Lead Software Engineer - Remote

Requisition Number: 2368473
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 to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
As a Lead Software Engineer within our OptumRX and Optum Financial Services Technology team, you will lead a talented team of engineers in designing, developing, and deploying highly reliable, distributed microservices and APIs. In this role, you will collaborate closely with product owners and technical leaders to shape our technical roadmap, drive the modernization of our pharmacy benefits and financial platforms, and leverage cutting-edge event-streaming technology with Kafka. You will also have the opportunity to drive engineering excellence by integrating approved AI productivity tools and modern Agile development practices to streamline development workflows and optimize efficiency. This is a highly collaborative role where you will mentor junior developers, solve complex technical challenges, and champion operational reliability in a fast-paced environment.
If you are located in New Jersey, you will have the flexibility to work remotely* as you take on some tough challenges.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Oversee the full software development lifecycle for solutions built on NodeJS, Java, Spring Boot, and Kafka, managing complex, scalable projects from inception to production
• Lead an engineering team in the design, development, coding, testing, deployment, and debugging of distributed applications and microservices
• Collaborate directly with product owners to understand business requirements, develop strategies, and create technical roadmaps aligned with business objectives
• Instill best practices for software development, code quality, documentation, and delivery of high-quality work within tight timelines using Agile and Test-Driven Development (TDD)
• Translate business requirements into effective technical solutions; recommend alternative approaches to meet aggressive deadlines with optimal results
• Champion operational excellence, including building, deploying, monitoring, and supporting production services with a focus on reliability, scalability, and leading incident response efforts
• Guide and mentor junior developers, fostering career growth and technical skill development within your team
• Use enterprise-approved AI tools to streamline workflows, automate tasks, improve engineering efficiency, and drive continuous improvement
• Evaluate emerging trends to inform solution design and strategic innovation

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 or equivalent experience
• 6+ years of hands-on experience in software engineering, with deep expertise in NodeJS, TypeScript, Java, Spring Boot, and event-driven architectures using Kafka
• Experience with cloud-native development (AWS, Azure, or GCP), containerization (Docker), and orchestration (Kubernetes)
• Experience managing and resolving production incidents, including root cause analysis and postmortem documentation, combined with familiarity in using approved AI-powered tools to enhance productivity
• Proven experience leading engineering teams, including mentoring, technical guidance, and team development
• Solid background in designing, developing, and deploying secured RESTful and GraphQL APIs, along with relational databases and data modeling
• Solid understanding of CI/CD pipelines, test automation, and modern DevOps practices
• Familiarity with design and architectural patterns including Domain-Driven Design and Agile methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize work, manage multiple projects, and communicate effectively with product teams and other engineering leads

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
• Proven solid problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to think critically and propose innovative technical solutions
• Proven excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Demonstrated passion for continuous learning and staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in cloud technologies, modern software practices, and AI productivity tools

*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 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.
UnitedHealth Group 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.
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.