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Optum Data Science Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

UnitedHealth Group

Lead AI/ML Engineer - Remote

Schaumburg, IL · On-site +1

$100K - $132K/yr

  • Retirement

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people ... Master's or PhD degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a related ...

UnitedHealth Group

Lead AI/ML Engineer - Remote

Schaumburg, IL · On-site +1

$100K - $132K/yr

  • Retirement

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people ... Master's or PhD degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a related ...

Allergan

Director, Payer Contract Analytics - NECS

Mettawa, IL · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Optum. Together, ~80% of US Net Sales each year are the result of formulary placements and ... Demonstrating a strong understanding of syndicated and AbbVie proprietary data, data science and ...

AbbVie

Director, Payer Contract Analytics - NECS

Mettawa, IL · On-site

$160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Optum. Together, ~80% of US Net Sales each year are the result of formulary placements and ... Demonstrating a strong understanding of syndicated and AbbVie proprietary data, data science and ...

AbbVie

Director, Payer Contract Analytics - NECS

Mettawa, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Optum. Together, ~80% of US Net Sales each year are the result of formulary placements and ... Demonstrating a strong understanding of syndicated and AbbVie proprietary data, data science and ...

AbbVie

Director, Payer Contract Analytics - NECS

Mettawa, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... Optum. Together, ~80% of US Net Sales each year are the result of formulary placements and ... Demonstrating a strong understanding of syndicated and AbbVie proprietary data, data science and ...

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All JobsOptum Data Science JobsOptum Data Science Jobs in Chicago, IL

Optum Data Science information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$24.6K

$114.9K

$210.9K

How much do optum data science jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for optum data science in Chicago, IL is $114,939.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,887.00 and $161,147.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of projects do data scientists at Optum typically work on?

Data scientists at Optum commonly work on projects that involve analyzing large healthcare datasets to identify trends, improve patient outcomes, and optimize operational efficiency. This may include developing predictive models for disease risk, healthcare cost forecasting, or creating data-driven solutions to enhance clinical workflows. Team members frequently collaborate with clinicians, business analysts, and IT specialists, ensuring their work has a real-world impact on healthcare delivery. These projects often require innovative problem-solving and the ability to communicate insights to cross-functional teams, making the work both challenging and rewarding.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Optum Data Science position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Optum Data Science professional, a strong background in statistics, machine learning, data analysis, and a degree in a quantitative field such as computer science or mathematics are essential. Experience with programming languages like Python or R, data visualization tools, and familiarity with big data platforms (e.g., Hadoop or Spark) are commonly required, along with relevant certifications. Analytical thinking, strong communication, and the ability to collaborate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders are critical soft skills. These skills enable data scientists at Optum to extract meaningful insights from complex healthcare datasets and drive impactful business decisions.

What is an Optum Data Science?

An Optum Data Science job involves using data analytics, machine learning, and statistical methods to derive insights that improve healthcare outcomes and operational efficiency. Data scientists at Optum work with large datasets to identify trends, develop predictive models, and support decision-making for healthcare providers, payers, and patients. They collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive innovation in areas such as patient care optimization, fraud detection, and cost reduction. Strong programming skills, domain knowledge in healthcare, and expertise in data modeling are typically required for this role.

What are the most commonly searched types of Optum Data Science jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Optum Data Science jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Optum Data Science jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Optum Data Science jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Optum Data Science jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Optum Data Science jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Optum Data Science jobs near you
Infographic showing various Optum Data Science job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,939 per year, or $55.3 per hour.

Lead AI/ML Engineer - Remote

UnitedHealth Group

Schaumburg, IL • On-site, Remote

$100K - $132K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Re-posted 28 days ago

UnitedHealth Group rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 146 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

189th of 887 rated healthcare providers

Job description

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.
As a Lead AI/ML Engineer within Optum Rx, you will lead the design, development, and scaling of advanced machine learning systems and artificial intelligence solutions that directly impact pharmacy benefits, patient care, and clinical workflows. You will serve as the technical lead for complex AI/ML initiatives, designing conversational virtual assistants and driving modern engineering practices across cross-functional teams. This role collaborates with enterprise architecture, capability teams, and vendors to architect robust, secure, and scalable solutions for our core conversational chatbot platform utilized by both internal and external stakeholders.
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:
  • Lead the design, development, and production deployment of AI/ML solutions, translating models and algorithms into scalable, secure, and reliable software used in enterprise systems
  • Serve as a technical lead for complex AI/ML initiatives, owning end-to-end implementation from design through deployment and operational support
  • Use enterprise-approved AI tools to streamline workflows, automate tasks, and drive continuous improvement across teams
  • Apply advanced knowledge of machine learning, deep learning, statistics, and experimental methodologies to build high-quality, data-driven solutions
  • Partner closely with product, business, and engineering stakeholders to identify high value use cases and deliver AI solutions that solve real OptumRx business problems
  • Lead AI solution architecture and design in collaboration with the Enterprise Architecture team, core capability teams, and major platform vendors (including Microsoft, Palantir, and MongoDB) to identify optimal designs for our core conversational chatbot platform
  • Maintain comprehensive solution architecture and network architecture diagrams for our core conversational chatbot platform utilized by multiple internal and external stakeholders
  • Drive modern engineering practices across teams, including automation-first development, code reuse, observability, and CI/CD adoption for AI systems
  • Champion AI/MLOps best practices, ensuring models and pipelines are production-ready, monitored, and continuously improved
  • Influence architectural decisions by applying broad domain and technology expertise to balance performance, scalability, security, and maintainability
  • Enforce and promote enterprise security, privacy, and quality standards within AI/ML solutions, proactively identifying and mitigating risk
  • Mentor and guide engineers across teams, acting as a subject-matter expert and escalation point for AI/ML engineering challenges
  • Communicate complex AI/ML concepts and results clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership
  • Evaluate emerging trends to inform solution design, optimize architecture, and drive strategic enterprise innovation

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 or equivalent experience; 4+ years of software engineering experience may substitute for a degree
  • 5+ years of professional software engineering experience using Python, Java, Scala, or similar programming languages
  • 3+ years of experience designing, training, and deploying machine learning or deep learning models into production systems
  • 2+ years of experience building and managing MLOps frameworks, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, and containerized deployments (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
  • 2+ years of experience writing SQL and working with relational or non-relational database systems (such as MongoDB)

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's or PhD degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a related technical field
  • Experience architecting, designing, and maintaining solution/network architecture diagrams for conversational chatbot solutions, virtual assistants, or natural language processing (NLP) applications
  • Experience collaborating with enterprise architecture teams and leading technical design discussions with cloud and platform vendors (e.g., Microsoft, Palantir, MongoDB).
  • Experience with Large Language Models (LLMs), prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)
  • Proven solid understanding of data privacy, model governance, and ethical AI practices within the healthcare sector
  • Excellent communication and collaborative problem-solving skills, with a proven ability to lead technical initiatives and mentor team members

*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 $145,500 to $249,500 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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