Optum, the technology and health services arm of UnitedHealth Group, is hiring a Software Engineer for its Hyderabad office. The role sits within Optum’s Technology function, working on mission-critical, customer-facing 24×7 production systems — backend services built in Java, cloud-native applications on Kubernetes, and Kafka-based event-driven architectures.
One thing worth flagging clearly: the posting’s stated minimum qualification is just “Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience,” which reads like an entry-level bar. But the actual required qualifications list — hands-on production delivery experience, Kafka streaming, Kubernetes, cloud platforms, CI/CD ownership, and Agile deadline accountability for 24×7 systems — describes a role that expects real prior software engineering experience, not a first job out of college. Candidates should weigh the full requirements list, not just the qualification line, before applying.
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Apply Online — Optum Software Engineer, Hyderabad
Quick Overview
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Optum (UnitedHealth Group) |
| Requisition Number | 2378901 |
| Role | Software Engineer |
| Job Category | Technology |
| Work Location | Hyderabad, India |
| Overtime Status | Exempt |
| Travel | Not required |
| Posting Date | 30 August 2026 |
| Salary / CTC | Not disclosed in the official posting |
| Application Mode | Online via UnitedHealth Group’s careers portal (Taleo) |
Primary Responsibilities
The role spans four broad areas of work:
Core Engineering
- Building backend applications and services in Java, exposing functionality through REST APIs within a microservices setup, and owning testing and upkeep as part of that work.
- Writing and tuning SQL queries and stored procedures that support core, business-critical functionality.
- Covering the full software delivery lifecycle — from analyzing requirements through coding, testing, deployment, and writing supporting documentation.
Data & Systems Architecture
- Working with Kafka to build event-driven flows, including producer/consumer logic and asynchronous integrations between systems.
- Contributing to distributed systems designed with scalability, reliability, and performance as core goals rather than afterthoughts.
Cloud & Delivery Infrastructure
- Deploying and running containerized, cloud-native applications on Kubernetes across Azure, AWS, or GCP.
- Setting up and maintaining CI/CD pipelines, DevOps tooling, and monitoring for production applications.
- Using AI-assisted coding tools such as GitHub Copilot or Microsoft Copilot to speed up code generation, debugging, refactoring, testing, and documentation.
Team Collaboration & Delivery
- Working with teams outside engineering to scope requirements, size effort, and hit delivery timelines.
- Keeping mission-critical, customer-facing systems running reliably around the clock.
- Taking part in Agile ceremonies and pushing for ongoing process improvements within the team.
Eligibility Criteria
Required Qualifications
The stated baseline is an undergraduate degree or equivalent practical experience — though the technical expectations below go well beyond a typical entry-level ask.
- Technical depth: Strong, hands-on command of SQL, Java, REST APIs, and Kubernetes, including writing and maintaining stored procedures, plus a working grasp of microservices and distributed-system design. Cloud platform experience (Azure, AWS, or GCP) is called a strong plus, spanning cloud-native development, containerized workloads, scalability, monitoring, and deployment; familiarity with DevOps practices and CI/CD is considered beneficial on top of this.
- Event-driven systems: A working understanding of Kafka streaming — topics, producers, consumers, and real-time processing fundamentals — is required, with experience in broader data pipelines and asynchronous integration counting as an added advantage.
- Production ownership: Direct experience taking a complex, customer-facing system from requirements through design, build, and launch, with accountability for quality and reliability throughout.
- Agile delivery under pressure: Comfort working with end users, cross-functional teams, and management in an Agile setting — scoping work, estimating effort, and consistently hitting deadlines, particularly on systems that run 24×7 and can’t tolerate slippage.
- AI-assisted development: Practical familiarity with AI Copilot tools (GitHub Copilot or Microsoft Copilot) for generating code, refactoring, debugging, writing tests, and documentation, along with genuine willingness to use AI assistance responsibly rather than as a checkbox skill.
Preferred Qualification
Proven exposure to Angular, Facets, and modern web technologies, with an understanding of frontend-backend integration, along with genuine eagerness to learn new technologies and adapt to evolving tools.
