Principal Software Engineer - Remote

UnitedHealth Group•Basking Ridge, NJ

21h•Remote

About The Position

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. 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 a minimum of four days per week.

Requirements

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
6+ years of hands-on experience in software engineering, with strong expertise in NodeJS, TypeScript, Python, and event-driven architectures using Kafka
Proven experience designing and implementing asynchronous processing, event handling, and distributed system patterns
Experience with relational and/or NoSQL databases and data modeling
Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines, test automation, and modern DevOps practices
Proven solid background in designing, developing, and deploying secured RESTful and/or GraphQL APIs

Nice To Haves

Experience with Python frameworks (e.g., FastAPI, Flask) and modern NodeJS frameworks
Experience working with Machine Learning models, including integration, evaluation, and performance tuning
Solid understanding of concurrency models, async programming, and message-driven systems
Proven solid problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to think critically and propose innovative technical solutions
Proven excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
Demonstrated passion for continuous learning and staying up to date with the latest advancements in cloud technologies and AI/ML

Responsibilities

Serve as a technical expert for solutions built on NodeJS, Python, and Kafka, contributing to complex, scalable systems from design through production
Lead architecture and design across multiple workstreams, ensuring scalable, resilient, and high-performing solutions
Design and implement asynchronous processing patterns and event-driven architectures for high-throughput, real-time systems
Provide hands-on technical leadership in the design, development, coding, testing, deployment, and debugging of distributed applications and microservices
Collaborate directly with product owners to understand business requirements and translate them into scalable technical solutions and roadmaps
Work closely with other engineers and stakeholders to define robust technical approaches for new product features
Establish and promote best practices for software development, code quality, and maintainability
Contribute to project prioritization, technical planning, and stakeholder communication across multiple initiatives
Champion operational excellence, including building, deploying, monitoring, and supporting production services with a focus on reliability and scalability
Mentor and guide engineers, fostering technical growth and promoting engineering excellence across the team
Drive adoption of modern development practices and AI productivity tools to improve engineering efficiency
Participate in incident response efforts; troubleshoot and resolve production issues, including involvement in war rooms when required
Promote quality through Test-Driven Development (TDD), Agile methodologies, and continuous improvement initiatives