Senior Data Engineer

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 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.

Optum Insight partners with payers, providers, governments and life sciences companies to simplify and enhance clinical, administrative and financial processes through software-enabled services and analytics, while advancing value-based care. Our differentiated products, technology insights, clinical expertise and analytics support the entire health system - ultimately delivering better experiences for consumers.

Optum Insight Technology and Engineering is a critical function in Optum Insight driving the innovation and value we provide our customers and partners. This team focuses on products, solutions, platform / enabling capability development, product development lifecycle, engineering excellence and connectivity to Optum Technology.

About The Role

We're hiring a Senior Data Engineer to build data products on Azure and Databricks. We are looking for someone who can take ownership, drive initiatives with minimal supervision, and embrace responsibility. We value individuals with an open mindset for learning and adapting to new technologies, ensuring our solutions stay ahead in a rapidly evolving data and AI landscape. You'll design enterprise data models, transformations and serving layers that power analytics and AI agents while working within restricted-data environments and modern governance standards.

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 for a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design and maintain scalable data models for large-scale systems ensuring optimal performance
• Develop and manage robust ETL/ELT pipelines for data ingestion and transformation from heterogeneous sources
• Apply strong SQL skills for complex queries and performance tuning across large datasets
• Develop and maintain Python-based solutions for data processing, automation, and integration tasks
• Build and optimize workflows on Azure Cloud services and Databricks to support enterprise data needs
• Implement security and compliance measures for handling PHI/PII data in accordance with HIPAA or similar regulations
• Support AI/ML workflows by provisioning infrastructure and collaborating with data scientists for predictive analytics integration
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and deliver data solutions while effectively communicating technical concepts to stakeholders
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and audit readiness across all systems
• Create interactive dashboards and reports using Power BI or Tableau to deliver actionable insights
• Utilize advanced data modeling techniques to design efficient and scalable architectures
• Stay updated with emerging technologies in data engineering and cloud platforms to drive process improvements and best practices for data lifecycle management
• Design, 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 directions on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED
• 5+ years of overall experience in data engineering
• 5+ years of experience in SQL and data modeling for large-scale systems
• 3+ years of experience in ETL/ELT frameworks
• 3+ years of experience with Databricks and Python
• 3+ years of experience with Power BI or Tableau
• 3+ years of experience with any one public cloud platform like Azure, AWS or GCP

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS or IT or Engineering related field
• Good experience with Azure data factory
• Familiarity with AI/ML frameworks and supporting infrastructure for data science workflows
• Proven experience integrating data from heterogeneous source systems
• Experience working with PHI/PII and restricted client data in compliance with HIPAA or similar regulations
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• 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.

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.

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