AI/ML Engineer - 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. 

We are looking for an AI/ML Engineer to build and enhance conversational AI solutions for voice, IVR, and chatbot platforms. The role involves developing NLP pipelines, integrating LLMs (e.g., Amazon Bedrock or OpenAI), and applying effective prompt engineering and evaluation techniques to improve conversational quality.

You will work with AWS-native services such as Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, and event-driven architectures, and contribute to solutions using Amazon Connect and Amazon Lex (V2). The position requires close collaboration with engineering teams to deliver scalable, reliable, and secure production systems, while continuously monitoring performance and improving AI models based on real-world data.

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, specifically voice-based IVR and conversational interfaces, to address complex business challenges
• Integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) like Bedrock or OpenAI into production environments using prompt engineering and evaluation techniques
• Build and maintain robust backend services and integrations using AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and DynamoDB
• Develop real-time orchestration and event-processing systems within microservices and event-driven architectures
• Use enterprise-approved AI tools to streamline workflows, automate tasks, and drive continuous improvement
• Evaluate emerging trends in AI/ML and NLP to inform solution design and drive strategic innovation
• Ensure all AI solutions are developed and deployed with an emphasis on the responsible use of AI and data privacy
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to monitor and optimize AI system performance and observability

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:

• Undergraduate degree or 4+ years of equivalent software engineering experience
• 4+ years of experience in software engineering specifically focused on AI/ML systems
• 2+ years of experience with Amazon Connect, including Contact Flows, routing, and integrations
• 2+ years of experience with Amazon Lex (V2) for building conversational interfaces
• 2+ years of experience with Python or Java for backend and AI service development
• 2+ years of experience with AWS core services: Lambda, API Gateway, and DynamoDB
• 2+ years of experience building and deploying voice-based or IVR systems

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with event-driven and microservices architectures
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and automated testing for AI/ML applications
• Solid understanding of Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques and Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Familiarity with AI system monitoring, observability, and real-time performance tuning
• Proven expertise in prompt engineering and AI model evaluation frameworks

*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 $72,800 to $130,000 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.