Join Optum, a global leader dedicated to improving health outcomes through innovative technology. We are seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead a high-impact team within our Payment Integrity Decision Intelligence (PIDI) organization in India. This role is pivotal in driving AI-led initiatives and delivering exceptional analytical solutions for clinical and non-clinical payment integrity programs. Foster a culture of scientific rigor and innovation while collaborating with a talented global team to advance health optimization.

Your contributions will directly impact millions by connecting people with the care and resources they need to thrive. Experience a supportive environment with comprehensive benefits and ample career development opportunities as we work together to make a difference.

Lead and mentor a team of Data Scientists and AIML experts, ensuring the delivery of advanced AI and Machine Learning solutions for payment integrity. Collaborate with the Director to shape team vision and execution roadmaps, translating strategic goals into actionable plans.

Partner with business, operations, product, and technology stakeholders to identify high-value opportunities and drive the adoption of data science insights. Drive the end-to-end AIML lifecycle, from problem formulation and data exploration to model deployment and continuous improvement, focusing on detecting Fraud, Waste, Abuse, and Error (FWAE), overpayments, and leakage.

Implement robust model performance, governance, and value realization practices, emphasizing success metrics and financial impact. Champion advanced analytics methodologies, including deep learning and anomaly detection, to tackle complex healthcare challenges. Support applied research and innovation, evaluating emerging AI techniques and translating experimentation into production-ready solutions. Uphold Responsible AI practices, ensuring ethical and business-aligned deployment of AIML solutions.

A Graduate degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related quantitative field is required. A Master's or PhD is preferred.

Possess 12+ years of experience in Data Science, Advanced Analytics, AIML, and predictive modeling, with at least 6-8 years in a leadership capacity. Demonstrate strong hands-on programming proficiency in Python, R, SAS, and SQL, coupled with experience in distributed computing frameworks.

Showcase solid expertise in applying Machine Learning within healthcare or similar high-stakes domains, ideally with cloud environment experience. Profound knowledge of Machine Learning, Statistical Modeling, Deep Learning, and NLP is essential, with familiarity in Generative AI technologies. Experience with cloud-based AIML platforms like Azure AI or Azure Databricks is crucial.

Working knowledge of MLOps, Model Governance, Responsible AI, Model Monitoring, and AI Risk Management frameworks is required. Proven ability to partner with senior stakeholders to translate complex problems into scalable AI solutions, supported by strong communication and influencing skills.