Principal Data Scientist - Eden Prairie, MN

We're changing the way health care works for the better. That means consulting with our members, partnering with our physicians, and delivering drugs in the most efficient and effective way. Join us and start doing your life's best work.(sm)
 
We are currently looking for a Principal Data Scientist to join our team. This individual will be responsible on the development and delivery of large and complex predictive modeling projects for healthcare Payment Integrity processes. Principal Data Scientist develops innovative and effective approaches to solve client's analytics problems and communicates results and methodologies. Principal Data Scientist also provides directions and guidelines to Sr. Data Scientists and Data Scientists to discover business insights, identifies opportunities, and provides solutions and recommendations to solve business problems through the use of statistical, algorithmic, data mining and visualization techniques. In addition to advanced analytic skills, Principal Data Scientist is also proficient at integrating and preparing large, varied datasets, architecting specialized database and computing environments, and communicating results.
 
Primary Responsibilities:

Apply advanced statistical and predictive modeling techniques to build, maintain, and improve on multiple predictive detection engines in Advanced Analytics Labs
Lead discovery processes with Sr. Data Scientists and Data Scientists and partner with Payment Integrity Operation management to identify the business requirements and the expected outcome
Create and provide sound statistical analyses and frame business scenarios that are meaningful and which impact on critical business processes and/or decisions
Collaborates with the data steward to gather information to be used for analytics and predictive model building purpose and to ensure the data meets the qualification and assurance requirements of the analyses
Design sampling methodology, prepare data, including data cleaning, univariate analysis, missing value imputation, etc., identify appropriate analytic and statistical methodology, develop predictive models and document process and results
Communicate analytics results and predictive models to business partners and clients
Provide on-going tracking and monitoring of performance of statistical models and recommend ongoing improvements to methods and algorithms that lead to findings, including new information
Recommends ongoing improvements to methods and algorithms that lead to findings, including new information

Required Qualifications:

Master's or Ph.D. degree in (bio) statistics, applied statistics, applied mathematics, economics, or similar quantitative fields of study
7+ years experience of hands-on modeling skills and strong analytic programming skills using SAS tools, including SAS/BASE, SAS/STAT, and SAS Enterprise Guide and/or R
7+ years of experience manipulating large datasets and using databases
Knowledge of ensemble modeling, ANN, SVM, Random Forests, SOMs
Self-motivated, capable to grasp analytical concepts and clearly understand how analytical solutions can help customers reduce their healthcare claim costs
Demonstrable ability to quickly understand new concepts - all the way down to the theorems - and to come out with original solutions to mathematical issues
Preferred Qualifications:

Enterprise Miner
Experience with Python, Hadoop (MapReduce, PIG, Hive, Spark) or R
Experience with health care claims data and Payment Integrity processes
UI design experience for automated and-or end-user-interactive visualizations, displays or reports based on the models' outcomes (for example using Tableau)
Working knowledge and understanding of medical coding, including ICD, CPT, DRG, etc.
Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make the health system work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work.(sm)
 
 
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.
 
 
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
 
 
Job Keywords: SAS/BASE, SAS/STAT, R, ANN, SVM, Random Forests, SOM's Statistics, Model, Hadoop, Eden Prairie, MN