Senior Data Engineer I - QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey (Critical Industries)

Do you want to do work that matters, alongside supportive leaders who will help you grow faster than you ever thought possible? Are you a creative problem-solver who is energized by challenges? You've come to the right place. Locations Atlanta Boston Chicago New Jersey New York City Raleigh San Francisco Toronto Washington DC YOUR IMPACT You will be a technical owner, designing and leading the implementation of scalable data architectures for cutting-edge AI and agentic systems. You will lead the development of robust data pipelines, manage secure and governed data environments, and mentor junior colleagues while collaborating with clients and cross‑functional teams. You'll tackle impactful challenges and grow as a leader by architecting innovative AI solutions across diverse industries. You will own and deliver technical workstreams, designing machine learning, agentic, and autonomous AI systems. You will lead the integration of machine learning, generative AI capabilities and agentic frameworks into client solutions, designing MLOps/LLMOps‑focused architectures for model management, observability, and automated retraining. You will also spearhead the design of complex feature engineering workstreams, ensuring our data assets are not only robust but also optimized for the next generation of AI models. Your work will help solve some of the most complex and high‑impact challenges facing clients across industries. By partnering with QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey and QuantumBlack Labs teams, you'll lead the creation of innovative enterprise‑grade machine learning systems that accelerate AI adoption and solve critical business problems at speed and scale. You will be instrumental in shaping how we build and deploy high‑impact AI systems, enabling clients to achieve meaningful, lasting impact through technical innovation. You will be based in one of our North American offices as part of our global Data Engineering community. You will work in cross‑functional Agile teams alongside Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, and industry experts, leading the data engineering workstream to deliver AI solutions. Collaborating with clients from data owners to C‑level executives, you'll help design impactful solutions that address complex business challenges and build client capabilities. You should expect your work to include at least some work in critical industries (Government, Defense, Aerospace, Utilities, Oil & Gas) but you will have the ability to serve other industries as well. You will grow as a technologist and a leader. You'll develop deep expertise at the intersection of technology strategy and business value by addressing diverse architectural challenges. Working with inspiring, multidisciplinary teams, you'll gain a holistic understanding of enterprise AI while collaborating with leading AI and data experts in the industry. YOUR GROWTH Driving lasting impact and building long‑term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You are the kind of person who thrives in a high performance/high reward culture—doing hard things, picking yourself up when you stumble, and having the resilience to try another way forward. In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we’ll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities you need to become a stronger leader faster than you ever thought possible. Your colleagues at all levels will invest deeply in your development, just as much as they invest in delivering exceptional results for clients. Every day, you’ll receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won’t find anywhere else. When you join us, you will have: Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast‑paced learning experience, owning your journey. A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You'll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes. Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences. World‑class benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well‑being for you and your family. YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS U.S. Citizenship is required for this role (you must be able to be staffed on Critical Industries work which includes Government, Defense, Aerospace, Utilities, etc.). Degree in Computer Science/Engineering, or equivalent experience. 5+ years of relevant professional experience in a data engineering role, with experience leading technical workstreams, mentoring junior engineers, and driving the adoption of software engineering best practices within a team. Expert‑level proficiency in Python and SQL and the ability to work in polyglot environments (Scala, Java) when required by client enterprise systems. Strong experience building Agentic AI, Generative AI, Machine Learning, and Business Intelligence systems, including prompt design, retrieval‑augmented generation (RAG), embeddings, vector databases, context construction, and output handling in production workflows using modern frameworks (Spark, LangChain, Databricks, Dask, Airflow, Dagster, Kedro, etc.). Ability to lead the implementation of AI features end to end, with sound judgment around model behavior, evaluation, reliability, guardrails, and the trade‑offs between quality, latency, and cost. Experience implementing robust data security and governance controls, including managing PII/PHI, authentication, and role‑based access control (RBAC). Deep knowledge of MLOps/LLMOps including CI/CD for data workflows, automated agent evaluation (LangSmith, Opik, Langfuse), and infrastructure as code (Terraform) across cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP). Exceptional time management and ability to own technical workstreams autonomously. Experience using coding agents (Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, etc.) is a plus. Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, in English and local office language(s). Benefits In accordance with Ontario law, this job posting is for an existing vacancy. FOR U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Certain US and Canadian jurisdictions require McKinsey & Company to include a reasonable estimate of the salary for this role. To help you understand what you can expect, the salary range for new joiners in this role in Canada and/or the United States, including all office locations where the job may be performed, is $175,500 - $180,000 in USD and $195,700 - $200,000 in CAD gross per year. This reflects our best estimate of the lowest to highest salary for this role at the time of this posting, ensuring you have a clear picture right from the start, though it's important to remember that actual salaries may vary. Factors like your office location, your unique blend of experience and skills, start date and our current organizational needs all play a part in determining the final figure. Certain roles are also eligible for bonuses, subject to McKinsey's discretion and based on factors such as individual and/or organizational performance. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive benefits package that reflects our commitment to the wellness of our colleagues and their families. This includes medical, mental health, dental and vision coverage, telemedicine services, life, accident and disability insurance, parental leave and family planning benefits, caregiving resources, a generous retirement contributions program, financial guidance, and paid time off. FOR NON‑U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. For additional details regarding our global EEO policy and diversity initiatives, please visit our McKinsey Careers and Diversity & Inclusion sites. #J-18808-Ljbffr