Vice President, AI Engineering

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.

The Vice President, AI Engineering, sets drives AI Architecture and Engineering delivery, Solution Strategy and Product Management.  This role serves as a strategic technical leader tasked with building, accelerating and scaling the delivery of our internal, employee-facing AI portfolio.

This role encompasses the setting the strategic technology direction, deployment of enterprise AI solutions that enhance employee productivity, as well as supporting AI delivery across key corporate functions in an effort transform work across back-office business operations. We are seeking an accomplished leader to build and guide a team committed not only to building, delivering, adopting, and scaling AI-powered solutions, but also to collaborating organization-wide in support of our business AI strategies. This position oversees a multidisciplinary group of solution engineers, and delivery professionals who design, architect, implement, and drive adoption of impactful AI solutions across the UHG ecosystem.

This role bridges product strategy, stakeholder engagement, and technical execution.  Partnering with IT and business leaders to transform businesses into empowered and enabled AI-first teams. Translating complex AI capabilities into scalable solutions by shaping and executing the AI delivery roadmap in alignment with enterprise strategy.  This role requires deep technical expertise, business and relationship acumen, and a passion for operational excellence. The role also involves close collaboration with senior internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between solution delivery and enterprise priorities.

You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

For all hires within 30 minutes of an office in Minnesota or Washington, D.C., you'll be required to work a minimum of four days per week in-office.

Primary Responsibilities:

Develop and implement the technology strategy for Enterprise AI

• This includes the development and delivery of scaled AI solutions that delight UHG employees as well as the integration of AI into corporate functions across UHG.  This includes custom solutions as well and vended solutions like copilot and agent space
• The encompasses the AI strategy, tooling, architecture, and engineering delivery as well as research & development of new AI technologies, product management, and business value management of the features and solutions to ensure value delivery.  Finally, this role includes leadership of the AI enablement and acceleration team to maximize impact and adoption
• Set the strategy, define key roles, develop and implement the operating model and operational routines to run an efficient, innovative, and agile AI strategy and delivery machine
• Partner across other AI teams in the organization to ensure strategic and technical alignment, reusability, and interoperability of AI solutions 

Corporate Systems Solution Strategy & Architecture

• Reimagine and drive technical solutioning for AI solutions that drive value across key business functions.  Ingest business and technology roadmaps to create AI strategies that propel business and technology strategies forward with AI-powered transformation
• Influence business and IT partners to transform the technology to an AI-ready stack to accelerate transformation across business functions - including taking full advantage of vendor AI solutions embedded in packaged software
• Drive creative and bold innovation to help define and shape enterprise solutioning and ensure technical feasibility, scalability, and reusability
• Engage across technology and business partners to align solution design with transformation goals and long-term value

Technical Delivery Leadership

• Define and oversee delivery engineering teams responsible for implementing AI solutions across the enterprise and corporate business functions
• Ensure systems are in place to guarantee engineering excellence and accountability across all phases of solution implementation
• Drive delivery excellence through standardized frameworks, reusable components, and scalable integration models
• Align delivery with platform capabilities and roadmap.  Collaborate with senior leaders across product, engineering, and business units to align solution strategy with enterprise goals

Ethical & Responsible AI

• Ensure solutions adhere to ethical AI standards, including fairness, transparency, and regulatory compliance
• Align delivery practices with enterprise values and governance frameworks

Innovation & Enablement

• Stay current on emerging AI technologies, tools, and deployment patterns to inform solution design
• Maintain awareness of advanced ML techniques, NLP, robotics, and other emerging trends
• Contribute to the development of reusable solution assets, reference architectures, and technical enablement materials
• Support experimentation and prototyping efforts to validate new solution approaches
• Contribute to the evolution of delivery models-from bespoke services to scalable, platform-enabled solutions
• Set the standard for innovation throughout the entire team by actively involving members in hackathons, fostering creativity and forward-thinking, and demonstrating leadership through your actions
• Collaborate with academic and research institutions to inform solution design and talent development

Team Leadership

• Build and lead a multidisciplinary team of solution engineers, product leaders, and technical delivery professionals
• Foster a culture of excellence, client-centricity, and continuous improvement.  Drive restless curiosity and a relentless pursuit of delivering an exceptional experience to all UHG employees
• Define performance metrics and development pathways to grow team capabilities
• Lead your peers through solid collaboration and create a culture of shared success

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:

• Proven experience in leading AI-focused solution engineering
• Outstanding communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience with AI products, including deployment, integration, and client engagement
• Demonstrated background in AI/ML technologies, cloud platforms, and enterprise integration
• Experience supporting early-stage engagements and translating business needs into technical solutions
• Demonstrated ability to lead delivery teams and manage complex implementations
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Experience in healthcare or similarly regulated industries
• Familiarity with commercialization models and platform transitions
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• Experience with reusable architecture frameworks and solution accelerators
  

*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 $200,400 to $343,500 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.