[Remote] Associate AI/ML Engineer

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Optum is a global organization that delivers care aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The Associate AI/ML Engineer will assist in designing, developing, and supporting GenAI/LLM-enabled features, while building and maintaining backend services and contributing to AI-powered solutions that address complex business challenges.ResponsibilitiesAssist in designing, developing, and supporting GenAI/LLM-enabled features under guidance, from prototype through productionImplement and iterate on prompt engineering patterns (prompting, prompt chaining, structured outputs) and contribute to basic evaluation approaches (quality, safety, hallucination risk, latency)Support agent-building efforts (tool use, multi-step workflows, orchestration) and help define goals, constraints, and guardrails for safe behaviorBuild and maintain backend services using Java + Spring Boot and REST APIs to expose AI capabilities to applications; integrate with Database and event streaming via Kafka where neededContribute to UI/API integration work (as needed) using React to deliver end-to-end featuresWrite clean, maintainable code in Java and/or Python, applying engineering best practices and participating in code reviewsCreate and maintain automated tests (e.g., JUnit) and contribute to CI quality gates (linting, unit/integration tests)Package and deploy services using Docker and support runtime deployments on Kubernetes; contribute to CI/CD pipelinesMonitor and troubleshoot services using logging/observability tools (e.g., Splunk), assist with incident triage, and document fixes/runbooksFollow Responsible AI and secure engineering practices, including safe handling of sensitive data and adherence to internal SDLC/AIDLC standardsUse approved productivity tools such as GitHub Copilot and Gemini to improve development speed and quality while complying with security and data-handling guidelinesSkillsBachelor's degree1+ years of experience in software engineering or ML engineering building software components production1+ years of experience in Java or Python, including ability to write readable, testable, maintainable code1+ years of experience building or integrating REST APIs; familiarity with Spring Boot or similar backend framework1+ years of experience using Git and collaborative development practices (branches, pull requests, code reviews)1+ years of experience with Basic test automation experience (e.g., JUnit or Python testing frameworks)6+ months of experience of MongoDB (or other NoSQL) and general data modeling/querying conceptsFamiliarity with event-driven architecture concepts and/or messaging systems such as Kafka (hands-on preferred)Foundational knowledge of AI/ML concepts, with exposure to NLP and/or LLM-based applications (e.g., summarization, extraction, Q&A)Exposure to GenAI patterns such as prompt engineering, RAG, and/or agent workflows; ability to evaluate outputs for correctness, safety, and consistencyFamiliarity with containerization (Docker) and basic understanding of deployment environments (cloud and/or Kubernetes), CI/CD fundamentalsStrong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills; comfortable working in an Agile delivery modelAll Telecommuters will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter PolicyBenefitsA comprehensive benefits packageIncentive and recognition programsEquity stock purchase401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements)Company OverviewOptum provides primary care and optical care services. It was founded in 1985, and is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, with a workforce of 10001+ employees. Its website is https://nm.optum.com.