Director, AI/ML Engineering, Accelerated Core Technology - Remote

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.    

As a Director of AI/ML Engineering within the Chief Digital Office (CDO) Consumer Engineering division, you will play a pivotal role supporting the newly-formed Accelerated Core Technology (ACT) team. This highly focused team is tasked with rapidly developing new technologies and experiences that can be scaled across the enterprise. In this role, you will act as both an AI expert and a builder, pioneering new ways of working and piloting cutting-edge technologies to drive our business forward. If you are highly skilled in AI/ML engineering, passionate about leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) to build consumer-facing products, and comfortable with ambiguity in focused explorations, this is your opportunity to drive rapid, enterprise-wide 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: 

• Design, develop, and deploy AI-powered solutions to address complex business challenges with an emphasis on the responsible use of AI
• Lead and hands-on build focused, rapid-exploration prototypes and pilot solutions that showcase new AI/ML technologies
• Use approved AI tools to streamline workflows, automate tasks, and drive continuous improvement across the engineering team
• Evaluate emerging trends, specifically in Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), to inform solution design and strategic innovation
• Strategically use AI to solve problems, unlock opportunities, and deliver tangible business value for consumer-facing products
• Integrate AI tools within the development lifecycle, set clear AI adoption goals, and align team capabilities while actively removing technical barriers
• Champion the ethical use of AI by embedding transparency, fairness, and accountability throughout the entire AI lifecycle
• Proactively shape how AI technologies are built, deployed, and utilized within the Consumer Engineering space, serving as a core driver of the team's success
• Collaborate closely with enterprise leadership and cross-functional teams to scale successful AI/ML pilots across the organization

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: 

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field 
• 5+ years of professional experience working as a software, data, or AI/ML engineer
• 3+ years of experience designing, building, and deploying AI/ML models or AI-powered solutions in a production environment
• 2+ years of experience working with Generative AI frameworks and Large Language Models (LLMs) to build consumer-facing applications or products
• 2+ years of experience leading or managing engineering projects, setting technical direction, or guiding teams in adopting new technologies
• Proven experience working in agile, fast-paced environments with rapid prototyping, exploratory cycles, and managing ambiguity

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Demonstrated capability in piloting new ways of working and scaling pilot technologies to enterprise grade
• Proven solid understanding of cloud-based AI/ML infrastructure (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) and MLOps tools
• Proven solid leadership skills with the ability to champion the ethical and responsible use of AI across a broad team
• Proven excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical AI/ML concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience navigating ambiguity and driving clarity in exploratory, research-oriented technical tasks

*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 $176,700 to $302,900 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.