Product Designer at Optum

Optum is a global healthcare organization committed to improving lives through innovative technology, personalized care, and data-driven solutions.

By connecting individuals with essential healthcare services, pharmacy benefits, information, and resources, Optum helps millions of people achieve better health outcomes.

As part of UnitedHealth Group, Optum combines healthcare expertise with advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, to make healthcare more accessible, efficient, affordable, and connected.

The organization promotes an inclusive and collaborative workplace where employees benefit from professional development opportunities, competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in communities worldwide.

Job Summary

Optum is seeking an experienced and innovative Product Designer, AI & Product Office to help shape the future of AI-powered healthcare solutions.

In this position, you will design intuitive, accessible, and trustworthy digital products that support Optum Health’s enterprise artificial intelligence strategy.

Working closely with the Chief AI & Product Officer’s organization, you will contribute to the development of AI-enabled products, including solutions within the Agenix portfolio.

The successful candidate will conduct user research, develop product experiences, build interactive prototypes, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to create solutions that address real healthcare challenges.

You will also be responsible for designing how AI-powered features interact with users, communicate information, explain recommendations, handle uncertainty, and respond when errors occur.

This opportunity is particularly suited to a hands-on product designer who enjoys building new solutions, experimenting with emerging technologies, and measuring the real-world impact of their work.

As an early member of a growing AI and product innovation team, you will have the opportunity to influence product development practices, establish design standards, and contribute to solutions that can be adopted across multiple healthcare markets.

Work Location and Flexibility

This position offers remote working opportunities for qualified candidates residing anywhere within the United States.

However, employees hired in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, or Washington, D.C. areas must work from the office at least four days per week.

All remote employees must comply with UnitedHealth Group’s telecommuting policies.

Key Responsibilities

User Research and Discovery

• Conduct comprehensive user research involving patients, healthcare professionals, and care delivery teams.
• Observe healthcare activities in clinics, medical practices, patients’ homes, and other relevant settings to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Interview users to understand their experiences, challenges, preferences, and expectations.
• Ensure research includes individuals with diverse backgrounds, ages, languages, literacy levels, disabilities, and technology access requirements.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals and clinical informatics specialists throughout the design process.
• Analyze research findings and translate insights into practical product recommendations.
• Document research discoveries, design decisions, and emerging opportunities for regular team evaluation.

Product Design and User Experience

• Design seamless digital experiences across electronic health records, patient portals, SMS, voice interfaces, and other healthcare communication channels.
• Develop user-centered experiences that simplify complex healthcare processes.
• Design AI-powered features that communicate clearly, explain recommendations, and allow users to correct or override automated actions.
• Establish appropriate interactions for situations where AI-generated information is incomplete, uncertain, or incorrect.
• Create wireframes, interactive prototypes, user flows, and high-fidelity interface designs.
• Use artificial intelligence and coding tools to develop functional prototypes and test ideas efficiently.
• Conduct usability testing with real users before products enter full development.
• Develop and maintain scalable design systems consistent with Optum’s branding and accessibility requirements.
• Ensure digital products comply with applicable Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

AI Innovation and Product Development

• Collaborate with product managers, software engineers, clinical specialists, and service designers to build AI-enabled healthcare products.
• Contribute to the development of responsible, reliable, and transparent artificial intelligence experiences.
• Experiment with AI agents, automation technologies, and large language models to improve product functionality.
• Support the creation of reusable design methods that can be implemented across different healthcare markets.
• Participate actively in product development, from initial research and concept validation through deployment.
• Help healthcare teams understand and safely use AI-powered prototyping and productivity tools.

