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 diversity and inclusion, 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 Payment Integrity data Science team within Optum Insight (OI) Payer Analytics is expanding.  We are looking for experienced Data Scientists to join this growing team.  This individual will be responsible on the development and delivery of large and complex predictive modeling projects for healthcare Payment Integrity processes. Senior Data Scientist develops innovative and effective approaches to solve client's analytics problems and communicates results and methodologies. Sr. Data Scientist also provides directions and guidelines to Data Scientists to discover business insights, identifies opportunities, and provides solutions and recommendations to solve business problems through the use of statistical, algorithmic, data mining, and visualization techniques. In addition to advanced analytic skills, Sr. Data Scientist is also proficient at integrating and preparing large, varied datasets, architecting specialized database, and computing environments, and communicating results.

You’ll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Apply advanced statistical and predictive modeling techniques to build, maintain, and improve on multiple predictive detection engines in Optum Insight payer analytics 
• Lead discovery processes with Data Scientists and partner with Payment Integrity Operation management to identify the business requirements and the expected outcome 
• Create and provide sound statistical analyses and frame business scenarios that are meaningful and which impact on critical business processes and/or decisions 
• Collaborates with the data steward to gather information to be used for analytics and predictive model building purpose and to ensure the data meets the qualification and assurance requirements of the analyses 
• Design sampling methodology, prepare data, including data cleaning, univariate analysis, missing value imputation, etc., identify appropriate analytic and statistical methodology, develop predictive models and document process and results 
• Communicate analytics results and predictive models to business partners and clients 
• Provide on-going tracking and monitoring of performance of statistical models and recommend ongoing improvements to methods and algorithms that lead to findings, including new information 
• Recommends ongoing improvements to methods and algorithms that lead to findings, including new information

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:

• Bachelor’s degree (ideally in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or similar field)  
• 5+ years of experience using data modeling skills  
• 5+ years of experience manipulating large datasets      
• 3+ years of experience in predictive analytics with machine learning/statistical modeling techniques 
• 2+ years of experience programming in R or Python 
• 3+ years of experience in scripting languages (such as Python, SAS, T-SQL, etc.)
• 2+ years of experience with ETL and enterprise data warehouse technical development  
• Experience working with analytical concepts and how analytical solutions can help customers  
• Proven solid understanding of execution plans, identifying redundant and faulty processes for optimization opportunities, performing load balancing, parallel processing, partitioning and indexes 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD degree
• Experience with healthcare claims data 
• Experience helping customers in reducing their healthcare claim costs     
• Experience with Databricks, Spark, Snowflake, and/or similar tools      
• Experience with Version Control (for example Git Version Control system)  
• Experience in UI design for automated or end-user-interactive visualizations  (Ex: Tableau) 
• Experience with Agile/Scrum
• Understanding of medical coding, such as ICD, CPT, or DRG    

Careers with Optum. Our objective is to make health care simpler and more effective for everyone. With our hands at work across all aspects of health, you can play a role in creating a healthier world, one insight, one connection and one person at a time. We bring together some of the greatest minds and ideas to take health care to its fullest potential, promoting health equity and accessibility. Work with diverse, engaged and high-performing teams to help solve important challenges.

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, or Washington Residents Only: The salary range for California, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island or Washington residents is $85,000 to $167,300. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, UnitedHealth Group offers 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 UnitedHealth Group, you’ll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives.

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy

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.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.