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Data Scientist - Job Opportunity at Optum

Dublin, Ireland

Full-time

Mid-level

Posted: August 19, 2025

Hybrid

EUR 65,000 - EUR 85,000 per year based on Dublin market rates for mid-level data science positions in healthcare sector. Optum's Fortune 5 status and comprehensive benefits package typically positions total compensation in the upper range of market standards, with potential for performance-based increases and equity participation.

Benefits

Hybrid work arrangement with flexible monthly split between Dublin office and remote home office, providing optimal work-life balance and reduced commuting costs

Comprehensive benefits package that positions competitively against industry standards for healthcare sector roles

Performance-based recognition and reward system that directly ties compensation to measurable outcomes and achievements

Structured career development opportunities with clear progression pathways and cross-functional exposure

Access to cutting-edge technology infrastructure including Python, Spark, Databricks and Snowflake for professional skill enhancement

Opportunity to contribute to company innovation and patenting initiatives, providing intellectual property development experience and potential revenue sharing

Key Responsibilities

Drive strategic business intelligence by researching, interpreting and analyzing complex healthcare datasets to deliver actionable insights that directly influence organizational decision-making and patient outcomes

Lead cross-functional collaboration to develop and operationalize advanced analytical solutions that transform raw healthcare data into value-based care products with measurable business impact

Architect and implement scalable big data solutions using enterprise-grade infrastructure to solve complex healthcare domain challenges that affect millions of patient lives globally

Facilitate knowledge transfer and solution design through strategic partnerships with data scientists, business analysts, data engineers and subject matter experts to create comprehensive healthcare analytics platforms

Contribute to intellectual property development through company innovation and patenting initiatives, positioning the organization as a thought leader in healthcare analytics and generating potential licensing revenue streams

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree (or higher) in mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, statistics, bioinformatics, actuarial science or similar

Experience

Not specified

Required Skills

Ability to clean, transform, and analyze data using programming languages such as Python or SQL Experience with statistical modelling and machine learning techniques Proficiency in data visualization and communication of results Understanding of database management, data structures and modern big-data frameworks Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and adapt to new technologies and tools Attention to detail and ability to prioritise tasks effectively Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently to solve complex problems Strong presentation skills and ability to communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Healthcare analytics is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by the global shift toward value-based care models, with organizations increasingly requiring data scientists who can translate complex patient data into actionable clinical and financial insights. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare decision-making is creating demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between technical capabilities and clinical outcomes. The post-pandemic healthcare landscape has accelerated digital transformation initiatives, with healthcare organizations investing heavily in predictive analytics, population health management, and personalized medicine solutions. This trend is particularly strong in Ireland and the UK markets where Optum operates, as healthcare systems seek to optimize resource allocation and improve patient outcomes through data-driven approaches. Regulatory changes around healthcare data privacy (GDPR in Europe) and increasing focus on health equity are creating new requirements for data scientists who understand both technical implementation and ethical considerations in healthcare analytics. Organizations are prioritizing candidates who can navigate complex regulatory environments while delivering innovative solutions.

Role Significance

Likely part of a 8-15 person analytics team within Optum Ireland's 2,100+ employee organization, with regular collaboration across data engineering, business analysis, and clinical subject matter expert teams. The cross-functional nature suggests involvement in multiple concurrent projects with varying team compositions.

Mid-level individual contributor role with significant strategic impact on next-generation healthcare analytics products. The position involves independent project ownership while contributing to larger organizational initiatives, indicating a role that bridges technical execution with strategic business outcomes.

Key Projects

Development of predictive models for patient risk stratification and care management optimization Implementation of real-time analytics dashboards for clinical decision support and population health monitoring Creation of value-based care measurement frameworks that tie clinical outcomes to financial performance metrics Design of machine learning algorithms for personalized treatment recommendations and care pathway optimization

Success Factors

Ability to translate complex healthcare data into actionable business insights that directly impact patient care outcomes and organizational profitability, requiring both technical expertise and domain knowledge understanding Strong collaborative skills to work effectively across diverse teams including clinical professionals, business stakeholders, and technical teams, as healthcare analytics requires input from multiple specialized domains Adaptability to rapidly evolving healthcare technology landscape and regulatory requirements, particularly in the European market where data privacy and healthcare regulations continue to evolve Communication excellence to present technical findings to non-technical healthcare professionals and executives who make strategic decisions based on analytical recommendations

