Senior Data Scientist - Autonomous Goal Management

Join Our Mission to Transform Healthcare with AI

The Enterprise AI organization at Humana is at the forefront of AI innovation in the Insurance and CenterWell business segments. By working alongside leading experts, we focus on developing advanced AI technologies that enhance the quality of care for millions. We are looking for talented individuals who are passionate about creating robust AI modules and pipelines, while ensuring best practices in accountable AI for effective risk management. Be a part of our journey to redefine healthcare through AI.

We aim to build sophisticated systems capable of autonomously managing complex goals. We are seeking an expert in agent design, planning, and control to develop and assess agents that can set, adjust, and execute goals in dynamic, real-world settings. You will contribute to the scientific and engineering principles that make AI agents reliable, interpretable, and effective in long-term tasks.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement goal-setting and decomposition mechanisms for autonomous agents in unpredictable environments.

• Create and manage dynamic planning systems, including hierarchical planning and self-refinement loops.

• Collaborate on designs for memory, tool-use, and feedback systems to enable multi-step, self-directed agent behavior.

• Establish evaluation frameworks to ensure alignment with human intent, consistency, and progress towards long-term objectives.

• Prototype agents that interact with APIs, servers, databases, or real-world systems to pursue goals efficiently and safely.

• Investigate methods for detecting and resolving goal misalignment or undesirable behaviors.

• Work with cross-functional teams to integrate safety, alignment, and operational reliability mechanisms.

Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in SQL, Python, and data analysis tools.

• Experience with machine learning frameworks such as Pytorch, Jax, or related tools.

• Experience in developing high-performance, large-scale machine learning systems.

• Familiarity with language modeling, especially with transformers.

• Knowledge of symbolic planning, causal reasoning, and model-based reinforcement learning.

• Proficiency in large-scale ETL processes.

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree with 4+ years of experience in ML engineering or applied research, focusing on production-ready AI solutions.

• 2+ years leading AI/ML system development.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, or a related field.

• Experience deploying autonomous or semi-autonomous agents, either in production or simulations.

• Working knowledge of LLM-based agents with task decomposition techniques.

• Understanding of autonomy risk mitigation strategies, including off-switch protocols.

Additional Information

This position is remote, which allows you to work from anywhere in the US.

Why Choose Humana?

At Humana, your well-being matters to us. We provide resources to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and foster productivity. Here are some of the benefits we offer:

• Work-Life Balance

• Generous PTO package

• Health benefits effective from day one

• Annual Incentive Plan

• 401K with an excellent company match

• Well-being program

• Paid Volunteer Time Off

If you are passionate about making a positive impact in healthcare, we would love to have you join our team at Humana.

Work from Home Requirement

To effectively work from home or in a hybrid office, you must have internet service with at least 25 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed. A wired, cable, or DSL connection is recommended.

Occasional travel to Humana’s offices for training or meetings may be required.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Compensation

The compensation range reflects a good faith estimate for starting base pay. The pay may vary based on geographic location and other individual factors.

$142,300 - $195,700 per year

This role is eligible for a bonus incentive plan, based on company and/or individual performance.

Benefits Overview

Humana offers competitive benefits designed to support your overall well-being. This includes medical, dental, vision plans, retirement savings, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability options, and other benefits.

Application Deadline: 03-31-2026

About Humana

Humana Inc. is dedicated to prioritizing health for everyone, including employees and customers. Through our insurance and healthcare services, we strive to help thousands achieve their best health and lead fulfilling lives.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Humana fosters an environment of diversity and equality and does not discriminate against any applicant based on race, religion, gender, orientation, or any other protected status.