Manager, Software Engineering - AI, Data & Digital Platforms

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Software Engineering Manager to lead the strategy, architecture, development, and delivery of next-generation AI-powered digital platforms, enterprise applications, and data products. This leader will be responsible for building and scaling high-performing engineering teams that deliver modern cloud-native applications, AI/ML solutions, intelligent automation, and enterprise data platforms.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with solid people leadership, driving engineering excellence, innovation, modernization, and AI adoption across the organization while aligning technology investments with business outcomes.

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.

Primary Responsibilities:

Leadership & Engineering Management

• Lead and develop multidisciplinary engineering teams across software development, digital engineering, data engineering, AI/ML engineering, and platform engineering
• Establish technical vision, engineering standards, architecture governance, and execution strategies for enterprise-scale applications and AI-enabled platforms
• Drive engineering excellence through best practices in software development, DevOps, testing automation, observability, reliability, and operational readiness
• Partner with executive leadership to define technology roadmaps, investment priorities, and long-term modernization strategies
• Build and mentor high-performing engineering organizations, fostering innovation, accountability, and continuous learning
• Manage engineering capacity planning, talent development, performance management, and organizational growth

Application Development & Modernization

• Lead modernization of legacy platforms into cloud-native, API-first, event-driven, and AI-enabled architectures
• Define technology standards and reference architectures for enterprise application development
• Oversee development and deployment of scalable web, mobile, digital, and backend platforms supporting business growth
• Partner with architecture, infrastructure, security, and operations teams to ensure scalable, resilient, and cost-effective solutions
• Drive adoption of microservices, containerization, cloud services, and modern software engineering practices
• Lead the teams focusing on leveraging enterprise AI and data transformation initiatives that improve customer experience, operational efficiency, and business decision-making
• Oversee the design and implementation of scalable digital, data platforms

Data, Analytics & AI Platforms

• Guide the design of enterprise data lakehouse and distributed computing architectures
• Oversee development and deployment of AI/ML solutions including:
• Fraud Detection & Prevention
• Lending Underwriting & Risk Scoring
• Customer Personalization & Recommendations
• Predictive Analytics & Forecasting
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
• Intelligent Process Automation
• Lead initiatives involving:
• AI Agents and Autonomous Workflows
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Vector Databases
• Enterprise Knowledge Management
• Intelligent Document Processing
• Conversational AI Platforms

AI-Enabled Engineering Productivity

• Drive adoption of AI-assisted software engineering tools including GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, and similar developer productivity platforms
• Establish engineering practices leveraging AI to improve:
• Developer productivity
• Code quality
• Test automation
• Documentation generation
• Code reviews
• Delivery velocity
• Develop organizational standards, training programs, and governance frameworks for responsible use of AI development tools

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with Product Management, Business Leaders, Enterprise Architecture, Security, and Operations teams to define strategic priorities and execute transformation initiatives
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives on AI, data, and digital transformation opportunities
• Drive alignment across engineering teams and business stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of critical initiatives
• Influence enterprise architecture decisions and technology investment strategies

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

• 12+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, application development, data engineering, or AI/ML solution delivery
• 5+ years leading software engineering teams and enterprise-scale technology programs
• Proven experience delivering large-scale digital transformation, cloud modernization, and AI/ML initiatives
• Proven solid technical background in:
• Java, .NET, Python, SQL
• SQL Server, Oracle
• Databricks, Power BI
• Distributed data processing platforms
• Cloud-native application architectures
• Experience with:
• Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud Platform
• Data Lakehouse architectures
• Spark, Kafka, Flink
• REST APIs, Microservices, Event-Driven Architectures
• CI/CD, DevOps, MLOps

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience building and scaling enterprise AI platforms and MLOps ecosystems.
• Hands-on understanding of:
• PyTorch
• TensorFlow
• Scikit-Learn
• Large Language Models (LLMs)
• Small Language Models (SLMs)
• AI Agents
• RAG Frameworks
• Vector Databases (FAISS, Pinecone, Chroma)
• Experience in financial services, fraud detection, risk management, underwriting, or regulated industries
• Experience leading enterprise adoption of AI-powered software engineering tools and practices

*All employees working remotely 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 $112,700 to $193,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

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., 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.