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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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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 26, 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 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 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 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, 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,939 per year, or $55.3 per hour.

Director, Data Engineering - OptumRx Technology - Remote

UnitedHealth Group

Schaumburg, IL • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Retirement

Posted 5 days ago

UnitedHealth Group rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 146 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

191st of 893 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.
Director, Data Engineering & AI leads the strategy, architecture, and execution of enterprise data platforms that power analytics, machine learning, and generative AI capabilities. The role is accountable for building scalable AI-ready data foundations, governing trusted data assets, enabling responsible AI adoption, and delivering business value through modern data products while leading high-performing engineering teams and driving enterprise-wide transformation.
You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.
Primary Responsibilities:
  • AI-Ready Data Platform Strategy
    • Define and drive the enterprise data engineering and AI platform vision
    • Establish scalable data architectures to support analytics, machine learning, GenAI, and agentic AI solutions
    • Ensure data platforms are cloud-native, secure, resilient, and cost-efficient
    • Build AI-ready data foundations including semantic layers, metadata, lineage, and knowledge graphs
  • Data Engineering Leadership
    • Lead multiple data engineering teams responsible for ingestion, transformation, storage, and consumption of enterprise data
    • Establish engineering standards, best practices, and reusable frameworks
    • Oversee development of data pipelines, data products, APIs, and real-time streaming solutions
    • Drive modernization from legacy platforms to cloud-based architectures
  • AI & Machine Learning Enablement
    • Partner with Data Science and AI teams to operationalize ML and GenAI solutions
    • Build feature stores, vector databases, embedding pipelines, and RAG architectures
    • Enable model training, deployment, monitoring, and lifecycle management
    • Define standards for AI observability, explainability, and responsible AI
  • Enterprise Data Governance
    • Establish data quality, stewardship, lineage, cataloging, and master data management processes
    • Ensure compliance with regulatory, privacy, and security requirements
    • Implement governance frameworks for AI training data and AI-generated outputs
    • Drive trusted and certified data asset programs
  • Data Product Management
    • Champion a data-as-a-product mindset
    • Define ownership, SLAs, and quality standards for enterprise data products
    • Prioritize investments based on business value and AI-readiness
    • Measure adoption, quality, and business impact of data products
  • Innovation & Emerging Technologies
    • Evaluate emerging technologies in GenAI, Agentic AI, Data Fabric, Semantic Layer, Knowledge Graphs, and Intelligent Automation
    • Lead proof-of-concepts and enterprise-scale deployment strategies
    • Drive automation of engineering operations using AI-powered tooling
    • Promote innovation culture across engineering teams
  • Business & Stakeholder Engagement
    • Partner with business, product, analytics, and technology leaders to identify AI-powered opportunities
    • Translate business objectives into scalable data and AI capabilities
    • Communicate technology strategy and value realization to executive leadership
    • Influence investment decisions and roadmap priorities
  • Financial & Operational Management
    • Own platform budgets, vendor management, and resource planning
    • Optimize cloud costs and platform utilization
    • Establish KPIs for platform reliability, performance, and productivity
    • Ensure operational excellence and adherence to SLAs
  • Talent Development
    • Recruit, mentor, and develop high-performing data engineering and AI engineering teams
    • Build organizational capabilities in cloud, analytics, MLOps, GenAI, and data governance
    • Create career growth paths and succession plans
    • Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning
  • Key Success Metrics
    • Data quality and reliability
    • AI adoption and business value realization
    • Platform availability and performance
    • Data product usage and customer satisfaction
    • Engineering productivity and automation
    • Cloud cost optimization
    • Regulatory and governance compliance
    • Team engagement and retention

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:
  • Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience
  • Hands-on experience with AI, creating agentic solutions
  • Solid knowledge of Unix and shell scripting
  • Solid understanding of DWH principles, Spark/Databricks, Azure Architecture
  • Solid understanding of Data Architecture and Azure Cloud
  • Understanding of QA and testing automation process
  • Understanding and knowledge of Agile

*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 $134,600 - $230,800 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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