Specialist - Software Engineering Jobs in Minnesota

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.

The Sr. Manager, Software Engineering is both a technology and people leader, accountable for engineering operational excellence, system ownership, and delivery outcomes across 3-8 feature teams. Software Engineering applies disciplined engineering practices to the design, development, testing, deployment, and operation of software systems. Our leaders in this space are responsible for building quality into every outcome, ensuring teams take full ownership of the systems they build and the customer outcomes those systems enable.

This role exists to:

• Drive accountability for the platforms, services, and customer experiences owned by the teams
• Ensure engineering excellence, predictability, and quality in delivery
• Foster solid ownership from every engineer for the code they write and the systems they operate

You will lead teams operating in a hybrid delivery model-planning work against fixed requirements and deadlines while executing through Agile principles. You will balance execution with mentorship, helping teams and leaders navigate digital and organizational transformation.

This role requires a leader who can set clear expectations, hold teams accountable, and remove obstacles-while empowering engineers to own outcomes end-to-end.

Key Leadership Expectations

• Company-level thought leader in engineering practices and delivery excellence
• Recognized functional subject matter expert
• Applies a broad business lens to technical decision-making
• Trusted advisor and resource to senior leadership
• Develops and applies forward-looking approaches aligned to emerging industry and technology trends

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:

• Partner with product, business, and technology leaders to understand business strategy, vision, and priorities
• Lead multiple engineering teams (3-8 feature POD teams), driving accountability for delivery, quality, and system ownership
• Serve as the technical owner and decision maker for platforms, portals, and systems within scope, ensuring team alignment to highest-priority business outcomes
• Partner with Product Owners, Architects, and teams to address vulnerabilities, incidents, and remediation efforts
• Implement and mature Agile and DevOps practices, including automation, CI/CD, observability, and continuous improvement
• Actively participate in product-area agile events (Daily Scrum, Refinement, Sprint Reviews, Retrospectives) and use data/metrics to improve predictability and quality
• Identify skill gaps within teams, align upskilling efforts to organizational priorities, conduct regular 1:1s, and reinforce accountability and growth
• Ensure adherence to and continuous improvement of SDLC and AI-DLC standards, policies, security, and governance
• Partner with Scrum Masters, Delivery Managers, and Resource Partners (vendors) to optimize team performance across full-time and contracted resources
• Mentor engineering leaders and engineers, fostering solid business partnerships and guiding teams through organizational change

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 progressive software engineering experience, including enterprise backend and frontend development, AI-Driven development, full stack application delivery, and platform modernization
• 5+ years of hands-on experience with modern web and API technologies (e.g., Java, Python, React, REST, GraphQL, microservices, and full stack frameworks)
• 4+ years of experience leading engineering teams, people leaders, AI-builders or large cross-functional delivery teams in a complex enterprise environment
• 3+ years of experience designing, modernizing, and operating scalable, secure, and resilient web applications, APIs, Advanced deployment strategies (Blue/Green, Canary, Rolling), and distributed systems
• 3+ years of experience partnering with product, architecture, security, data, and operations stakeholders to align roadmaps and drive delivery accountability
• Experience working with Cloud-native development AWS services such as Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB, S3, CloudWatch, and Step Functions
• Working knowledge of data management, privacy, security, compliance, governance, and responsible use of emerging technologies
• Deep experience in the end-to-end Payments journey, payment engine platforms, and integrations with banking systems supporting with multiple payment methods such as ACH, EFT, virtual cards, and digital payments
• Solid understanding of GenAI concepts, LLMs, Agentic AI, Bedrock models, and conversational AI architectures
• Demonstrated track record of delivering multi-quarter, cross-team technology programs with execution discipline, risk management, and measurable business outcomes
• Proven exceptional collaboration, influence, problem-solving, and negotiation skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent work experience)
• Proven ability to leverage enterprise-approved AI/ML tools to enhance productivity and innovation by streamlining workflows and automating repetitive tasks

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  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 $112,700 - $193,200 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.