Director AI Architecture - Hybrid MN and DC, remote elsewhere

UnitedHealth Group•Eden Prairie, MN

4h•Remote

About The Position

Optum is a global organization delivering care, powered by data and technology, to help millions of people live healthier lives. At Optum.ai, we are not just witnessing the AI transformation in healthcare-we are leading it. Our mission is clear: to simplify healthcare with AI, turning insight into action at a scale few organizations in the world can match. As part of the Optum.ai team, you’ll work at the intersection of cutting-edge artificial intelligence and real-world healthcare impact. From reducing administrative burden for providers to anticipating patient needs and improving access to quality care, your work will help solve some of healthcare’s most complex challenges-and directly improve health outcomes for millions of people. You’ll collaborate with world-class talent across data science, engineering, product, and healthcare domains, backed by the reach and stability of Optum and UnitedHealth Group. Here, responsible innovation matters. So do comprehensive benefits, meaningful career growth, and the opportunity to make a tangible difference-advancing health equity and creating a simpler, more connected healthcare experience for everyone. This is more than a job. It’s a chance to shape the future of healthcare through the transformative power of AI. Optum AI is UnitedHealth Group’s enterprise AI team. We are AI/ML scientists and engineers with deep expertise in AI/ML engineering for health care. We develop AI/ML solutions for the highest impact opportunities across UnitedHealth Group businesses including UnitedHealthcare, Optum Financial, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. In addition to transforming the health care journey through responsible AI/ML innovation, our charter also includes developing and supporting an enterprise AI/ML development platform. As a Director of AI Architecture, you will define and lead enterprise AI architecture strategy across multiple large-scale programs and platforms. You will serve as a senior technical leader responsible for designing scalable AI ecosystems, establishing architecture standards, and ensuring responsible AI adoption across the enterprise. This role requires deep technical expertise in AI/ML platforms, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to influence executive stakeholders and cross-functional teams. You’ll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field
15+ years of experience in technology architecture or engineering with 10+ years designing large-scale AI/ML platforms and defining enterprise architecture strategy
8+ years of experience designing and implementing AI/ML and Generative AI systems including ML platforms, MLOps/LLMOps pipelines, and model lifecycle management
8+ years of experience architecting distributed systems in multi-cloud environments (Azure, AWS, and/or GCP)
7+ years in senior architecture or technical leadership roles leading cross-functional teams and influencing executive stakeholders
6+ years of experience implementing Responsible AI, model governance, and regulatory compliance frameworks in regulated industries

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field
Experience architecting AI platforms within healthcare or other highly regulated industries
Experience supporting enterprise-scale strategic technology initiatives or transformation programs

Responsibilities

Define enterprise AI architecture strategy and drive the enterprise AI architecture vision across multiple programs, aligning platform, data, and AI strategies with enterprise healthcare objectives
Architect enterprise-scale AI ecosystems including data platforms, ML/GenAI systems, application layers, integration frameworks, and operating models
Establish and enforce AI architecture standards, reference architectures, and governance frameworks for regulated healthcare environments
Lead AI platform and multi-cloud strategy across Azure, AWS, and GCP including workload placement, platform standardization, performance optimization, and cost governance
Drive Responsible AI and model governance frameworks including explainability, auditability, regulatory compliance, and lifecycle management
Provide executive technical leadership and advisory to senior stakeholders, shaping AI strategy, enterprise platform modernization, and long-term technology roadmaps
Lead and mentor senior architects and engineering leaders, reviewing architectural designs and guiding teams building large-scale AI systems
Support strategic initiatives and innovation by influencing enterprise AI adoption, evaluating emerging technologies, and guiding enterprise technology investment decisions