Director Data Engineering - Remote

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.

As a Director of Data Engineering within Optum Health & Financial Tech, you will serve as the Engineering and DevOps delivery lead driving cloud-based data engineering solutions for Clinical data provisioning across all UnitedHealthcare lines of business and HEDIS data processing teams. In this role, you will lead a high-performing team of data engineers and subject matter experts, building resilient data architecture, adopting FHIR standards, and implementing cutting-edge generative AI and agentic workflows to transform clinical data management. You will partner with cross-functional leadership, business stakeholders, and external auditors to remove barriers, navigate complexity, and ensure high-quality, audit-ready data execution that directly impacts health outcomes and business performance.

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:

• Serve as the Engineering and DevOps delivery lead for Clinical data provisioning to all UHC Line of Business HEDIS data processing teams, delivering scalable, cloud-based data engineering solutions
• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of data engineers and functional/technical subject matter experts across multiple skill levels to drive accountability and continuous operational performance
• Design, develop, and deploy AI-powered solutions, workflows, and enterprise-approved tools to streamline processes, automate tasks, and address complex business challenges with an emphasis on responsible AI practices
• Evaluate emerging technology trends, FHIR standards, Quality measures, and NCQA regulatory changes to inform solution design and strategic data architecture innovations
• Manage communications and relationships with business stakeholders, product managers, data source teams, and auditors regarding functional logic, issue tracking, and system dependencies
• Engage in high-stakes discussions across executive leadership, demonstrating solid leadership presence to guide technical strategy, challenge assumptions, and navigate organizational complexity
• Ask insightful, forward-looking questions to proactively identify and mitigate technical and functional risks, gaps, and architectural bottlenecks
• Establish robust CI/CD, unit testing, test-driven development (TDD), automated testing, and code review standards across cloud data stores and storage ecosystems

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:

• 8+ years of experience in the health insurance industry with deep expertise in Clinical data engineering and data platform architecture
• 8+ years of hands-on experience using enterprise SQL databases across cloud and on-premise environments in research, consulting, or production settings
• 5+ years of experience working with Clinical data, FHIR resources, interoperability standards, and HEDIS data domains (Member, Eligibility, Medical, Rx, Clinical) across Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial lines of business
• 5+ years of personnel management experience, including leading, coaching, and mentoring engineering teams and data SMEs
• 5+ years of Agile/Kanban delivery leadership utilizing software engineering best practices (CI/CD, TDD, automated testing, pair programming, code reviews)
• 1+ years incorporating Generative AI and Agentic AI workflows into cloud platforms, databases, and automated engineering pipelines

Preferred Qualifications:

• Comprehensive understanding of HEDIS engines in the market and in-depth expertise in HEDIS quality measures
• Advanced experience designing and deploying custom GenAI solutions and Agentic AI capabilities in automated data engineering workflows
• Proven excellent communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to articulate complex technical concepts and analytical insights to non-technical executive stakeholders and auditors

*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 $134,600 - $230,800 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.