Senior Director AI/ML Engineering

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.

AI/ML Engineers code and develop software that deploys ML models and algorithms into production. Communicate and present complex analytics results and concepts to leadership and internal stakeholders. Employ AI and/or ML that may include natural language processing (NLP), natural language understanding (NLU), semantic understanding, intent classification, computer vision, deep learning, and automatic speech recognition (ASR).Applies deep learning technologies to give computers the capability to visualize, learn and respond to complex situations. May adapt machine learning to areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and other products that allow users to have an interactive experience. Work with large scale computing frameworks, data analysis systems. Employees in this role are expected to apply knowledge of experimental methodologies, statistics, optimization, probability theory and machine learning using code for tool building, statistical analysis, using both general purpose software and statistical languages. Impact of work is most often at the regional (e.g. multi-state) level, or is responsible for a major portion of a business segment, functional area or line of business.

• AI-First Leader
  • Integrate enterprise-approved AI tools into team workflows
  • Build AI goals into check-ins and development plans, and align hiring practices with our AI-persona framework
  • Identify and remove organizational and operational barriers to accelerate AI implementation
• Provides leadership to and is accountable for the performance and results through multiple layers of management and senior level professional staff
• Comply with the terms and conditions of the employment contract, company policies and procedures, and any and all directives (such as, but not limited to, transfer and/or re-assignment to different work locations, change in teams and/or work shifts, policies in regard to flexibility of work benefits and/or work environment, alternative work arrangements, and other decisions that may arise due to the changing business environment). The Company may adopt, vary or rescind these policies and directives in its absolute discretion and without any limitation (implied or otherwise) on its ability to do so

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Healthcare Informatics, or a related field; Master's or MBA preferred
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in enterprise technology, analytics, or automation, with 5+ years in the healthcare industry
• Proven experience managing large-scale AI/ML product life cycle, leading MLOps, RPA Ops, and Cloud Migration
• Experience in digital transformation initiatives in payer, provider, or healthcare services organizations
• Healthcare Domain Expertise
  • Deep understanding of healthcare data ecosystems, including EHRs, claims, clinical data, and interoperability standards (e.g., HL7, FHIR)
  • Familiarity with healthcare regulations and compliance frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, HITECH)
  • Experience working with population health, care management, revenue cycle, or value-based care analytics
• Technical & Strategic Expertise
  • Solid grasp of AI/ML technologies, intelligent automation (RPA, IPA), and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Demonstrated ability to translate healthcare business needs into scalable, high-impact technology solutions
• Leadership & Influence
  • Exceptional executive presence with the ability to influence and communicate effectively with C-level stakeholders
  • Experience in building and leading high-performing, diverse teams across geographies
  • Solid change management skills with a track record of driving cultural and operational transformation
• Financial & Operational Acumen
  • Experience managing a P&L and delivering against financial objectives, including revenue growth and investment optimization
  • Skilled in portfolio management, performance tracking, and ROI analysis using data-driven decision-making
• Innovation & Industry Awareness
  • Passion for innovation with a solid pulse on emerging healthcare technologies and industry trends
  • Experience in fostering a culture of continuous improvement, experimentation, and agile delivery
• AI-First Leader
  • Experience with experiment tracking tools (e.g., Weights & Biases, MLflow)
  • Hands-on experience with MLOps, model deployment, and monitoring
  • Proven expertise in LLMs, generative AI, and deep learning
  • Solid programming skills in Python and familiarity with ML libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, Keras)
  • Familiarity with AIML governance, ethics, and responsible AI practices
• Other Key Competencies
  • Solid problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic planning capabilities
  • Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with competing priorities