Who Should Apply?
- Candidates with genuine, hands-on experience delivering production software — not just academic projects — particularly involving Java, SQL, REST APIs, and microservices.
- Those with real exposure to at least one major cloud platform (Azure, AWS, or GCP) and containerized/Kubernetes-based deployment.
- Candidates comfortable working on 24×7, mission-critical systems where reliability and uptime genuinely matter, not just feature delivery.
- Those already using or willing to adopt AI-assisted coding tools (GitHub Copilot/Microsoft Copilot) as part of their regular workflow.
Salary
Optum has not disclosed a salary or CTC figure in the official posting. Candidates should confirm compensation directly during the interview or offer stage.
Selection Process
The official posting does not describe a specific test or interview format. Given the depth of the technical requirements — Kafka, Kubernetes, cloud platforms, and production system ownership — candidates should be ready to walk through real projects they’ve taken from design through production launch, along with specific examples of working within Agile teams on deadline-sensitive, mission-critical systems.
If you’re comparing this against other production-grade backend roles, ZS’s Associate Platform Services (Data Engineer) role in Pune/Gurgaon shares a similar SQL/ETL/cloud emphasis, and Airbus’s Associate Systems Engineer role in Bangalore spans a similarly broad full-stack and production-systems scope.
How to Apply
- Visit the official UnitedHealth Group careers listing: Software Engineer, Requisition 2378901.
- Click “Apply” on the listing page, which redirects to UnitedHealth Group’s Taleo application portal.
- Create or sign in to your candidate profile.
- Fill in your educational and professional details, and confirm your work authorization status for India.
- Upload your resume, highlighting relevant Java/SQL/cloud/Kafka experience and any production systems you’ve delivered.
- Submit your application.
Fraud warning: UnitedHealth Group has publicly flagged fraudulent LinkedIn messages and emails impersonating its executives, which reportedly conduct fake Zoom interviews, offer work-from-home roles, send counterfeit checks, and ask recipients to pay a vendor a large sum. UnitedHealth Group has stated it will never ask candidates to pay a vendor or any fee to explore employment with the company — treat any such request as fraudulent.
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Apply Now → |
| UnitedHealth Group Careers Page | careers.unitedhealthgroup.com |
About Optum and UnitedHealth Group
Optum is the technology and health services arm of UnitedHealth Group, focused on connecting people with care, pharmacy benefits, data, and resources through technology. UnitedHealth Group’s stated mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone, operating across clinical, technology, and business functions globally, including a significant technology and engineering presence in India.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is this a fresher-level role?
Not really, despite the “undergraduate degree or equivalent experience” qualification line. The full requirements — production delivery experience, Kafka, Kubernetes, cloud platforms, and 24×7 system ownership — describe a role expecting genuine prior software engineering experience.
Q2. Do I need experience with Kafka specifically?
Yes. Understanding of Kafka streaming, including event-driven architectures and producers/consumers, is listed as a required qualification, not optional.
Q3. What is the salary for this role?
Optum has not disclosed a salary figure in the official posting. Candidates should confirm this during the hiring process.
Q4. Is travel required for this role?
No. The posting explicitly states travel is not required.
Q5. Are AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot actually used in this role, or just mentioned in passing?
They’re a genuine, required part of the role — the posting lists working knowledge of AI Copilot tools (GitHub Copilot or Microsoft Copilot) for code generation, refactoring, and documentation as a required qualification.
Source & Verification
- Source: Official UnitedHealth Group / Optum careers listing (Requisition Number 2378901)
- Official Website: unitedhealthgroup.com
- Application Portal: UnitedHealth Group Careers Portal
- Last Checked: 31 August 2026
FreshersJob4U is not affiliated with UnitedHealth Group or Optum. This post is for informational purposes only. Candidates should verify all details, including current application status, directly on the official application link before applying.
Engineering graduate and founder of FreshersJob4U. I write detailed job guides, interview prep resources, and career roadmaps for freshers and early-career professionals in India. This site started from my own experience with the scattered, confusing fresher job search — I wanted to build something cleaner.