Senior AI Software Engineer Jobs in Minnesota
Senior AI Software Engineer jobs in Minnesota are in strong demand, concentrated in enterprise software, financial technology, medical devices, and retail analytics across the Twin Cities, Rochester, and Duluth. Major employers with a lasting footprint in the state, including UnitedHealth Group, Target, and Medtronic, consistently seek senior ai software engineers with deep expertise in machine learning infrastructure, large language model development, and MLOps. Competition is sharpest for candidates who combine hands-on model deployment with leadership experience. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 8+ Senior AI Software Engineer jobs
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 in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
As a Senior Software Engineer within the Optum Insight AI Center of Excellence (CoE), you will define and operationalize technical readiness patterns that enable external, customer-facing AI capabilities across healthcare ecosystems. Our team focuses on establishing robust architecture, identity, authorization, runtime, and telemetry guardrails that allow product teams to securely advance cutting-edge AI technologies toward customer-ready status. In this role, you will work with modern AI protocols and architectures-including Model Context Protocol (MCP), large language model (LLM) APIs, and agent frameworks-while partnering closely with security, privacy, and enterprise governance leaders. This is an opportunity to solve unprecedented technical challenges and ensure that scalable, transformative AI innovations are safely delivered to our partners and clients.
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:
- Define and establish external-AI technical readiness patterns across architecture, identity and access management, authorization, runtime, and telemetry
- Review and evaluate technical designs across multiple engagements against enterprise architecture, security, and privacy standards prior to customer-ready advancement
- Collaborate with Security, Privacy, and enterprise AI governance teams to ensure that controls and guardrails are correctly implemented for direct and embedded external use cases
- Partner with product and engineering teams to advise on technical remediation strategies required to close readiness gaps identified during gate reviews
- Extend reusable technical patterns beyond initial Model Context Protocol (MCP) environments to emerging agents, skills, models, and AI APIs as CoE scope expands
- Produce comprehensive technical evidence records supporting CoE governance recommendations at each review stage
- Contribute to technical documentation, integration guides, and developer portal resources for external partners and customers
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:
- 7+ years of software engineering experience, including hands-on experience in architecture or technical lead roles
- 5+ years of experience designing or delivering external, customer-facing systems and APIs
- 5+ years of hands-on expertise with modern API architecture, identity and access management protocols (such as OAuth/OIDC), and runtime observability/telemetry
- 5+ years of experience operating within a regulated enterprise environment featuring formal security, privacy, and architectural review processes
- 5+ years of experience articulating complex architecture decisions and risk assessments clearly to non-technical stakeholders
- 3+ years of practical working knowledge of AI/ML systems, protocols, and integration points, such as Model Context Protocol (MCP), LLM APIs, or agent frameworks
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Direct experience implementing guardrails, privacy controls, or security evaluations for generative AI and agentic workflows
- Experience building external developer documentation, developer portals, or software development kits (SDKs)
- Familiarity with cloud-native distributed architectures and high-scale health data exchange standards
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 $91,700 - $163,700 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 help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are 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 and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
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 in making healthcare work better for everyone through people-led, responsible AI while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
As a Senior Software Engineer within the Optum Insight AI Center of Excellence (CoE), you will define and operationalize technical readiness patterns that enable external, customer-facing AI capabilities across healthcare ecosystems. Our team focuses on establishing robust architecture, identity, authorization, runtime, and telemetry guardrails that allow product teams to securely advance cutting-edge AI technologies toward customer-ready status. In this role, you will work with modern AI protocols and architectures-including Model Context Protocol (MCP), large language model (LLM) APIs, and agent frameworks-while partnering closely with security, privacy, and enterprise governance leaders. This is an opportunity to solve unprecedented technical challenges and ensure that scalable, transformative AI innovations are safely delivered to our partners and clients.
