise-approved AI tools to streamline workflows, automate administrative tasks, and drive continuous improvement in SAS platform operations
• Provide support, including user provisioning, platform monitoring, service restarts, and log analysis
• Contribute to basic Infrastructure Engineering and platform support activities, troubleshooting system, software, and hardware issues
• Assist in database management, basic ETL pipeline maintenance, and SQL query optimization
• Automate routine administrative and engineering tasks using scripting languages (e.g., Shell, Python, or SAS macros)
• Participate in system maintenance, platform upgrades, backups, and security patching procedures
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior engineers to resolve system issues and implement platform enhancement

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:

• 1+ years of experience in data engineering, platform support, infrastructure engineering, or systems administration
• 1+ years of experience working with SAS systems, SAS programming, or SAS administration
• 1+ years of experience with server operating systems (e.g., Linux, Unix, or Windows Server) and command-line interfaces
• 1+ years of experience writing scripts or queries using SQL, Python, Unix Shell scripting, or SAS

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related technical field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of a degree)
• Experience or interest in using AI tools, automated scripts, or prompt engineering to enhance development, troubleshooting, and operational efficiency
• Experience supporting or administering SAS Platform
• Familiarity with SAS Management Console, SAS Grid, or cloud infrastructure environments (such as AWS or Azure)
• Understanding of database design, data warehousing, and basic ETL concepts
• Strong technical troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
• Solid verbal and written communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across technology teams

*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 $60,200 - $107,400 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.

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