Data Science Lead Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Data Science Lead roles are among the most consistently sponsored positions in the U.S. tech market. Employers regularly file H-1B petitions for this title, and O-1A is a viable path for leads with published research or measurable business impact. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsJob ID: 2309264
Job Type: Full-time
Location: Pearland, TX 77581
Explore opportunities with Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, part of the Optum family of businesses. Work with one of the nation’s leading health care organizations and build your career at one of our 40+ locations throughout Houston. Be part of a team that is nationally recognized for delivering coordinated and accountable care. As a multi-specialty clinic, we offer care from more than 900 medical providers in 65 medical specialties. Take on a rewarding opportunity to help drive higher quality, higher patient satisfaction and lower total costs. Join us and discover the meaning behind Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Serve as a strategic and hands-on leader in AI and Data Science, driving the development, integration, and governance of AI initiatives across enterprise systems
- Lead the implementation of AI solutions in collaboration with third-party vendors, including Epic, and act as the primary liaison with the internal Office for Responsible AI
- Bring deep technical expertise in AI/ML, experience in healthcare data environments, and a commitment to ethical, impactful innovation
- Support organizational goals through responsible AI practices and cross-functional collaboration
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 or higher in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of experience in AI or Machine Learning development, including 2+ years in strategic and/or leadership roles
- Hands-on experience deploying and managing large language models (LLMs)
- Hands-on experience with AI/ML tools and frameworks, (such as Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field
- AI/ML related certifications
- Experience working with or alongside large healthcare delivery environment, preferably with Epic
- Knowledge of HL7, FHIR, and other healthcare interoperability standards
- Exposure to cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) and MLOps practices
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). The salary for this role will range from $110,200 to $188,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
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.
OptumCare 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.
OptumCare is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
Job ID: 2309264
Job Type: Full-time
Location: Pearland, TX 77581
Explore opportunities with Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, part of the Optum family of businesses. Work with one of the nation’s leading health care organizations and build your career at one of our 40+ locations throughout Houston. Be part of a team that is nationally recognized for delivering coordinated and accountable care. As a multi-specialty clinic, we offer care from more than 900 medical providers in 65 medical specialties. Take on a rewarding opportunity to help drive higher quality, higher patient satisfaction and lower total costs. Join us and discover the meaning behind Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Serve as a strategic and hands-on leader in AI and Data Science, driving the development, integration, and governance of AI initiatives across enterprise systems
- Lead the implementation of AI solutions in collaboration with third-party vendors, including Epic, and act as the primary liaison with the internal Office for Responsible AI
- Bring deep technical expertise in AI/ML, experience in healthcare data environments, and a commitment to ethical, impactful innovation
- Support organizational goals through responsible AI practices and cross-functional collaboration
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 or higher in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of experience in AI or Machine Learning development, including 2+ years in strategic and/or leadership roles
- Hands-on experience deploying and managing large language models (LLMs)
- Hands-on experience with AI/ML tools and frameworks, (such as Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn)
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field
- AI/ML related certifications
- Experience working with or alongside large healthcare delivery environment, preferably with Epic
- Knowledge of HL7, FHIR, and other healthcare interoperability standards
- Exposure to cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) and MLOps practices
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). The salary for this role will range from $110,200 to $188,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
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.
OptumCare 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.
OptumCare is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Data Science Lead
Position your degree field carefully on applications
H-1B approval for Data Science Lead requires a degree in a directly related field, statistics, computer science, mathematics, or data science. A business or economics degree alone is unlikely to satisfy the specialty occupation standard for this role.
Document the leadership scope of your role
USCIS scrutinizes Lead-level titles. Your job description should clearly distinguish your responsibilities from individual contributors, team oversight, roadmap ownership, and cross-functional decision-making all support the specialty occupation argument for your petition.
Target employers with a history of H-1B approvals
Not all companies file with equal success. Larger tech employers and established data-driven firms have higher H-1B approval rates for data science roles. Search Migrate Mate to filter for companies actively sponsoring Data Science Lead positions right now.
Consider the O-1A if you have measurable impact
Published research, conference presentations, patents, or documented business outcomes, revenue lifted, models deployed at scale, can support an O-1A petition. This path bypasses the H-1B lottery entirely and suits experienced data science leads well.
Get the LCA job zone right before applying
Data Science Lead sits in O*NET Job Zone 4 or 5, requiring specialized preparation. Employers filing an LCA must certify the prevailing wage tier accurately. Misclassification at the LCA stage is a common early error that can derail the entire petition.
Start employer conversations about sponsorship early
H-1B cap-subject petitions can only be filed in April for an October start. Raising sponsorship late in a hiring process often kills the offer. Bring it up after initial interviews confirm fit, before reaching the offer negotiation stage.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Is Data Science Lead a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes, when the role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific technical field such as statistics, computer science, or data science. The challenge comes when job postings list degree requirements loosely or accept any quantitative field. USCIS will review the actual duties, the employer's degree requirement history, and industry norms. Roles with vague degree language are more likely to receive a Request for Evidence.
Do employers actually sponsor H-1B visas for Data Science Lead roles?
Yes, data science is one of the most actively sponsored occupation groups in the U.S. technology sector. Lead-level roles with team management components are sponsored regularly by large tech companies, financial institutions, and healthcare analytics firms. Sponsorship is less common at early-stage startups without dedicated HR or legal infrastructure. Browse Migrate Mate to find Data Science Lead positions from employers currently open to visa sponsorship.
What visa options exist for a Data Science Lead beyond the H-1B?
The O-1A is the strongest alternative if you have evidence of extraordinary ability, published papers, speaking engagements, high-impact model deployments, or recognition from peers in the field. The L-1A applies if you're being transferred from an overseas office in a managerial or executive capacity. EB-1C and EB-2 NIW are immigrant visa paths worth discussing with an attorney if you're thinking longer term.
Does my three-year bachelor's degree qualify for H-1B sponsorship as a Data Science Lead?
It can, but it depends on how the employer and USCIS evaluate equivalency. Many H-1B petitions for candidates with three-year degrees, common in India, Australia, and the UK, are approved when the degree is in a directly relevant field and the employer provides an equivalency evaluation. A credential evaluation from a recognized agency strengthens the petition. Combination of degree plus relevant work experience can also satisfy the bachelor's equivalent standard.
How does the H-1B lottery affect Data Science Lead hiring timelines?
Cap-subject H-1B petitions are registered in March, with selection results in late March or early April and filing windows opening April 1 for an October 1 start date. If you're not selected, you cannot start in that cap year. Cap-exempt employers, universities, nonprofit research organizations, and certain affiliated entities, can file year-round, which some data science leads pursue specifically to avoid the lottery.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Data Science Lead jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.
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