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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

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

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 ...

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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 Jul 30, 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 job?

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 July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,939 per year, or $55.3 per hour.

Junior Architect / Senior Data Engineer - Remote

UnitedHealth Group

Schaumburg, IL • On-site, Remote

$112K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 15 days ago

UnitedHealth Group rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 146 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

186th of 890 rated healthcare providers

Job description

Optum Insight is improving the flow of health data and information to create a more connected system. We remove friction and drive alignment between care providers and payers, and ultimately consumers. Our deep expertise in the industry and innovative technology empower us to help organizations reduce costs while improving risk management, quality and revenue growth. Ready to help us deliver results that improve lives? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
We are seeking a Senior Azure Data Engineer to help design, build, and operate our next-generation enterprise data platform on Microsoft Azure. You will own end-to-end delivery of data pipelines and data products that power analytics, regulatory reporting, operational dashboards, and emerging AI/ML use cases. You will partner closely with data architects, analytics engineers, data scientists, business stakeholders, and platform engineering teams to deliver reliable, performance, secure, and cost-efficient data solutions.
This role is ideal for an engineer with solid hands-on depth in Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics and/or Databricks, and modern Lakehouse patterns, who is comfortable leading migration programs (e.g., Informatica-to-ADF, on-prem warehouse-to-cloud), mentoring mid-level engineers, and shaping engineering standards across the team.
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:
  • Pipeline Design & Development
    • Design and build robust, reusable, parameter-driven ingestion and transformation pipelines using Azure Data Factory, Synapse Pipelines, Data Bricks and/or Microsoft Fabric Data Factory
    • Implement medallion architecture (Bronze / Silver / Gold) on Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 using Delta Lake, Parquet, and structured streaming patterns
    • Build performant ELT workflows that leverage pushdown to source systems (Synapse Dedicated SQL Pool, Azure SQL, Teradata) where appropriate
    • Develop and optimize PySpark notebooks and jobs on Azure Databricks or Synapse Spark
  • Data Modeling & Warehousing
    • Design dimensional models (Kimball star/snowflake) and data vault patterns for analytics consumption
    • Implement Slowly Changing Dimensions (Type 1/2/3), Change Data Capture, and late-arriving data patterns
    • Tune distributed SQL workloads in Synapse Dedicated SQL Pool / Fabric Warehouse, including distribution keys, partitioning, and clustered column store indexes
  • Platform Engineering & DevOps
    • Implement CI/CD for data pipelines using Azure DevOps (YAML pipelines, ARM/Bicep/Terraform) across Dev / SIT / UAT / Prod environments
    • Instrument pipelines with robust logging, auditing, and monitoring using Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and KQL
    • Define and enforce coding standards, code review practices, branching strategies, and release management
  • Migration & Modernization
    • Lead or contribute to legacy-to-cloud migrations - e.g., Informatica PowerCenter to Azure Data Factory, on-premises Teradata / Oracle / SQL Server to Synapse or Fabric
    • Perform workload assessment, capacity planning, and cost modeling for target-state architectures
    • production incident response for critical pipelines

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:
  • Demonstrated experience in Data Bricks and PySpark
  • Production experience with one or more of: Azure Synapse Analytics (Dedicated and Serverless SQL Pools, Spark Pools) OR Azure Databricks (Delta Lake, Unity Catalog) OR Microsoft Fabric (Warehouse, Lakehouse, OneLake)
  • Experience with Azure Key Vault, Azure AD / Entra ID (including managed identities and service principals), and private networking (VNet integration, private endpoints)
  • Experience with monitoring and troubleshooting with Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and KQL
  • Deep hands-on expertise with Azure Data Factory: pipelines, datasets, linked services, triggers, parameterization, mapping data flows, and all three Integration Runtime types (Azure, Self-hosted, SSIS)
  • Demonstrated working knowledge of Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 (hierarchical namespace, RBAC + ACLs, lifecycle management, security)
  • Proficient in T-SQL; familiarity with Spark SQL, KQL, PowerShell, and Bash shell scripting
  • Advanced SQL - window functions, CTEs, query optimization, execution plan analysis, performance tuning
  • Demonstrated Python for data engineering - pandas, PySpark, REST API integration, unit testing (pytest)
  • Willing/able to travel approximately 10% of the time as business needs dictate (occasional travel to Springfield, IL two to three times per year)

Preferred Qualifications:
  • 5+ years of data warehouse development experience
  • 5+ years of data modeling experience using ERWIN or similar tools
  • 2+ years of experience with Azure Data Factory and Snowflake
  • Medicaid Domain Knowledge

*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 $91,700 - $163,700 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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