[Remote] Director, AI ML Engineering - Remote

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Optum is a global leader in health care innovation, seeking a Director of AI ML Engineering to define and own the engineering AI strategy. The role involves partnering with engineering teams to identify opportunities for AI agents, overseeing their lifecycle, and ensuring alignment with business objectives and enterprise standards.ResponsibilitiesDefine and own the engineering AI strategy to measurably accelerate software development, quality, reliability, and operational efficiency through the use of AI agentsPartner with engineering teams to analyze current workflows, development activities, and pain points across the SDLC, identifying high‑value opportunities where AI agents can deliver meaningful impactDevelop a clear, prioritized roadmap of AI agent use cases aligned to business objectives, engineering strategy, and enterprise technology standardsBuild data‑driven proposals and business cases for AI agent investments, including baseline measurements, expected productivity gains, cost avoidance, quality improvements, and adoption metricsLead the design, development, and deployment of AI agents that augment or automate engineering work (e.g., requirements analysis, design support, coding, testing, deployment, reliability, incident analysis)Oversee the end‑to‑end lifecycle of AI agents from proof of value through scaled production deployment, ensuring solutions are reliable, secure, observable, and maintainableEstablish measurement frameworks, analytics, and KPIs to track realized value and continuously refine AI solutions based on usage, outcomes, and feedbackDefine a repeatable operating model for how engineering teams identify, build, govern, and adopt AI agents at scaleEnsure all AI solutions adhere to enterprise architecture, security, privacy, regulatory, and responsible AI standards, including appropriate human‑in‑the‑loop controlsDrive engineering enablement and change management, helping teams adopt new AI‑enabled ways of working and build confidence using AI as a force multiplierServe as a trusted advisor and thought leader to engineering and technology leadership, translating complex AI concepts into clear decisions, trade‑offs, and business outcomesCollaborate closely with architecture, platform, product, data, and security partners to align AI agent strategy with broader enterprise initiativesSkillsBachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience in applied AI, technology strategy, or complex enterprise systems10+ years of experience delivering and leading complex technology initiatives, with demonstrated expertise either through hands-on software engineering experience OR through deep technical partnership roles, including the driving or ownership of complex systems, platforms, or large-scale transformation initiativesExperience connecting AI initiatives to measurable business value, using data, analytics, and outcome-based metricsDemonstrated experience designing, building, or operationalizing AI-powered solutions, including agent-based or LLM-driven systems applied in real-world environmentsDeep understanding of modern AI techniques and platforms, including large language models and agent frameworks used to accelerate software development and analysisProven ability to identify high-value AI opportunities, translate them into clear use cases, and support delivery through collaboration with engineering teamsExperience in PBM, U.S. Healthcare and/or RxClaim platformExperience designing, building, or leading agentic AI or multi-agent systems deployed in production environmentsFamiliarity with modern SDLC and DevOps practices and how AI can accelerate areas such as testing, code quality, deployment, operations, and reliabilityBackground in platform, enablement, or productivity teams, driving adoption of shared capabilities at scaleDemonstrated success leading organizational change, moving teams from experimentation to sustained, value-driven technology adoptionProven excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to operate credibly across engineering, product, and executive stakeholdersAll employees working remotely 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.Company H1B SponsorshipOptum has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 73 in 2026, 648 in 2025, 559 in 2024, 620 in 2023, 851 in 2022, 593 in 2021, 438 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.