AI​/ML Principal Cloud Architect - 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.

This role supports key enterprise platforms within Optum Tech central to a net new, AI enabled initiative focused on building agent oriented native app capabilities that extend beyond traditional web and mobile channels with a focus on mobile first experiences.

The Principal Architect is a senior individual contributor responsible for defining and driving enterprise AI/ML architecture across platforms and products. The role owns architectural decisions across data, machine learning, cloud (AWS & GCP), security, and governance, ensuring solutions are scalable, reusable, compliant, and production ready. Influence is exercised at both platform and portfolio level, working closely with engineering, product, data science, and executive stakeholders.

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 target state architecture for enterprise AI/ML platforms end to end

* Establish reference architectures, standards, and reusable ML patterns

* Lead architecture for batch, real time, and streaming ML use cases

* Drive AWS and GCP AI/ML platform strategy

* Ensure compliance with security, privacy, and regulatory requirements

* Act as a trusted technical advisor to senior leaders

* Translate business strategy into AI/ML architecture roadmaps

* Mentor senior engineers and architects and elevate platform maturity

* Influence cross team decisions without direct authority

* Drive mobile-first architecture across iOS, Android, and hybrid platforms aligned to enterprise AI/ML strategy

* Establish standards and reference architectures for mobile, APIs, and cross-channel experience consistency

* Align mobile experience design with product, UX, and engineering to deliver business and personalization outcomes

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:

* 10+ years of experience in software, data, or platform engineering with a solid AI/ML focus

* 8+ years of experience in cloud native and distributed systems (AWS and/or GCP)

* 2+ years of architecting enterprise scale AI/ML platforms

* Experience in healthcare supporting a regulated, compliance driven environment

* Experience integrating AI/ML into mobile experiences for real-time personalization and decisioning

* Experience architecting enterprise mobile platforms and API-driven ecosystems across channels

* Proven ability to define and scale architecture standards and reusable patterns across teams

Preferred Qualifications:

* Proven ability to influence at platform and portfolio level

* Proven solid communication skills across technical and non technical audiences

* Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguity and drive architectural trade offs

* Proven LLMs and agentic AI architectures

* Proven Healthcare or other regulated domains

* Proven platform modernization and cloud migration initiatives

* All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to United Health 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…