Sr. Principal Data Scientist - Remote

At UnitedHealthcare, we're simplifying the health care experience, creating healthier communities and removing barriers to quality care. The work you do here impacts the lives of millions of people for the better. Come build the health care system of tomorrow, making it more responsive, affordable and optimized. Ready to make a difference? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

The Data Scientist is a senior-level individual contributor responsible for developing advanced analytics, predictive models, and data-driven insights that directly influence strategic business decisions. This role partners cross-functionally with clinical, product, operations, and client-facing teams to solve complex problems, optimize outcomes, and drive measurable value.

The position requires deep expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning, and data engineering principles, along with the ability to translate complex analytics into actionable business strategies.

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: 
Advanced Analytics & Modeling:

• Design, develop, and deploy predictive and prescriptive models to support business and clinical initiatives
• Apply machine learning, statistical analysis, and optimization techniques to large, complex datasets
• Build and validate models for use cases such as risk stratification, utilization forecasting, intervention targeting, and cost containment
• Ensure model performance, scalability, and ongoing monitoring
• Guide analytics teams in applying machine learning, statistical modeling, and simulation techniques (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, ensemble methods) to large, multi-source datasets
• Apply best practices in causal inference, AI/ML, quasi-experimental methods, and forecasting to support strategy decisions and benefit realization
• Create and/or complete needed documentation to define project parameters and specifications, process flow and other business documentation including, but not limited to: business/functional/report/analytics requirements, workflows, job aids, and reference materials
• Apply analytical, mathematical and statistical techniques to investigating and interpreting data results
• Works with less structured, more complex issues, and comfortable with ambiguity

Business & Strategic Impact:

• Translate ambiguous business problems into structured analytical frameworks
• Deliver actionable insights that inform product development, population health strategies, and client-specific solutions
• Support cost-of-care initiatives, cross product benefits, and engagement strategies through analytics

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Partner with operations, product managers, consultants, and reporting teams to align analytics with business needs
• Communicate findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including executive leadership
• Serve as a thought partner in client discussions, RFPs, and strategic initiatives

Data Engineering & Governance:

• Partner with data engineering teams to define data requirements, pipelines, and data quality standards
• Ensure reproducibility, traceability, and governance of analytical outputs
• Work with claims, clinical, and engagement data sources to enable integrated analytics

Innovation & Continuous Improvement:

• Identify opportunities to leverage emerging technologies (AI/ML, generative AI, advanced analytics platforms)
• Drive enhancements in modeling approaches, tools, and analytical methodologies
• Contribute to the development of reusable analytics assets and frameworks

Scope & Impact:

• Works on high-priority, enterprise-level initiatives
• Influences product strategy, clinical outcomes, and client retention
• Supports revenue growth, cost savings, and performance guarantees
• Acts as a technical leader and mentor to junior analysts/data scientists (informal leadership)

Core Competencies:

• Analytical Rigor: Ability to