Sr Data Engineer

Job ID: 101719652256Posted: 2026-10-09Location: Brentwood, Tennessee, United StatesSalary: $91,700 - $163,700/yearJob Area: TechnologyCompany: UnitedHealth GroupOptum 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 diversity and inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. You will enjoy the flexibility to telecommute* from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.Primary Responsibilities:Design, build, and operate scalable data engineering platforms using modern ETL/ELT frameworks, including Azure Data Factory, Delta Lake, and cloud-native pipelinesArchitect modular, reusable data systems that support batch and streaming workloads, advanced analytics, and AI/ML use casesInfluence overall data and AI platform architecture, including lakehouse design, metadata management, and data quality frameworksDevelop and optimize PL/SQL, Python, and Unix-based data processing solutions for high-volume, low-latency data pipelinesEnable Generative AI use cases by designing structured and unstructured data pipelines to support NLP, prompt engineering, vectorization, and inference workflowsDrive code reusability and standardized data patterns across teams through shared frameworks, libraries, and design standardsEnsure mature DevOps and DataOps practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, monitoring, incident response, and cost optimizationDeeply analyze ambiguous business and data problems, translating them into robust data engineering and AI solutions that deliver measurable business valueLead adoption of best practices in data modeling, pipeline design, security, and governance, especially in regulated environmentsContinuously assessing and modernizing existing data platforms, improving performance, reliability, scalability, and AI readinessPartner with business, analytics, data science, and product leaders to manage delivery in an agile framework, rapidly delivering insights and AI-enabled capabilitiesMentor and coach engineers in data engineering, cloud, and Generative AI technologies, raising overall team capabilityAttract and grow talent through strong technical leadership, effective interviewing, community engagement, and training junior interviewersCommunicate complex data and AI concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including leadership presentations and solution demosDesign, develop, and deploy AI-powered solutions to address complex business challenges with emphasis on responsible use of AI 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:7+ years of Data Engineering experience building enterprise-scale ETL/ELT solutions (e.g., ADF, DataStage, Talend, or equivalent)4+ years of experience with Azure public cloud including Databricks and Snowflake3+ years of hands-on experience with Unix/Linux shell scripting for data processing and automation3+ years of experience with Oracle PL/SQL development for data transformation, performance tuning, and production workloads3+ years of production support experience, including on-call rotations, incident resolution, and root cause analysis2+ years of experience in AI-assisted software development, including AIDLC and Agentic AI methodologiesPreferred Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in CS or IT or Software Engineering related field2+ years of experience with high-level programming languages, such as Python, Java, or Node.js, with Python preferredExcellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain data and AI concepts clearlyPrior technical or people leadership experience, including ownership of complex systemsDemonstrated experience mentoring and developing junior Engineers*All Telecommuters 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 $91,700 to $163,700 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.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.Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.#RPO, #GREEN