Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) GL30
Job Type: Contract / Full-Time
Location: Remote
Job Summary
Optum Technology is seeking a highly skilled Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to work directly with healthcare clients and deliver AI-powered technology solutions that drive business transformation.
This role combines software engineering, consulting, solution architecture, and hands-on AI/ML development. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working directly with clients to understand complex business challenges, design scalable technical solutions, and take ownership from problem discovery through production deployment.
The candidate should have strong experience with AI/ML, Generative AI, LLMs, cloud platforms, APIs, distributed systems, and modern software engineering practices. Healthcare industry experience, particularly with payer or provider organizations, is highly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
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Partner directly with healthcare payer and provider clients to understand business challenges and identify opportunities for AI-driven solutions.
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Lead client discovery sessions, technical workshops, solution design discussions, and architecture engagements.
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Design, develop, test, and deploy production-grade AI applications, LLM-powered solutions, copilots, and intelligent automation.
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Architect secure, scalable, and highly available solutions using cloud platforms, APIs, microservices, LLMs, ML models, and enterprise systems.
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Translate business requirements into technical architectures, implementation roadmaps, and measurable business outcomes.
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Develop proof-of-concepts and rapidly convert successful solutions into production-ready applications.
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Work closely with engineering, product, data science, cloud, security, and business teams to ensure successful solution delivery.
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Troubleshoot complex technical and business problems and recommend appropriate technology solutions.
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Drive end-to-end ownership of client engagements from problem definition and solution design through implementation, deployment, and adoption.
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Communicate complex technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
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Work effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous environments where requirements and client needs may evolve.
Required Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical field.
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8+ years of software engineering experience developing cloud-native, scalable, and distributed applications.
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7+ years of consulting, professional services, customer-facing engineering, or client-facing technology experience.
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Hands-on experience building and deploying AI/ML and Generative AI solutions.
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Strong experience with LLMs, prompt engineering, RAG, AI applications, or AI-powered automation.
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Strong experience with at least one major cloud platform: AWS, Azure, or GCP.
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Strong programming experience with modern languages such as Python, Java, C#, TypeScript, or similar.
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Experience designing and integrating REST APIs, microservices, enterprise applications, and distributed systems.
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Experience taking solutions from requirements/discovery through development, deployment, and production support.
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Excellent communication, stakeholder management, consulting, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
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Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, AI/ML, or a related discipline.
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Experience working with healthcare payer or provider organizations.
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Knowledge of healthcare data, interoperability, and industry standards such as FHIR, HL7, EHR/EMR, claims, or clinical data.
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Understanding of healthcare security, privacy, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
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Experience with Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, Vertex AI, OpenAI APIs, LangChain, LlamaIndex, or similar GenAI technologies.
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Experience building AI agents, copilots, RAG pipelines, and enterprise GenAI applications.
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Experience with CI/CD, containers, Kubernetes, DevOps, MLOps, or modern cloud-native development.
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Experience working in consulting, professional services, or highly client-facing engineering environments.
Key Skills
AI/GenAI: LLM, Generative AI, RAG, Prompt Engineering, AI Agents, Copilots, Machine Learning
Cloud: AWS, Azure, GCP, Cloud Architecture
Engineering: Python, Java, C#, TypeScript, REST APIs, Microservices, Distributed Systems
Architecture: Solution Architecture, System Design, API Integration, Cloud-Native Architecture
Healthcare: Payer, Provider, Claims, EHR/EMR, FHIR, HL7, Healthcare Data
Consulting: Client Engagement, Discovery Workshops, Requirements Gathering, Technical Consulting, Stakeholder Management
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a hands-on senior/principal-level engineer or solution architect who can operate at the intersection of technology, AI, and client consulting.
Candidates should be able to speak with business stakeholders about their challenges, translate those challenges into technical solutions, and personally contribute to building and deploying the resulting solution.
Candidates with backgrounds such as Forward Deployed Engineer, AI/GenAI Solution Architect, Principal/Staff Software Engineer, Cloud Solution Architect, AI Architect, or Senior Technology Consultant are encouraged to apply.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related technical discipline required. Master's degree preferred.