Lead AI Engineer - Remote

Improve the lives of others while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Job Description
- Lead AI Engineer
- Remote (2383601)

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.

We are seeking a Lead Engineer to guide and define the AI-First engineering vision and roadmap for our PATH initiative. In this role, you will lead the adoption of AI-enabled SDLC across requirements, architecture, coding, testing, deployment, operations, and support while building secure, scalable, and resilient enterprise software solutions. You will drive intelligent automation, generative and agentic AI tools, and knowledge-driven workflows to optimize operational costs and streamline software delivery across complex health and human services platforms.

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.

• Define and execute the AI-First engineering vision, architecture, and roadmap for the PATH platform
• Lead AI Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) adoption across requirements, design, coding, testing, deployment, operations, and support
• Establish measurable productivity, quality, and efficiency goals through AI-powered engineering practices
• Drive adoption of Generative AI, Agentic AI, copilots, intelligent automation, and knowledge-driven workflows
• Implement AI-assisted software development, code reviews, test generation, documentation, incident analysis, and Dev Sec Ops  automation
• Build governance frameworks, responsible AI controls, model evaluation frameworks, security guardrails, and compliance standards
• Mentor teams on prompt engineering, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), agent frameworks, AI observability, and AI solution architecture
• Act as a senior technical leader and escalation point for critical application, integration, data, batch, cloud architecture, and production issues
• Translate complex business and regulatory requirements into technical designs, implementation plans, and engineering deliverables
• Integrate enterprise AI tools, set AI goals in development plans, and champion responsible and ethical technology usage across engineering teams

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.

• 10+ years of enterprise software engineering experience
• 5+ years of experience in Lead Engineer, Architect, or senior technical leadership roles
• 3+ years of demonstrated experience leading AI transformation, AI-enabled SDLC initiatives, or enterprise AI adoption programs
• Hands-on experience with Generative AI, Agentic AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), RAG, vector databases, AI orchestration, and model evaluation
• Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS), Dev Sec Ops , CI/CD automation, monitoring, and observability tools
• Experience working in government or regulated environments (e.g., Human Services, Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, Child Welfare, or Eligibility systems)
• Experience measuring AI-driven productivity gains, efficiency improvements, and key engineering KPIs

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience building AI Centers of Excellence, AI governance programs, or enterprise AI platforms.
• Proven ability to establish responsible AI controls, security guardrails, and compliance frameworks.
• Solid track record of influencing cross-functional technical delivery without relying on direct reporting authority.

* 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…