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:
- Define and establish external-AI technical readiness patterns across architecture, identity and access management, authorization, runtime, and telemetry
- Review and evaluate technical designs across multiple engagements against enterprise architecture, security, and privacy standards prior to customer-ready advancement
- Collaborate with Security, Privacy, and enterprise AI governance teams to ensure that controls and guardrails are correctly implemented for direct and embedded external use cases
- Partner with product and engineering teams to advise on technical remediation strategies required to close readiness gaps identified during gate reviews
- Extend reusable technical patterns beyond initial Model Context Protocol (MCP) environments to emerging agents, skills, models, and AI APIs as CoE scope expands
- Produce comprehensive technical evidence records supporting CoE governance recommendations at each review stage
- Contribute to technical documentation, integration guides, and developer portal resources for external partners and customers
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:
- 7+ years of software engineering experience, including hands-on experience in architecture or technical lead roles
- 5+ years of experience designing or delivering external, customer-facing systems and APIs
- 5+ years of hands-on expertise with modern API architecture, identity and access management protocols (such as OAuth/OIDC), and runtime observability/telemetry
- 5+ years of experience operating within a regulated enterprise environment featuring formal security, privacy, and architectural review processes
- 5+ years of experience articulating complex architecture decisions and risk assessments clearly to non-technical stakeholders
- 3+ years of practical working knowledge of AI/ML systems, protocols, and integration points, such as Model Context Protocol (MCP), LLM APIs, or agent frameworks
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- Direct experience implementing guardrails, privacy controls, or security evaluations for generative AI and agentic workflows
- Experience building external developer documentation, developer portals, or software development kits (SDKs)
- Familiarity with cloud-native distributed architectures and high-scale health data exchange standards
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 $91,700 - $163,700 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 help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are 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 and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
See All 8 Senior AI Software Engineer Jobs in Minnesota
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Find JobsSenior AI Software Engineer Jobs by City in Minnesota
Where Minnesota roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Senior AI Software Engineer Job Market in Minnesota
A snapshot from current Minnesota openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
What Minnesota Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in senior AI software engineer jobs across Minnesota.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, AI, or a closely related field
- Five or more years of experience building and deploying machine learning or AI systems
- Proficiency in Python and common ML frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch
- Demonstrated experience designing production-grade model pipelines and MLOps workflows
- Ability to lead technical architecture decisions and mentor junior engineers on the team
- Experience working with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud at scale
Senior AI Software Engineer Jobs in Minnesota: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a senior ai software engineer in Minnesota?
The path to a senior ai software engineer role in Minnesota typically starts with a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, data science, or a related field, followed by several years of progressively complex ML and software engineering work. There is no state-issued license required for this role in Minnesota. Most candidates advance by building a portfolio of deployed AI systems, contributing to high-impact projects at Minnesota tech companies or research institutions, and demonstrating the ability to lead cross-functional engineering efforts.
How much do senior AI software engineers make in Minnesota?
Senior AI software engineers in Minnesota earn a median of about $130,050 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $79,900 for the lowest 10% to over $169,810 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire senior ai software engineers in Minnesota?
Employers hiring senior ai software engineers in Minnesota right now include Optum, U.S. Bank, and Mayo Clinic, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Minnesota's concentration of large enterprise headquarters in healthcare, retail, and financial services means demand stays consistent even outside major national tech hiring cycles.
Which Minnesota cities have the most senior ai software engineer jobs?
The cities with the most senior ai software engineer openings in Minnesota are Minneapolis, Eagan, and Sartell. The Twin Cities metro drives the largest share of demand, anchored by corporate headquarters for companies like UnitedHealth Group, Target, and U.S. Bancorp, while Rochester's concentration of Mayo Clinic and medical technology firms supports a smaller but specialized cluster of AI roles in health data and clinical applications.
Are there remote senior ai software engineer jobs in Minnesota?
Yes, and more than most fields, because senior ai software engineering is largely knowledge-based and tooling-dependent work that translates well to distributed teams. About 100% of senior ai software engineer openings tied to Minnesota are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the broader technology sector's continued flexibility. Model research, MLOps, and platform engineering roles tend to carry the most remote options, while roles tied to proprietary on-premises infrastructure or regulated healthcare systems are more likely to require on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a senior ai software engineer in Minnesota with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is targeting associate or junior machine learning engineer roles at Minnesota's large enterprise employers, then building toward seniority from within. Companies like UnitedHealth Group, Optum, and Target operate structured new-grad and rotational technology programs that place candidates without industry experience into AI or data engineering teams. Lateral moves from software engineering, data analytics, or data science roles are common. A strong portfolio of personal or open-source ML projects, along with a relevant master's degree or cloud certification, gives early-career candidates a clear edge in Minnesota interviews.
Where can I find and apply to senior ai software engineer jobs in Minnesota?
You can find and apply to senior ai software engineer jobs in Minnesota on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that match your background and preferences, and apply directly to the employers that interest you.
See All 8 Senior AI Software Engineer Jobs in Minnesota
Find roles in Minnesota that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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