Enterprise Architect - 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.

The Director - Architecture is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and driving enterprise architecture strategy, enabling scalable, secure, and high-impact technology solutions across complex business domains.

This role provides architectural leadership for large-scale, cross-functional initiatives and ensures alignment between business objectives, data strategies, and technology platforms. The individual will play a critical role in shaping next-generation capabilities, including AI/ML and advanced analytics-driven solutions.

Experience in Data Science, AI/ML, or Generative AI initiatives, and exposure to US Healthcare Payer domain, particularly Claims and Payment Integrity, is highly desirable.

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:

Enterprise Architecture & Strategy

• Define and drive enterprise architecture vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned to business priorities
• Develop scalable, reusable architecture patterns and standards to accelerate solution delivery
• Lead architectural decision-making across complex, multi-domain initiatives, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals
• Evaluate emerging technologies (AI/ML, GenAI, data platforms) and translate them into actionable enterprise capabilities
• Leverage enterprise-approved AI tools to enhance productivity and innovation by streamlining workflows and automating repetitive tasks
• Evaluate emerging trends to drive continuous improvement and strategic innovation

Solution Design & Delivery

• Lead architecture for enterprise-scale, complex systems spanning data, AI/ML, applications, and platform layers
• Ensure design of high-performance, reliable, secure, and scalable solutions
• Guide teams on system integration, data flow, model lifecycle, and platform architecture
• Establish best practices for architecture governance, design reviews, and solution standardization

AI/ML & Data-Driven Architecture (Preferred)

• Provide architectural oversight for AI/ML, GenAI, and advanced analytics initiatives
• Enable design of end-to-end data and ML pipelines including ingestion, transformation, modelling, deployment, and monitoring
• Drive adoption of modern AI platforms (e.g., cloud, MLOps frameworks, agent-based systems)
• Partner with Data Science and Engineering teams to productionize intelligent solutions

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Act as a key liaison across business, product, engineering, data, and leadership teams
• Translate complex technical concepts into business-aligned outcomes
• Drive alignment across multiple stakeholders, including senior leadership and external partners
• Influence decision-making through architecture governance, recommendations, and thought leadership

Governance, Standards & Optimization

• Establish and enforce enterprise architecture standards, frameworks, and best practices
• Improve system efficiency through rationalization, reuse, and standardization
• Ensure compliance with security, regulatory, and data governance requirements
• Drive continuous improvement in performance, reliability, and cost efficiency

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:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field
• 13+ years of experience in architecture, software engineering, or related technical roles 
• 8+ years in enterprise architecture for large-scale, complex systems
• 5+ years of experience with at least one major cloud platform: AWS, Azure, or GCP 
• Experience with application architecture, system integration, and distributed systems 
• Experience building and deploying applications in cloud-based environments 
• Experience with leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across teams 
• Experience driving architecture decisions for complex, cross-functional programs
• Proficiency in Python or similar programming languages 
• Demonstrated ability to create and communicate architecture diagrams and design patterns

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in Data Science, AI/ML, or Generative AI projects
• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP) and modern data ecosystems
• Familiarity with MLOps, DataOps, and large-scale data platforms (e.g., Databricks, Spark)
• Exposure to US Healthcare Payer domain, especially: 
• Claims processing
• Payment Integrity / Fraud, Waste & Abuse (FWA)

Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

• Solid strategic thinking and enterprise mindset
• Ability to influence and align senior stakeholders
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills for executive audiences
• Proven ability to lead ambiguity and drive large transformation initiatives
• Solid focus on innovation, scalability, and business impact

*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 to $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.