Market Demand

High demand driven by healthcare industry digital transformation and Optum's continued expansion in European markets. The combination of healthcare domain expertise and advanced analytics skills creates a specialized talent pool with strong job security and growth prospects.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Python and SQL proficiency represents the foundational technical requirement for data manipulation and analysis in healthcare environments where data volumes are substantial and complexity is high due to regulatory requirements and clinical data structures Statistical modeling and machine learning expertise is essential for developing predictive healthcare solutions that can identify at-risk patients, optimize care pathways, and measure clinical outcomes with statistical significance Healthcare domain knowledge or ability to quickly acquire understanding of clinical workflows, regulatory requirements, and healthcare business models is crucial for translating technical capabilities into meaningful healthcare solutions Communication and visualization skills are critical for presenting complex analytical findings to clinical professionals and healthcare executives who make strategic decisions based on data insights

Beneficial Skills

Cloud platform expertise in Azure, Snowflake, and Databricks aligns with Optum's technology infrastructure and represents valuable skills for healthcare organizations adopting cloud-based analytics solutions Project management capabilities and experience working within structured timelines becomes increasingly important as data science projects in healthcare require coordination with clinical operations and regulatory compliance requirements Understanding of healthcare data privacy regulations (HIPAA, GDPR) and ethical considerations in healthcare analytics provides competitive advantage in the highly regulated healthcare environment Experience with temporal and longitudinal healthcare data analysis offers specialized skills for understanding patient journeys and outcomes over time, which is essential for value-based care analytics

Unique Aspects

Access to one of the world's richest healthcare datasets provides unparalleled learning and development opportunities for advanced analytics skills that are highly transferable across the healthcare industry

Direct impact on global health equity initiatives and patient outcomes, offering meaningful work that extends beyond typical corporate data science applications

Opportunity to contribute to patenting and innovation initiatives, providing potential intellectual property development experience and recognition within the broader healthcare technology community

Integration with UnitedHealth Group's comprehensive healthcare ecosystem allows for end-to-end understanding of healthcare delivery, from clinical care to financial management

Career Growth

Typical progression to senior-level roles within 2-3 years given Optum's size and growth trajectory, with potential for management track or technical leadership specialization based on individual preferences and performance outcomes.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Data Scientist or Lead Data Scientist roles with increased project ownership and team leadership responsibilities within 2-3 years Healthcare Analytics Manager positions overseeing cross-functional analytics teams and strategic initiative development Product Manager roles in healthcare technology focusing on analytics-driven solutions and market development Principal Data Scientist or Analytics Architect roles designing enterprise-wide analytics platforms and methodologies

Company Overview

Optum

Optum operates as the technology and analytics arm of UnitedHealth Group, one of the world's largest healthcare companies with Fortune 5 status. The organization has established itself as a global leader in healthcare technology solutions, serving millions of patients worldwide through integrated care delivery, pharmacy benefits management, and data analytics services.

Market leader in healthcare analytics and technology solutions with significant competitive advantages including access to one of the world's largest healthcare datasets and substantial investment in research and development. Optum's scale and resources provide stability and growth opportunities that smaller healthcare technology companies cannot match.

Strong European presence with over 20 years of operations in Ireland and the UK, employing more than 2,100 professionals across the region. The Dublin office serves as a key strategic hub for European operations, providing stability and growth opportunities in the expanding European healthcare technology market.

Large enterprise culture with emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and social impact through healthcare improvement initiatives. The organization balances corporate structure with innovation focus, offering resources and stability of a Fortune 5 company while maintaining focus on cutting-edge healthcare technology development.

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Data Scientist - Job Opportunity at Optum

Benefits

Key Responsibilities

Requirements

Education

Experience

Required Skills

Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Role Significance

Key Projects

Success Factors

Market Demand

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Beneficial Skills

Unique Aspects

Career Growth

Potential Next Roles

Company Overview

Optum

Data Sources & Analysis Information

Job Listings Data

Sauge AI Market Intelligence