Data Engineer Remote Contract Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

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.
About the Team & Opportunity
We are transforming how clinical teams operate by embedding AI directly into Utilization Management (UM) and Care Management (CM) workflows, where technology has a meaningful impact on patient care. Our team works closely with clinical partners, business stakeholders, and operations teams to identify real workflow challenges and deliver practical AI solutions that improve efficiency, quality, and the overall clinician experience.
This is a hands on engineering role, not a research or experimental AI position. Our AI/ML solutions are actively deployed within production clinical workflows, helping nurses, care managers, and clinicians reduce manual effort and focus more time on patient care. The team works on capabilities such as intelligent case summarization, workflow automation, and AI assisted decision support - always with an emphasis on real world applicability and measurable outcomes.
As an AI/ML Engineer, you will contribute to the design, development, and implementation of AI/ML solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing platforms and workflows. You will collaborate closely with senior engineers, product partners, and clinical stakeholders to translate business problems into scalable technical solutions, while building solid expertise in applying AI responsibly within a regulated healthcare environment.
If you are passionate about applying AI to solve practical, high impact clinical problems, enjoy working in a collaborative, cross functional environment, and want to grow your skills while delivering solutions that directly improve how care is delivered, this role offers an exciting opportunity to do so.
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:

• Design, develop, test, and deploy full stack applications using React, NextJS, PostgreSQL, and Python
• Build and integrate AI powered solutions, including agentic workflows using frameworks such as CrewAI, Agno, or Google ADK
• Apply AI Dojo training to implement responsible, scalable AI patterns and solutions
• Translate product and business requirements into scalable, high quality technical solutions
• Develop and maintain backend services, APIs, and data models supporting AI and non AI workloads
• Collaborate closely with product, architecture, data, and DevOps teams across the SDLC
• Contribute to design reviews, code reviews, and technical decision making
• Support delivery of AI 10.0 and ECS Big Bet initiatives through hands on engineering execution
• Troubleshoot issues, optimize systems, and continuously improve performance, reliability, and maintainability

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.
Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field or 2+ years of equivalent practical experience
• 3+ years of professional software engineering experience in full stack application development
• 2+ years of solid hands on experience with React, Next.js, PostgreSQL, and Python
• 2+ years of experience building and integrating AI powered solutions into production applications (including LLM integrations, prompting, and APIs)
• 2+ years of experience translating business and product requirements into scalable, high quality technical solutions
• 2+ years of experience collaborating cross functionally with product, architecture, data, QA, and DevOps teams
• 1+ years of exposure to agentic AI frameworks such as CrewAI, Agno, Google ADK, or similar AI orchestration frameworks

Preferred Qualifications:

• Solid understanding of SDLC principles, code quality, performance optimization, and security best practices
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex problems, contribute to team solutions, and deliver against committed timelines

*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 $98,500 - $176,000 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
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.
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