Data Scientist (Credit Risk Modeling)

Optum, the fast-growing part of UnitedHealth Group, is a leading information and technology-enabled health services business. Our teams are dedicated to modernizing the health care system and improving the lives of people and communities. 

Serving virtually every dimension of the health system, we work with a diverse set of clients across 150 countries – from those who diagnose and treat patients to those who pay for care, deliver health services, and those who supply the cures. Optum maintains operations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. Our innovative partnerships provide technology and tools that enable unprecedented collaboration and efficiency. As a result, we can tap into valuable health care data to uncover insights and develop strategies for better care at lower costs.

Here at Optum, part of United Health Group we'll put you in the driver's seat on vital projects that have strategic importance to our mission of helping people lead healthier lives. Yes, we share a mission that inspires. We need your organizational talents and business discipline to help fuel ours. It's the opportunity to do your life's best work.(sm)

About the role

As a Senior Data Scientist, You will be part of a team working at the intersection of financial services and health care to launch new cash flow solutions to drive broader, more equitable access to capital. You will be empowered, supported and encouraged to use your analytics expertise to help change the future of health care. Data Science experience with Python, R or other analytic tools is essential, as is the need for strong machine learning skills. You will work with other Data Scientists and subject matter experts to conduct analytic studies, create risk prediction models and bring innovative new products to market.  Apply your knowledge of statistics, machine learning, programming, data modeling, simulation, and advanced mathematics to recognize patterns, identify opportunities, pose business questions, and make valuable discoveries leading to prototype development and product improvement.

Careers with Optum offer flexible work arrangements and individuals who live and work in the Republic of Ireland will have the opportunity to split their monthly work hours between our Dublin office and telecommuting from a home-based office.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Use analytics, statistical software, and database technologies such as Python, SQL, R, Spark, Hadoop and others to  analyze, review and interpret complex data
• Uses a flexible, analytical approach to design, develop, and evaluate predictive models and advanced algorithms that lead to optimal value extraction from the data
• Build and maintain production-ready machine-learning models
• Identify drivers of patterns/behaviors uncovered in data
• Engage with subject-matter experts to explore business problems and design solutions
• Present analysis and interpretation for operational and business review and planning
• Support short and long term operational/strategic business activities through analysis
• Develop recommended business solutions through research and analysis of data and business process and implement when appropriate

Required Qualifications:

• Degree in Analytics, Statistics, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, etc with a significant quantitative aspect
• Experience building risk or credit models for Financial Services, Lending, or Insurance
• Track record of developing machine learning models
• Well-rounded data science skill set – eg exploratory data analysis, feature engineering, fitting, tuning, evaluating and comparing models etc
• Experience with common open source ML libraries – especially with Python or R
• Ability to communicate effectively to clients and the business in writing and verbally
• A passion for problem solving using data and analytics

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with relational databases
• Experience with Spark/PySpark
• Experience in at least one data visualization tool for displaying and exploring analytic results such as Plotly, R Shiny, Matplotlib or similar

Technology Careers with Optum. Information and technology have amazing power to transform the health care industry and improve people's lives. This is where it's happening. This is where you'll help solve the problems that have never been solved. We're freeing information so it can be used safely and securely wherever it's needed. We're creating the very best ideas that can most easily be put into action to help our clients improve the quality of care and lower costs for millions. This is where the best and the brightest work together to make positive change a reality. This is the place to do your life's best work.(sm)

All telecommuters will be required to adhere to the UnitedHealth Group’s Telecommuter Policy.

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.

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.