Associate Data Scientist

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 a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. Primary Responsibilities:Data Analysis & InsightsAnalyze structured and unstructured datasets to identify trends, patterns, and business opportunitiesPerform exploratory data analysis (EDA), feature engineering, data validation, and data quality assessmentsTranslate complex analytical findings into meaningful insights and actionable recommendations for business stakeholdersMachine Learning & AIBuild, evaluate, optimize, and monitor machine learning and statistical models under the guidance of senior team membersAssist in developing predictive and prescriptive analytics solutions to improve business outcomesSupport the deployment and maintenance of AI/ML solutions in production environmentsGenerative AI & Emerging TechnologiesPrototype and experiment with Generative AI and Large Language Model (LLM) use casesWork on prompt engineering, basic Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and AI-powered automation initiativesUnderstand Responsible AI principles, including model reliability, bias, and hallucination mitigationData Visualization & ReportingDevelop dashboards, reports, and visualizations using modern BI toolsPresent data-driven insights through intuitive analytical storytelling and business narrativesSupport operational teams with KPI tracking and performance reportingCollaboration & Stakeholder ManagementPartner with business teams to identify opportunities for data-driven decision-making and process optimizationCollaborate with Data Engineers to ensure clean, reliable, and scalable datasetsParticipate in cross-functional discussions and contribute to analytical problem-solving initiativesDocumentation & Continuous LearningDocument methodologies, experiments, code, and technical approachesPresent findings and recommendations to internal teams and stakeholdersStay updated with the latest advancements in AI, Machine Learning, Generative AI, and Data ScienceComply with all applicable Company policies, procedures, and business directives, changes including those relating to work location, team assignments, work schedules, and flexible work arrangementsRequired Qualifications:Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field1+ years of experience in Data Science, Analytics, Machine Learning, or related rolesExperience performing EDA, data preprocessing, and feature engineeringGood understanding of statistics, machine learning algorithms, and data modeling techniquesFamiliarity with data visualization and dashboarding tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar platformsProficiency in SQL for data extraction, manipulation, and analysisProven solid programming skills in PythonProven solid analytical thinking and problem-solving skillsProven excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities Preferred Qualifications:Experience with machine learning libraries such as Scikit-learn, Pandas, NumPy, and XGBoostKnowledge of Databricks, Snowflake, or modern data platformsFamiliarity with cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud PlatformUnderstanding of CI/CD, MLOps, and model deployment conceptsProven exposure to Generative AI, LLMs, Prompt Engineering, and basic RAG frameworks 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.