AI/ML Engineer

Optum’s interview process typically consists of three rounds: a technical screening call to assess fundamentals, an AI/ML engineering challenge that includes coding, system design and case studies, followed by an HR interview focusing on cultural fit and career aspirations. The difficulty is moderate to high, with emphasis on practical ML implementation, Azure services knowledge and problem‑solving speed. Preparing with hands‑on projects and reviewing Azure AI documentation is highly recommended.

Optum promotes an inclusive, collaborative environment where employees are encouraged to innovate and grow. The company offers structured learning programs, mentorship and a healthy work‑life balance, with flexibility to work across global teams.

Bachelor's or higher in Computer Science, Engineering or related field with minimum 60% aggregate (or equivalent CGPA). 8+ years of total engineering experience, including at least 2 years in AI/ML product roles. No active backlogs at the time of joining. Open to candidates from the 2022‑2025 batch years.

Round 1: Technical Screening → Round 2: AI/ML Engineering Challenge → Round 3: HR Interview (based on company knowledge)

Optum, a part of UnitedHealth Group, is a global health services and technology company that leverages data, analytics and digital tools to improve health outcomes for millions of people. With a mission to make the health system work better for everyone, Optum invests heavily in cutting‑edge technology, AI‑driven care coordination, and innovative product platforms. The company culture is built around inclusion, continuous learning, and a strong focus on employee well‑being, offering comprehensive benefits, mentorship programs and clear career progression pathways. The AI/ML Engineer role is a senior technical position that sits at the intersection of data science, software engineering and product development. You will be responsible for turning research‑grade machine‑learning models into reliable, production‑grade services that power Optum’s health‑care solutions. The role involves close collaboration with product managers, data scientists, and cross‑functional teams across India and the US to deliver AI‑first features that directly impact patient care, fraud detection and operational efficiency. Key Responsibilities: 1. Design and implement multi‑agent AI systems that use large language models (LLMs), memory stores and tool‑calling to reason, plan and act autonomously. 2. Build function‑calling and orchestration pipelines using frameworks such as LangChain, AutoGen and Semantic Kernel. 3. Create reusable, secure tool interfaces following the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for composable AI services. 4. Develop voice‑first agents leveraging ASR technologies (Whisper, Azure Speech) and high‑quality TTS for real‑time conversational experiences. 5. Architect Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines with vector databases and Azure Cognitive Search. 6. Contribute to fraud detection and anomaly‑detection models, handling data ingestion, model training, real‑time inference and pipeline optimisation. 7. Deploy, monitor and scale AI services on Azure (Azure OpenAI, Functions, Service Bus, Cosmos DB) ensuring high availability and observability. 8. Mentor junior engineers, conduct code reviews and champion best practices in testing, CI/CD and MLOps. 9. Participate in cross‑regional agile ceremonies, collaborating across time zones to deliver sprint goals. 10. Analyse system performance, provide technical explanations to stakeholders and ensure compliance with corporate policies. Tech Stack: Python, PyTorch, Hugging Face, scikit‑learn, Azure OpenAI, Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Functions, Service Bus, Cosmos DB, Vector DBs (e.g., Pinecone, Azure Vector Search), LangChain, AutoGen, Semantic Kernel, Whisper, Azure Speech, Docker, Kubernetes, Git. Growth Path: Starting as a senior AI/ML Engineer, you can progress to Lead Engineer, AI Platform Manager or Principal Scientist, with opportunities to lead large‑scale AI initiatives, own product road‑maps and influence strategic technology decisions. Why Join Optum: You will work on mission‑critical AI solutions that improve health outcomes for millions, gain exposure to the latest LLM and voice technologies, and benefit from a supportive, inclusive environment that invests in your professional development and offers a competitive compensation package.