Performance Measurement and Continuous Improvement

• Establish measurable usability, accessibility, and user experience objectives.
• Evaluate product performance following launch to determine whether design improvements achieve their intended outcomes.
• Collect feedback from patients, healthcare teams, and other stakeholders to identify opportunities for refinement.
• Work closely with engineering teams to improve product quality throughout development and deployment.
• Coordinate with service designers to ensure digital products integrate effectively with existing healthcare workflows.
• Collaborate with security, privacy, legal, compliance, data, and technology teams to ensure responsible product development.
• Maintain detailed documentation of design decisions, research outcomes, and lessons learned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should possess the following qualifications:

• At least 7 years of professional product design experience, including successfully launching digital products used by real customers.
• Previous experience in healthcare or a large, complex organization with multiple departments and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience conducting field research and interviewing users in real-world environments.
• Practical experience working with AI technologies, including developing an AI agent, automation solution, large language model application, or AI-powered prototype.
• Ability to independently manage complex product design challenges from initial discovery through successful implementation.
• Strong understanding of accessibility standards and inclusive design principles.
• Proficiency with Figma or comparable product design software.
• Working knowledge of GitHub, AI-assisted coding tools, and AI agent development technologies.
• A professional portfolio demonstrating completed product designs, supporting research, and measurable outcomes after launch.
• Ability to balance enterprise-wide design requirements with the specific needs of individual healthcare markets.
• Excellent collaboration and relationship-building skills across technical and nontechnical teams.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to document research, recommendations, decisions, and disagreements clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, healthcare professionals, and other subject-matter experts.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with the following additional qualifications may have an advantage:

• Bachelor’s degree in Product Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience designing healthcare applications, patient-facing platforms, or electronic health record workflows.
• Knowledge of conversational interfaces, voice-enabled applications, and SMS-based user experiences.
• Experience designing AI agents and large language model applications, particularly involving transparency, user trust, and error handling.
• Familiarity with healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
• Experience creating accessible digital solutions for populations with limited access to technology.
• Front-end development knowledge and the ability to translate design concepts into functional code.

Essential Skills and Competencies

The ideal candidate should demonstrate expertise in:

• AI-Powered Product Development: Using artificial intelligence, agents, and automation to design and build functional solutions.
• User Research: Gathering, analyzing, and translating user insights into effective product decisions.
• User Experience Design: Creating intuitive experiences across multiple digital channels.
• Responsible AI Design: Developing transparent, reliable, and trustworthy AI interactions.
• Rapid Prototyping: Building and testing functional product concepts efficiently.
• Accessibility: Designing inclusive digital experiences for users with different abilities and needs.
• Design Systems: Establishing reusable components and consistent interface standards.
• Performance Evaluation: Measuring product usability, adoption, and effectiveness.
• Strategic Thinking: Making sound design decisions at both enterprise and local operational levels.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working effectively with multidisciplinary teams to deliver successful products.

Salary and Compensation

Optum offers a competitive compensation package based on professional experience, qualifications, education, certifications, and geographic location.

Annual Salary Range: $112,700 – $193,200

This salary range applies to full-time employment.

In addition to base compensation, eligible employees may receive:

• Comprehensive healthcare and employee benefits.
• Performance-based incentives and recognition programs.
• Employee stock purchase opportunities.
• 401(k) retirement contributions.
• Professional training and career advancement opportunities.
• Additional benefits and incentives based on eligibility.

Actual compensation and benefits will depend on individual qualifications, applicable company policies, and employment arrangements.

Why Work at Optum?

Joining Optum provides an opportunity to contribute to meaningful healthcare innovation while working with talented professionals across technology, product development, and clinical services.

Employees benefit from an environment that encourages creativity, continuous learning, collaboration, and professional growth.

As a Product Designer within the AI & Product Office, you will have the opportunity to influence emerging healthcare technologies, develop scalable digital solutions, and help improve how patients and healthcare professionals interact with essential services.

Your work will contribute directly to making healthcare experiences simpler, safer, more accessible, and more effective.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated organizations are committed to maintaining an inclusive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under applicable laws.

The organization is also committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Successful candidates must complete required pre-employment drug screening before beginning employment.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should apply through Optum or UnitedHealth Group’s official careers platform.

Applicants are encouraged to prepare an updated resume and a professional product design portfolio highlighting relevant projects, user research experience, AI-powered solutions, and measurable product outcomes.

Note: This is a U.S.-based remote position. Applicants should review the official vacancy for eligibility requirements, location restrictions, and application instructions.