Principal Data Engineer - Remote
About The Position
As a Principal Data Engineer within Optum Insight Engineering AI, you will design and develop robust public cloud data systems, services, and reusable patterns that deliver scale and performance. The team builds secure, private, and highly scalable Azure cloud solutions that make clean, reliable data available safely and quickly. You will lead the creation of modern ETL/ELT pipelines, Spark workflows, and AI integrations using platforms such as Azure Databricks, Snowflake, and large language models. These solutions support machine learning, insights generation, business automation, and improved clinical and administrative connectivity across healthcare. The role is remote from anywhere in the United States, with work conducted during Central Time hours. Employees working remotely must adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy. The position offers a salary range of $112,700–$193,200 annually based on full-time employment, plus benefits and incentive programs subject to eligibility requirements.
Requirements
- At least 8 years of software or data engineering experience, including expertise in data integration, data modeling, data architecture, and ETL/ELT.
- At least 5 years of hands-on Python development experience.
- At least 4 years of experience with Apache Spark/PySpark and distributed data processing.
- At least 5 years of advanced SQL experience, including data modeling, complex queries, and performance optimization.
- At least 1 year of experience designing and integrating REST, GraphQL, or similar APIs.
- At least 1 year of experience integrating LLMs, AI agents, or generative AI capabilities into engineering workflows or enterprise applications.
- At least 1 year of experience building data solutions using Azure Databricks, Snowflake, or comparable cloud data platforms.
- At least 1 year of experience with modern software engineering practices, including Git, CI/CD, automated testing, code quality, and infrastructure as code.
- At least 1 year of experience designing scalable, maintainable data platforms and services and troubleshooting complex production or data-processing issues.
- Must work during Central Time hours.
- Remote employees must adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.
- Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with Azure Databricks, Unity Catalog, Azure Functions, Azure Service Bus, and/or Snowflake.
- Experience with Terraform and GitHub Actions.
- Experience with spec-driven development and AI-assisted software engineering.
- Ability to work across data, API, and application layers and understand end-to-end system dependencies.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to quickly learn unfamiliar platforms and technologies.
Responsibilities
- Develop services, controls, and reusable patterns, including microservices and Azure Functions, for secure, sustainable delivery in the Azure public cloud.
- Design, build, optimize, and manage large-scale data pipelines and ETL/ELT processing on Azure Databricks, LakeBase, and Apache Spark for data integration, analytics, machine learning features, and predictive modeling.
- Develop and deploy data pipelines supporting machine learning, insights generation, business intelligence dashboards, reporting, and data products, using enterprise-approved AI tools.
- Build AI-based solutions to address business needs, automate processes, and streamline workflows.
- Contribute to the architectural evolution of data engineering patterns, frameworks, systems, and platforms, and define best practices and standards for managing data collections and integrations.
- Write and optimize complex SQL to improve data reliability, integrity, system efficiency, and overall quality.
- Promote collaborative technical work and mentor data engineers by providing technical direction and training on cloud data platforms.
- Work with business stakeholders and third-party technical organizations to understand product capabilities, break implementation work into functional changes, analyze data, and provide realistic estimates.
- Evaluate emerging trends to inform solution design, innovation, and cloud data architecture.
- Apply best practices for performance, scalability, and optimization.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility requirements.
- Incentive and recognition programs, subject to eligibility requirements.
- Equity stock purchase program, subject to eligibility requirements.
- 401(k) contribution, subject to eligibility requirements.
- Career development opportunities.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
Education Level
No Education Listed
