Healthcare AI / Machine Learning (AI/ML) Researcher
Company: OpTech
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Department: Information Technology
Position Type: Contract
O*NET Occupation Code: 15-2051.00 – Data Scientists
(Related O*NET: 15-1221.00 – Computer and Information Research Scientists)
What This Job Is About
We are looking for someone who can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to improve healthcare.
That means using data — like medical records, insurance claims, lab results, or population health information — to build smart computer models that help:
Predict health risks
Improve patient care
Reduce costs
Improve hospital or insurance operations
Support public health decisions
If you enjoy solving complex problems using data and want your work to impact real patients and communities, this role is for you.
What You Will Do
Study healthcare data to find patterns and opportunities for improvement
Build AI and machine learning models that predict outcomes or automate tasks
Work with doctors, analysts, engineers, and business teams
Test your models to make sure they are accurate, fair, and reliable
Make sure your AI models follow healthcare privacy rules (like HIPAA)
Help turn research ideas into tools that can actually be used in the real world
Stay up to date on new AI technology and healthcare innovations
Possibly publish research findings or write internal reports
Types of Data You May Work With
Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
Insurance claims data
Medical imaging
Clinical trial data
Genomics data
Population health datasets
What You Need to Qualify
Master’s or PhD in:
Computer Science
Data Science
Statistics
Computational Biology
Or a similar quantitative field
Strong skills in:
Machine Learning
Deep Learning
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Reinforcement Learning
Programming experience in:
Python
R
TensorFlow
PyTorch
Ability to explain technical work to both technical and non-technical people
Preferred (Nice to Have)
Experience working in healthcare, insurance, or clinical environments
Knowledge of HIPAA and healthcare data privacy rules
Experience deploying models into production (MLOps)
Published research or open-source contributions
Estimated Pay Range (Detroit Market)
Based on O*NET data and Michigan market averages for Data Scientists and AI Researchers:
Estimated Pay Range:
$110,000 – $165,000 per year
(or approximately $55 – $80 per hour for contract roles)
Actual pay depends on:
Education level
Years of experience
Publication/research background
Technical expertise
Contract structure
Why Work at OpTech?
OpTech is a woman-owned company that values innovation, growth, and collaboration.
Benefits may include:
Health and dental insurance
401(k)
Flexible/remote options
Training and development opportunities
Competitive pay
Growth pathways
OpTech is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
