Senior 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. Senior AI/ML Engineer – Optum Health & Financial Tech As a Senior AI/ML Engineer within the Optum Health & Financial Tech team, you will design, build, and deploy production‑grade AI and machine learning solutions that revolutionize healthcare payer and financial operations. You will focus on high‑impact areas such as Claims Processing Automation, Eligibility Verification, Prior Authorization, and Payment Integrity. Operating with an innovative mindset, you will leverage advanced technologies — including Natural Language Processing (NLP), Generative AI, and Agentic AI digital workers — to enable touchless processing and drive payment accuracy. Joining a mission‑driven team, you will help connect patients, providers, and data, modernizing critical platforms and scaling responsible AI to improve the care and financial experience for millions. Primary Responsibilities Design, develop, and deploy production‑grade AI‑powered solutions and machine learning models to address complex business challenges in claims processing, eligibility, and payment integrity, emphasizing the responsible use of AI. Use enterprise‑approved AI tools to streamline operational workflows, automate repetitive tasks, and drive continuous improvement across payer and financial systems. Evaluate emerging trends, such as Agentic AI, GenAI, and automation frameworks, to inform solution design and strategic innovation. Build and optimize scalable data pipelines for real‑time and batch processing, integrating AI models with core platforms and systems (e.g., Facets, claims engines). Create AI‑driven automation solutions to automate repetitive workflows and support touchless claims and eligibility processing. Partner with cross‑functional teams to define scope, success criteria, and delivery milestones, then execute with solid engineering rigor through CI/CD, environment readiness, and quality gates to deliver on schedule without compromising reliability or maintainability. Monitor, validate, and retrain AI/ML models in production to track accuracy, mitigate drift, and optimize performance metrics (such as cost reduction, cycle time, and quality). Ensure HIPAA‑compliant design, PHI‑safe pipelines, and align all AI solutions with Responsible AI governance and auditability standards. Partner closely with operations, product, and compliance teams to translate payer business requirements into measurable AI solutions and communicate outcomes. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or 4+ years of equivalent experience. 6+ years of experience in software engineering, data engineering, or AI/ML, with a proven track record of deploying production‑grade AI/ML solutions. 3+ years of experience working with healthcare data, claims processing, eligibility, and workflows. 3+ years of hands‑on experience in modern cloud infrastructure (Azure or Google GCP). 3+ years of hands‑on experience building, training, evaluating, and deploying ML, AI, LLM, or agentic AI solutions in production environments. 2+ years of experience building cloud‑based applications, backend services, APIs, or CI/CD pipelines using Azure or GCP. Experience implementing model monitoring, validation, and performance tracking in a production environment. Proficiency in Python and experience with distributed data processing frameworks. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field. Professional certification or training in cloud‑based AI platforms (e.g., Azure ML, Databricks). Experience in healthcare domain and claims automation. Experience with Agentic AI implementations in enterprise operations. Familiarity with Facets or similar healthcare payer platforms. Proven solid ownership, curiosity, adaptability, and learning agility, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and deliver impactful technical solutions. Compensation and Benefits Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, you’ll have a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401(k) contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). The salary for this role will range from $120,100 – $214,500 annually based on full‑time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. Equal Employment Opportunity 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr