Senior Director, Client Scientific Solutions - Remote

Optum Tech is a global leader in health care innovation. Our teams develop cutting-edge solutions that help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. From advanced data analytics and AI to cybersecurity, we use innovative approaches to solve some of health care's most complex challenges. Your contributions here have the potential to change lives. Ready to build the next breakthrough? Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Optum AI is UnitedHealth Group's enterprise AI team. We are AI/ML scientists and engineers with deep expertise in AI/ML engineering for health care. We develop AI/ML solutions for the highest impact opportunities across UnitedHealth Group businesses including UnitedHealthcare, Optum Financial, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. In addition to transforming the health care journey through responsible AI/ML innovation, our charter also includes developing and supporting an enterprise AI/ML development platform.

Optum AI team members:

• Have impact at scale: We have the data and resources to make an impact at scale. When our solutions are deployed, they have the potential to make health care system work better for everyone
• Do ground-breaking work: Many of our current projects involve cutting edge ML, NLP and LLM techniques. Generative AI methods for working with structured and unstructured health care data are continuously being developed and improved. We are working in one of the most important frontiers of AI/ML research and development
• Partner with world-class experts on innovative solutions: Our team members are developing novel AI/ML solutions to business challenges. In some cases, this includes the opportunity to file patents and publish papers about the methods we develop. We also collaborate with AI/ML researchers at some of the world's top universities

The Optum AI Sr Director, Client Scientific Solutions provides leadership for the development and deployment of applied AI/ML research and production initiatives at healthcare clients. This role leads applied research teams in developing and operationalizing advanced AI models, ensuring scalability and reliability. The Sr Director drives innovation, sets technical standards, and fosters collaboration across product and engineering teams to deliver measurable business impact.

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: 

• Applied Research to Production: Lead applied research teams in transitioning AI models from concept to production, ensuring scalability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Oversee integration of research outputs into client production environments with solid governance and performance standards
• Collaboration: Partner with product and engineering leaders to translate business needs into technical solutions and foster cross-functional alignment
• Innovation Leadership: Drive adoption of advanced AI technologies and methodologies at clients deliver innovative solutions aligned with organizational priorities
• Responsible AI: Implement governance and standards for ethical AI practices, ensuring compliance and transparency in model development and deployment
• Ecosystem Development: Establish frameworks and best practices for model lifecycle management, monitoring, and continuous improvement
• Talent Strategy: Mentor, develop and train senior technical leaders and build a solid pipeline of AI talent through coaching and development initiatives

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:

• Advanced degree (PhD or Master's) in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, or related field
• 10+ years of hands-on experience in AI/ML with proven success in leading large-scale projects
• Expertise in modern AI frameworks, machine learning algorithms, and model deployment
• Experience managing senior technical teams with solid leadership and communication skills
• Han