UnitedHealth Group

Principal Architect - Remote or Hybrid in MN and DC

UnitedHealth Group$134K — $230K *
Healthcare
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Undergraduate degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years of experience in healthcare data architecture or related fields
  • Experience with HEDIS, Stars, and NCQA quality data
  • Expertise in healthcare interoperability standards such as FHIR and HL7
  • Proficient in data modeling including canonical and dimensional models

Responsibilities

  • Define and drive data architecture for Risk Adjustment and Quality platform
  • Architect scalable solutions integrating various healthcare data types
  • Design data models for key healthcare domains
  • Lead architecture for data products supporting risk adjustment workflows
  • Ensure architecture aligns with HIPAA and other compliance requirements
  • Implement standards for data quality and traceability
  • Collaborate on cloud-native architecture and data engineering efforts

Benefits

  • Flexibility to work remotely from anywhere within the U.S.
  • Opportunities for professional development and advancement
  • Recognition for performance in a challenging environment
  • Comprehensive benefits package including equity stock purchase and 401k contributions
Full Job Description
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 drive the data architecture for Optum Health's Risk Adjustment and Quality platform
  • Architect scalable, secure, and governed solutions that integrate claims, encounters, eligibility, provider, member, EHR, lab, pharmacy, and other clinical data into a unified data platform
  • Design canonical, logical, and physical data models for core healthcare domains such as member/patient, provider, coverage, diagnosis, condition, encounter, procedure, medication, lab result, risk score, quality measure, and gap status
  • Lead architecture for data products and pipelines that support:
    • Risk Adjustment Framework
    • Prospective and retrospective risk adjustment workflows
    • Coding capture and suspecting
    • HEDIS / Stars / NCQA reporting and gap closure
    • Quality performance analytics and operational workflows
    • Establish architecture patterns for ingesting and normalizing data from:
    • X12 transactions (e.g., 837, 835, 834, 270/271)
    • HL7 v2/v3 and CCD/C-CDA
    • FHIR APIs and bulk interoperability feeds
    • EHR, practice management, payer, and external partner systems
  • Partner with business and domain leaders to ensure architecture supports the nuances of Medicare Advantage, quality programs, evolving CMS and NCQA requirements, and downstream operational use cases
  • Ensure full alignment with HIPAA, PHI, privacy, security, access control, auditability, and data retention requirements
  • Define and implement standards for data quality, lineage, metadata, semantic consistency, reconciliation, and traceability from source systems through measure/risk outputs
  • Drive architecture decisions for identity resolution, provider and member mastering, source-of-truth alignment, and data harmonization across payer and provider ecosystems
  • Collaborate with data engineering and platform teams on cloud-native architecture patterns including warehouse design, API-led integration, event-driven patterns, and high-volume batch/near-real-time processing
  • Support audit-readiness for risk and quality programs, including traceability needed for RADV, NCQA validation/audits, and internal control frameworks
  • Lead architecture reviews, create reusable standards and design patterns, and mentor senior engineers and architects across the organization
  • Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to executive, operational, and clinical stakeholders


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:

  • Undergraduate degree in applicable area of expertise or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years of experience in healthcare data architecture, data engineering, enterprise data, or information architecture, with increasing scope and seniority
  • Demonstrated experience supporting HEDIS, Stars, and NCQA quality data needs, including quality measure data sourcing, attribution, gap identification, and reporting architecture
  • Demonstrated expertise with healthcare interoperability standards including: FHIR, HL7, X12
  • Demonstrated solid data modeling skills, including canonical models, dimensional models, and data product/domain-oriented design


Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master's degree in a relevant technical or healthcare field
  • 2+ years in a lead or principal architecture role designing enterprise-scale healthcare data solutions
  • Experience designing solutions on modern cloud data platforms and enterprise data ecosystems
  • Experience establishing or enforcing data governance disciplines such as lineage, metadata, data quality controls, stewardship, and source-to-target traceability
  • Experience in Medicare Advantage and other value-based care environments
  • Experience with RAPS/EDPS, chart review data, coding operations, or provider documentation improvement workflows
  • Experience supporting digital quality initiatives, eCQMs, CQL, or FHIR-based quality measurement
  • Experience with provider clinical systems such as Epic, Cerner/Oracle Health, or other enterprise EHR platforms
  • Experience with modern cloud technologies and tools such as Snowflake, Databricks, Azure, GCP, dbt, Kafka, or comparable platforms
  • Experience with master data management, enterprise MPI/EMPI, or identity resolution frameworks
  • Experience working in highly regulated, large-scale healthcare enterprises with complex partner ecosystems
  • Solid knowledge of HIPAA/PHI requirements and secure data design principles including minimum necessary access, role-based controls, encryption, audit logging, and de-identification where appropriate
  • Working familiarity with CCD/C-CDA and broader clinical exchange patterns
  • Demonstrated expertise in healthcare data architecture across payer, provider, or integrated care settings
  • Demonstrated domain expertise in CMS-HCC / RAF, including the data structures, workflows, and controls required to support risk adjustment use cases
  • Exposure to AI/ML-enabled use cases such as risk suspecting, gap prioritization, or clinical NLP


*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 $134,600 to $230,800 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.

About UnitedHealth Group

UnitedHealth Group is a medical facility. They offer health technology, health finance, and pharmacy services. They are utilizing clinical data and intelligence to assist in the redesign, automation, and deployment of technology to streamline administrative operations and clinical decision-making. Payment systems for both consumers and providers are critical components of a health-care system.

UnitedHealth Group Careers

Joining UnitedHealth Group means becoming part of a diverse team dedicated to making a difference. As a leader in health services and innovation, our company offers a variety of job opportunities that allow professionals to leverage their skills, drive innovation, and improve lives. Work You’ll Do At UnitedHealth Group, you’ll contribute to a mission-focused environment where your expertise will influence the health and well-being of people worldwide. Our employment opportunities span across a wide range of disciplines, from healthcare specialists to data analysts, ensuring that your career journey is both dynamic and rewarding. Transform Healthcare with Your Expertise UnitedHealth Group stands at the forefront of health innovation. Our team collaborates to deliver solutions that lead to better patient outcomes. Working with us, you’ll find yourself at the intersection of technology, healthcare, and leadership, providing key insights that drive industry transformation. Join Our Global Team As part of our team, you’ll engage with over 300,000 professionals globally, dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. UnitedHealth Group is not just a company; it’s a community where you can grow your career through continuous learning and leadership opportunities. Our commitment to diversity training ensures that every team member can thrive. UnitedHealth Group Career Development We are committed to your professional growth. Explore career paths filled with promising job opportunities and internships that will harness your potential and expand your capabilities. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, you’ll find that our career development programs support your ambition at every level. Innovative Work Environment At UnitedHealth Group, innovation is at the core of our operations. We encourage our team to bring forward-thinking ideas that challenge the status quo and lead to breakthrough improvements in patient care. Be Part of a Great Team Our culture fosters a collaborative and supportive environment where every member’s contribution is valued. Enjoy the benefits of being part of a global team that’s committed to making a difference in people’s lives. Future-Proof Your Career With UnitedHealth Group, your career is future-proof. Dive into a range of positions that offer both challenges and rewards. Our robust support system includes unmatched training, development programs, and certification support to propel your career forward. Stay Connected Join Our Team Discover the right position that matches your skills and interests. We are always hiring and look for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players. Search UnitedHealth Group jobs today and take the first step towards a fulfilling career. Keep Up to Date Stay informed with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can use today—all from the people who work here. Read Careers Blog Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Explore the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at UnitedHealth Group.
Learn more about UnitedHealth Group
Size
350,000 employees
Market Cap
$493.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$15.4 billion
Founded
1974
5 Year Trend
+9.2%
Revenue
$257.1 billion
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at UnitedHealth Group

More Healthcare Jobs

Find similar Principal Architect - Remote or Hybrid in MN and DC jobs: