Director, AI ML Engineering - Remote

Join Optum Tech

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.

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

• Define and own the engineering AI strategy to measurably accelerate software development, quality, reliability, and operational efficiency through the use of AI agents
• Partner with engineering teams to analyze current workflows, development activities, and pain points across the SDLC, identifying high-value opportunities where AI agents can deliver meaningful impact
• Develop a clear, prioritized roadmap of AI agent use cases aligned to business objectives, engineering strategy, and enterprise technology standards
• Build data-driven proposals and business cases for AI agent investments, including baseline measurements, expected productivity gains, cost avoidance, quality improvements, and adoption metrics
• Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI agents that augment or automate engineering work (e.g., requirements analysis, design support, coding, testing, deployment, reliability, incident analysis)
• Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of AI agents from proof of value through scaled production deployment, ensuring solutions are reliable, secure, observable, and maintainable
• Establish measurement frameworks, analytics, and KPIs to track realized value and continuously refine AI solutions based on usage, outcomes, and feedback
• Define a repeatable operating model for how engineering teams identify, build, govern, and adopt AI agents at scale
• Ensure all AI solutions adhere to enterprise architecture, security, privacy, regulatory, and responsible AI standards, including appropriate human-in-the-loop controls
• Drive engineering enablement and change management, helping teams adopt new AI-enabled ways of working and build confidence using AI as a force multiplier
• Serve as a trusted advisor and thought leader to engineering and technology leadership, translating complex AI concepts into clear decisions, trade-offs, and business outcomes
• Collaborate closely with architecture, platform, product, data, and security partners to align AI agent strategy with broader enterprise initiatives

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 degree or equivalent practical experience in applied AI, technology strategy, or complex enterprise systems
• 10+ years of experience delivering and leading complex technology initiatives, with demonstrated expertise either through hands-on software engineering experience OR through deep technical partnership roles, including the driving or ownership of complex systems, platforms, or large-scale transformation initiatives
• Experience connecting AI initiatives to measurable business value, using data, analytics, and outcome-based metrics
• Demonstrated experience designing, building, or operationalizing AI-powered solutions, including agent-based or LLM-driven systems applied in real-world environments
• Deep understanding of modern AI techniques and platforms, including large language models and agent frameworks used to accelerate software development and analysis
• Proven ability to identify high-value AI opportunities, translate them into clear use cases, and support delivery through collaboration with engineering teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in PBM, U.S. Healthcare and/or RxClaim platform
• Experience designing, building, or leading agentic AI or multi-agent systems deployed in production environments
• Familiarity with modern SDLC and DevOps practices and how AI can accelerate areas such as testing, code quality, deployment, operations, and reliability
• Background in platform, enablement, or productivity teams, driving adoption of shared capabilities at scale
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change, moving teams from experimentation to sustained, value-driven technology adoption
• Proven excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to operate credibly across engineering, product, and executive stakeholders

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). 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. 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.