Lead Data Scientist - Strategic Initiatives

You could be the one who changes everything for our 28 million members by using technology to improve health outcomes around the world.  As a diversified, national organization, Centene's technology professionals have access to competitive benefits including a fresh perspective on workplace flexibility.
 

Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Sponsorship and future sponsorship are not available for this opportunity, including employment-based visa types H-1B, L-1, O-1, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, or CPT. 

Position Purpose: Designs and develops of scalable solutions using AI tools and machine-learning models. Performs research and testing to develop machine learning algorithms and predictive models. Utilizes big data computation and storage tools to create prototypes and datasets. Conducts model training and evaluation. Integrates, tests, tunes, and monitors solutions.

• Methodology Development: Critically evaluate valuation processes to identify gaps or invalid assumptions. Independently design and implement mathematically rigorous methodologies for measuring program efficacy

• End-to-End Analytics: Extract and manipulate large-scale healthcare data (claims, clinical, SDoH) to build independent, scalable valuation and predictive models

• Executive Translation: Act as a strategic communicator, translating complex methodologies and financial impacts into compelling narratives for non-technical executive stakeholders

• Clinical & Financial Synthesis: Develop operational frameworks to translate clinical interventions into defensible financial forecasts and enterprise-wide statements

• "0-to-1" Execution: Navigate extreme ambiguity to scope undefined business problems and transform raw data into production-ready valuation frameworks without an existing playbook

• Leads the design, development, and research around complex AI/ML models to apply appropriate datasets for data modeling and statistical analysis

• Works alongside internal customers that are requesting AI/ML capabilities to understand overall business objective & impact when requesting an AI/ML model

• Analyzes use cases of ML algorithms and apply findings to enable business decisions by deriving insights through data visualization

• Writing complex SQL and Python/R code to extract data from a variety of databases and data sources

• Conduct exploratory data analysis from complex data sources and build key data sets to support company mission operational analysis.

• Builds complex ML/AI models using common methods within R and Python

• Analyzes the ML algorithms that could be used to solve a given problem and rank them by their success probability

• Develop logging, alerting, and mitigation strategies for handling model errors

• Evaluate and design experiments to monitor key model metrics and identify improvement opportunities

• Produces fairness review for each developed model, to ensure model is free of bias

• Set up continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines used for model automation

• Model deployment with containers such as Kubernetes and/or Docker

• Produce clean code that has been properly unit tested and optimized for performance

• Completes proper deployment integration testing to ensure seamless deployment

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Complies with all policies and standards

Education/Experience: A Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field (e.g., statistics, mathematics, economics, engineering, computer science) required or equivalent experience acquired through accomplishments of applicable knowledge, duties, scope and skill reflective of the level of this position. Master's or PhD preferred

Requires 5–7 years of progressively complex data science experience, with a proven track record of delivering high-impact solutions in healthcare or regulated environments

Technical Skills:

• 5+ years Intermediate knowledge & experience with SQL required

• 5+ years experience in developing Machine learning/AI/Predictive Models in R or Python required

• 5+ years Intermediate knowledge of Git required

• Experience using DataBricks platform preferred

• Experience in VBC data science, including shared savings models, risk adjustment, or clinical efficacy evaluation preferred

• Background in high-stakes environments translating complex data architecture and statistical results into executive-level strategy preferred

Soft Skills:

• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty

• Ability to identify basic problems and procedural irregularities, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

• Ability to work independently

• Demonstrated analytical skills

• Demonstrated project management skills

• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure

• Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills

• Ability to communicate and make recommendations to upper management

• Ability to drive multiple projects to successful completion

Centene offers a comprehensive benefits package including: competitive pay, health insurance, 401K and stock purchase plans, tuition reimbursement, paid time off plus holidays, and a flexible approach to work with remote, hybrid, field or office work schedules.  Actual pay will be adjusted based on an individual's skills, experience, education, and other job-related factors permitted by law, including full-time or part-time status.  Total compensation may also include additional forms of incentives. Benefits may be subject to program eligibility.

Centene is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, and values the ways in which we are different. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with the LA County Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act