Senior Manager Software Engineering

Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. We are seeking an accomplished Senior Manager - Java Engineering to provide hands-on technical leadership across solution design, development, testing, release, and production readiness. The role partners closely with Product Owners, business stakeholders, Subject Matter Experts, QA, and support teams to translate complex business needs into scalable, resilient, and well-documented technology solutions. The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in Java, Spring, Azure, DevOps, Kafka, Spark, and relational databases with solid leadership in AI-assisted software engineering. This individual will coach teams on the effective use of Codex, Claude, and related AI development capabilities while ensuring engineering quality, governance, and delivery accountability Primary Responsibilities: Solution Design and Business Partnership Collaborate with Product Owners, business stakeholders, Subject Matter Experts, and users to evaluate business requirements and assess existing or proposed systems Translate complex business requirements into detailed solution designs, technical specifications, and implementation-ready documentation from which programs can be developed Lead technical design walkthroughs with Business, SME, QA, development, and Production Support teams, incorporating feedback and resolving design questions Ensure proposed solutions align with enterprise architecture standards, security expectations, cloud patterns, and operational requirements Engineering Leadership and Delivery Lead the coding, testing, implementation, debugging, and documentation of complex enterprise applications and Spark jobs Provide technical direction on Java, Spring, Azure, DevOps, Kafka, microservices, distributed systems, and application architecture patterns Guide teams in setting up Kafka streams and implementing reliable producer and consumer integrations Ensure timely delivery of assigned work, proactively managing dependencies, risks, technical issues, and quality expectations Independently resolve moderate to complex technical problems and provide guidance on advanced programming and solution design AI-Enabled Engineering Promote practical adoption of AI-assisted software development across design, coding, unit testing, documentation, defect analysis, and modernization activities Use and guide teams on tools such as Codex and Claude, with emphasis on effective prompt practices, validation of generated outputs, secure usage, and measurable productivity improvement Optimize the responsible use of available AI credits by prioritizing high-value engineering scenarios and avoiding unnecessary consumption Apply AI Builder knowledge to identify and support suitable automation and application-development opportunities Testing, Quality, and Release Readiness Prepare test plans, define test data requirements, establish test environments, and execute testing activities based on project needs Participate in design reviews, test case reviews, and Production Support readiness reviews for new releases Support QA, UAT, release, and post-release phases through defect analysis, root cause identification, change maintenance, and issue resolution Promote test automation and ensure adherence to coding standards, documentation standards, quality controls, and delivery governance Confirm that solutions meet functional, technical, performance, supportability, and timeline