Director - AI/ML Engineering - Hybrid in Minnetonka, MN
About The Position
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. Director, Applied AI & Data Science is a hands-on technology delivery leader responsible for identifying, shaping, and delivering AI-driven transformations across MedicareIQ program. This role partners closely with business partners to uncover high-impact opportunities where AI [Data Science, Machine learning and Agentic AI ] can materially improve cost, operational efficiency, and member outcomes, and to translate those opportunities into funded, enterprise-scale initiatives. This leader curates and prioritizes a portfolio of AI use cases, defines clear value propositions and success metrics, and builds executive-ready proposals grounded in business value, risk, and feasibility. The role requires solid leadership presence to influence investment decisions, secure funding, and champion initiatives from concept through approval and scaled delivery. This position follows a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week.
Requirements
- 12+ years of experience in the IT industry with Master’s degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related discipline
- 5+ years of enterprise leadership experience defining strategy, architecture, and delivery across multiple teams
- 3+ years of experience leading largescale applied AI/ML engineering organizations (20–50+ team consisting of engineers, data scientists, and ML engineers, across shores) delivering end-to-end production-grade software platforms
- Proven success with building and operating AI enabled software products—from full stack application development to AI/ML integrated solution—with multi-million-dollar annual budgets in healthcare or similarly regulated environments
- Demonstrated solid business acumen with ability to link AI investments to ROI, risk, and strategic outcomes
- Demonstrated executive communication skills and ability to influence funding and prioritization decisions
Nice To Haves
- Proven deep domain expertise in healthcare and regulatory frameworks
- Demonstrated success in scaling GenAI and enterprise-grade ML capabilities across large enterprises
- Proven solid understanding of Medicare regulatory needs including data governance, privacy, and HIPAA compliance
- Proficiency in solving combinatorial optimization challenges through AI, and integrating them into mainstream solutions
Responsibilities
- Drive end-to-end AI enabled software delivery aligned to business transformation with measurable outcomes within MedicareIQ program
- Partners with business leaders to identify and shape high impact opportunities where AI can drive transformative outcomes. Develops executive ready use cases with clear value propositions and presents them to senior leadership to secure alignment and funding
- Own end-to-end lifecycle delivery of Software Engineering — from problem framing and design through development, deployment, scaling, and optimization of production grade Data Science, Machine learning and Agentic AI solutions
- Provide technical leadership ensuring scalable, secure, and resilient production-ready systems
- Embed responsible and secure AI practices across the delivery lifecycle, including governance, fairness, transparency, compliance, and adherence while adhering to enterprise security standards
- Build and lead high performing greenfield AI engineering team, fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, team mentorship and engineering excellence
- Partner cross-functionally across product, finance, compliance, infrastructure, security, and business leaders to deliver integrated, enterprise-aligned AI solutions
- Communicate AI purpose, delivery progress, and business impact with clarity and executive presence to senior leadership
Benefits
- a comprehensive benefits package
- incentive and recognition programs
- equity stock purchase
- 401k contribution
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
