The Principal Enterprise Architect is responsible for defining and driving enterprise architecture strategy across AI, Payment Integrity, Claims, Clinical, Consumer, and Digital platforms within the Optum Enterprise Architecture team. This role provides architectural leadership for large-scale, cross-functional initiatives, ensuring alignment between business objectives, data strategies, and technology platforms across multiple business and technology teams. The individual will play a critical role in shaping next-generation, AI-native capabilities - including Generative AI, Agentic AI, and advanced analytics-driven solutions - that support business transformation and improve healthcare outcomes.
Primary Responsibilities: - Define enterprise architecture strategy, target-state architectures, and technology roadmaps aligned to business priorities across AI, Payment Integrity, Claims, Clinical, Consumer, and Digital platforms.
- Lead AI-first architecture initiatives, including Generative AI, Agentic AI, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and intelligent automation.
- Strategically use AI to solve complex healthcare problems, unlock innovation opportunities, and deliver tangible business value.
- Champion the ethical use of AI by embedding transparency, fairness, accountability, and responsible AI practices throughout the entire AI architecture lifecycle.
- Champion AI as a core driver of team and enterprise success, shaping how AI capabilities are developed, deployed, and utilized across business units.
- Develop scalable, reusable architecture patterns, standards, and reference architectures to accelerate solution delivery and establish enterprise governance.
- Integrate enterprise AI tools, set AI goals, and align team capabilities with AI competencies, actively removing technical and operational barriers to accelerate adoption.
- Drive architecture strategy for Payment Integrity, Claims, Fraud, Waste & Abuse (FWA), and Cost Containment programs, incorporating interoperability standards such as FHIR and HL7.
- Act as a strategic liaison across business, product, engineering, and executive leadership (Director, VP, CIO, CTO, CDAO levels) to translate complex technical concepts into business-aligned outcomes.
- Mentor architects and engineering teams across multiple organizations, guiding decision-making, governance, and operational excellence.
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: - 15+ years of experience in technology architecture, software engineering, or enterprise transformation
- 10+ years of Enterprise Architecture experience for large-scale, complex systems and organizations
- 8+ years of healthcare industry experience in payer and/or provider environments, including exposure to Claims and Payment Integrity
- 5+ years of experience with at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
- Demonstrated experience designing and implementing Enterprise AI, Generative AI, or Agentic AI solutions
- Experience with application architecture, system integration, distributed systems, microservices, and event-driven architectures
- Proficiency in Python or similar programming languages
- Experience with healthcare interoperability standards, including FHIR and HL7
- Ability to work onsite in Minneapolis, MN
- Driver's License and access to reliable transportation
Preferred Qualifications: - Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Healthcare Informatics, or an MBA
- Experience with Model Context Protocol (MCP) architecture, AI Governance, Responsible AI, and AI Observability, including model lifecycle management
- Deep domain knowledge in Payment Integrity, including claims payment accuracy, overpayment prevention and recovery, fraud/waste/abuse, provider abrasion reduction, medical policy alignment, and cost-containment strategies
- Experience with EHR integrations and healthcare ecosystem connectivity
- Knowledge of Care Navigation, Provider Platforms, and Consumer Digital Experiences
- Experience with MLOps, DataOps, and large-scale data platforms (e.g., Databricks, Spark)
- Experience leading large-scale healthcare modernization and transformation programs
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 - $230,800 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
