Principal Data Scientist

Optum is a global organisation 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.

About the Role:

In healthcare, evolution doesn’t just happen. It takes innovation, imagination, and a passion for solving problems in new and better ways. And innovation is taking place at a lightning-fast pace every day at Optum. 
As the fastest growing part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, we’re expanding our team in Ireland and creating excellent opportunities for those who want greater purpose and more impact in their work. We’ll provide the investment, support, and resources to advance your career. You’ll provide the talent, ambition, and drive. 
We are looking for a Principal Data Scientist/Analyst to help drive a growing Data Science team to develop new analytic products. You will work with other Data Scientists and subject matter experts to conduct and manage outcomes of various analytic studies. As part of this team, you will be empowered to analyze data, create solutions and build production-ready models. Join us! There’s never been a better time to do your life’s best work
This position will report to the Director Data Analytics in Ireland. This role will support the development of an exciting new product which will form part of the OptumInsight product suite. The position will work in partnership with local analytic leadership in Ireland as part of the broader Optum Ireland ecosystem, while building strong relationships with US-based AI/ML experts.

Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin or Letterkenny and telecommuting from a home-based office in a hybrid work model. 

Primary responsibilities:  

•    Provide strategic and technical direction aligned to analytic efforts around AI/machine learning
•    Optimize deep learning models for performance, scalability and efficiency
•    Analyze, review and interpret complex data through the development of case-studies, enabling the data to tell a story
•    Build and maintain production-ready machine-learning models
•    Identify drivers of patterns / behaviors uncovered in data and use these to explain business trends
•    Understanding of business strategy and ability to identify and champion opportunities for data science projects. This includes the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and build consensus
•    Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and projects, while meeting deadlines
•    Contribute to the design and realization of analytical based tools/assets to identify and monitor non-standard claim patterns
•    Stay current on internal and external technological advances in AI and advanced analytics that can be applied to the Optum Insight business
•    Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior engineers and other team member
•    Managing complex data science projects within a cross-functional team

You will 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 providing development for other roles you may be interested in. 

Required Qualifications:

•    BacDegree (or higher) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related field
•    Extensive experience in deep learning, AI or Machine Learning in a principal level or technical leadership role
•    Proficiency in AI/ML and  deep learning frameworks such us PyTorch
•    Knowledge of deep learning architectures

Preferred Qualifications: 

•    Ability to take research whitepapers to production. 
•    Working with healthcare data ( claims, clinical records, authorization, provider contracts etc)
•    Appreciation of  ethical and  regulatory  considerations in data science and willingness to apply them in practice 

 Soft Skills:

•    Natural curiosity to learn more, dig into details, and understand the key drivers of emerging trends and challenges

Please note you must currently be eligible to work and remain indefinitely without any restrictions in the country to which you are making an application. Proof will be required to support your application.

All telecommuters will be required to adhere to the 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 marginalised 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: Optum is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, religion, age, race, and membership of the Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by law. Optum is a drug-free workplace. © 2025 Optum Services (Ireland) Limited. All rights reserved.