Director of Network Engineering - Remote

Requisition Number: 2355148
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.
The Director of Network Engineering (AI / ML) is a senior people and delivery leader responsible for defining and executing the enterprise network strategy that enables AI/ML and Generative AI (GenAI) platforms across Optum Technology.
This role sits at the intersection of enterprise networking, AI/ML workload enablement, and modern infrastructure, ensuring networks are secure, scalable, resilient, and optimized for data intensive and low latency AI use cases. The Director will lead multiple network engineering teams accountable for designing, building, and operating network services that support large scale AI/ML platforms in a highly regulated healthcare environment.
As a trusted delivery leader, this role owns network roadmaps, drives cross functional execution, manages vendor relationships, and ensures predictable, high quality delivery aligned with Optum's technology, clinical, and business priorities.
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:

• Provide executive level leadership for Network Engineering teams supporting AI/ML and GenAI platforms
• Own and drive network engineering strategy and roadmaps aligned to enterprise AI/ML, cloud, and infrastructure goals
• Lead the design and operation of high performance, scalable, and secure networks that support AI training, inference, and large scale data movement
• Ensure network architectures are optimized for containerized platforms and Kubernetes based workloads
• Partner with AI/ML, platform, security, data, and application teams to deliver end to end solution engineering
• Act as a trusted delivery leader, accountable for execution, quality, and outcomes across complex initiatives
• Establish standards and best practices for network resiliency, observability, automation, and security
• Serve as a senior escalation point for network and delivery challenges impacting AI/ML solutions
• Lead, mentor, and develop managers and senior engineers, setting clear expectations for people management and engineering excellence
• Own vendor relationships and hold vendors and strategic partners accountable for performance, cost, and contractual commitments
• Communicate network and AI enablement strategies to technical, executive, and clinical stakeholders in clear, actionable terms

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 network engineering, supporting large scale, distributed systems
• 10+ years of experience in enterprise network engineering, including secure, highly available, and scalable architectures
• 7+ years in senior leadership roles (Manager, Senior Manager, or Director) with direct responsibility for people management and delivery outcomes
• 1+ years of experience leading teams that have successfully delivered network platforms supporting AI/ML or data intensive workloads
• Experience designing networks that enable AI / ML model training, inference, and large scale data movement
• Experience with containerized environments and Kubernetes networking concepts
• Experience with modern GenAI ecosystem (LLMs, vector databases, MCP, agentic frameworks) as a consumer and enabler of network services
• Experience managing and holding vendors accountable for delivery, quality, and results

Preferred Qualifications:

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or equivalent networking certification
• Experience supporting public cloud networking environments (AWS, Azure, and/or GCP)
• Experience enabling AI/ML workloads in hybrid or cloud native architectures
• Background in network automation, software defined networking, or infrastructure as code
• Experience operating in regulated or healthcare environments
• Proven ownership of multi year network or platform modernization roadmaps
• Demonstrated ability to own roadmaps, manage complex initiatives, and drive delivery through influence
• Proven people leader with solid coaching, mentoring, and organizational leadership skills
• Proven outstanding communication skills, including the ability to articulate complex network and AI concepts to non technical and clinical audiences

*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.
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.