Data Scientist

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.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models and AI systems to address healthcare challenges
• Conduct comprehensive data analysis and interpret complex healthcare data to provide actionable insights
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including clinicians, researchers, and IT, to identify business needs and translate them into technical solutions
• Develop and implement advanced algorithms and statistical models to solve healthcare-specific problems, such as predictive analytics, patient risk stratification, and medical image analysis
• Optimize and enhance existing machine learning models for better performance and scalability in healthcare settings
• Develop and integrate generative AI models and large language models (LLMs) for tasks such as medical text generation, data augmentation, and synthetic data generation
• Stay updated with the latest advancements in AI/ML technologies and integrate them into ongoing healthcare projects
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists and engineers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement
• Communicate findings and recommendations to stakeholders through reports, presentations, and visualizations
• Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and security, complying with healthcare regulations such as HIPAA
• Develop and maintain documentation for models, processes, and systems
• Comply with the terms and conditions of the employment contract, company policies and procedures, and any and all directives (such as, but not limited to, transfer and/or re-assignment to different work locations, change in teams and/or work shifts, policies in regards to flexibility of work benefits and/or work environment, alternative work arrangements, and other decisions that may arise due to the changing business environment). The Company may adopt, vary or rescind these policies and directives in its absolute discretion and without any limitation (implied or otherwise) on its ability to do so

Required Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field
• Python, AI, and any Cloud experience
• Solid experience with machine learning frameworks and libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, and Keras
• Experience with generative AI models, including GANs, VAEs, and transformers, and their applications in healthcare
• Experience with large language models (LLMs) like GPT, Llama, BERT, or similar technologies, and their applications in healthcare
• Experience with big data technologies like Hadoop, Spark, and distributed computing environments
• Experience with version control systems like Git and collaborative platforms like GitHub or Bitbucket
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, Java, or Scala
• Deep understanding of statistical analysis, data mining, and data visualization techniques
• Expertise in healthcare-specific AI domains such as natural language processing (NLP) for medical records, computer vision for medical imaging, and predictive modelling for patient outcomes
• Solid knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases
• Familiarity with healthcare data standards and regulations (e.g., HL7, FHIR, HIPAA)
• Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure
• Proven excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work on complex projects with minimal supervision
• Proven solid communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, including healthcare professionals

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant certifications in AI/ML technologies and healthcare data analytics
• 3+ years of experience in data science, machine learning, or AI engineering roles, preferably in the healthcare sector
• Experience in leading and mentoring technical teams
• Experience working with electronic health records (EHR), medical imaging, and other healthcare data sources
• Proven track record of successfully delivering AI/ML projects from conception to deployment

Core:

• Programming and Development
  • Solid proficiency in Python / R / Java / Scala
  • Experience with version control (Git) and collaborative workflows (GitHub/Bitbucket)
• Machine Learning and AI Expertise
  • Hands-on experience with ML frameworks:
    • TensorFlow
    • PyTorch
    • Scikit-learn
    • Keras

  • Experience in optimizing and scaling ML models

    Ability to design, build, and deploy ML models end-to-end

• Statistics and Data Science Fundamentals
  • Solid understanding of:
    • Statistical analysis
    • Data mining techniques
    • Data visualization
  • Ability to analyze complex data and generate actionable insights
• Advanced AI Capabilities (Critical for this role)
  • Experience with:
    • Generative AI models (GANs, VAEs, transformers)
    • Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT, BERT, etc.
  • Knowledge of:
    • NLP (Natural Language Processing)
    • Predictive modelling
• Data and Big Data Technologies
  • Solid experience with:
    • SQL and NoSQL databases
  • Exposure to:
    • Big data technologies (Hadoop, Spark, distributed systems)
• Cloud and Platform Knowledge
  • Familiarity with at least one:
    • AWS / Azure / Google Cloud
• Problem Solving and Engineering Mindset
  • Solid analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to handle complex projects independently

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.