Principal Architect - Hybrid in Minneapolis, MN or Remote

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 talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health equity on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
The Principal Architect serves as an ambassador to business and technology stakeholders and will align and communicate solutions and strategies for one or more product domains for the UnitedHealthcare Medicare and Retirement business segment.
The Principal Architect plays an important role by bringing together information in ways that provide new insights and perspectives on operational effectiveness as well as future business opportunities. These insights could come from partnering with senior business leaders to determine the feasibility of new ideas, assessing emerging trends in the industry, understanding market needs in RFPs (Request for Proposals), interactions with technology partners, opportunities for POCs (Proofs of Concepts), establish product, solution and technology roadmaps for the future, and many other avenues of exploration.
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:
Strategic Vision & Leadership

• Define and evangelize the LOB AI vision and roadmap aligned with business goals
• Develop and implement an AI/ML strategy and solutions aligned with business goals
• Lead the creation of business-aligned architecture roadmaps and solution strategies for differentiation, agility, and cost optimization
• Create and execute technology roadmaps for product capabilities, ensuring alignment with new initiatives
• Provide thought leadership and market expertise to guide strategic investments
• Drive thought leadership through research, innovation forums, and industry engagement
• Influence executive decision-making on AI adoption and governance
• Develop materials to promote architecture and technology strategies to executives

Architecture & Solution Design

• Deliver comprehensive solution architecture aligned with strategic goals
• Develop solutions balancing short-term needs with long-term vision
• Break down complex business strategies into actionable initiatives for efficient road mapping
• Architect and deliver scalable AI solutions that integrate seamlessly with enterprise systems
• Lead design and implementation of AI platforms, data pipelines, and model deployment strategies
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into AI-driven solutions
• Evaluate and select AI/ML tools, frameworks, and technologies
• Ensure compliance with security, privacy, and ethical AI guidelines

Governance & Standards

• Establish standards, frameworks, and best practices for AI integration across the enterprise
• Prepare materials demonstrating alignment with enterprise practices for Architectural Review Boards

Business Engagement & Planning

• Partner with business stakeholders for strategic planning, road-mapping, and prioritization
• Conduct impact analysis, support cost-benefit analysis, and financial planning for business initiatives

Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide strategic and tactical direction to delivery teams
• Work effectively with architects, scrum teams, and business partners
• Communicate effectively with teammates, technology partners, and business leaders
• Resolve conflicting objectives and priorities positively
• Work across silos to resolve dependencies and accelerate decisions
• Lead change and innovation through disruptive technology
• Create and maintain architecture patterns and guidelines
• Coach and train junior architects in architecture frameworks and patterns

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:

• 10+ years of professional experience in technology disciplines with primary focus on enterprise architecture, business and product strategy, and technology architecture, including AI-driven solutions
• 6+ years of full lifecycle software engineering experience using agile frameworks, with hands-on delivery of AI-enabled platforms and solutions
• 5+ years of architectural experience in healthcare, creating capability models, program-level architecture, and implementation of roadmaps including transition states
• 3+ years of proven expertise managing and leading cross-functional, matrixed teams, with ability to coach resources to elevate performance and drive results
• Demonstrated success in driving AI and business technology strategies that lead to product differentiation and measurable business outcomes
• Experience influencing senior and executive-level stakeholders to adopt AI and enterprise architecture strategies without direct authority
• Ability to navigate complex organizations, connect technology decisions to business objectives, and champion enterprise-wide AI adoption
• Solid capability to estimate financial impact of AI and technical architecture alternatives

Preferred Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in computer science, information systems or STEM related field
• TOGAF certification or experience with PEAF, and/or other enterprise architecture frameworks
• Experience with Agile Product development process; SAFE Agile certified
• Architectural experience in healthcare, primarily in the Payer and Provider space, of creating capability, project and program level architecture solutions and implementation roadmaps including transition states
• Experience in architecting solutions to migrate from on-prem to Microsoft Azure as well as Cloud native solutions
• Experience in legacy modernization from Mainframe to modern technologies
• Experience using HL7/FHIR, Healthcare EDI formats
• Solid understanding of data architecture, data engineering, and data science concepts
• Proficiency in AI/ML frameworks and tools
• Solid analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience tackling technical challenges in fast-paced environments
• Up-to-date with the latest advancements in AI/ML technologies and methodologies, and able to apply this knowledge to drive innovation
• Ability to work on multiple large-scale technology initiatives concurrently
• Exceptional interpersonal skills in areas such as teamwork, facilitation, and negotiation
• Excellent analytical and collaboration skills to create innovative market leading solutions
• Excellent time management, communication, decision making and presentation skills
• Global team experience
• Working knowledge and experience in:
  • AI/ML technologies, Generative AI, Agentic AI, RAG, MLOps, data pipelines, and model deployment
  • Data management, streaming technologies, event-driven architecture
  • Modern architecture: APIs, microservices, SOA, cloud-native platforms
  • Advanced data technologies: NoSQL, Vector DBs, data governance, rules engines/BPMs

*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 $132,200 to $226,600 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.