Data Scientist - QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey

McKinsey; Toronto; On-site; CAD 104,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Global career opportunities

Job summary

McKinsey & Company in Toronto seeks a results-driven student entering a master’s, bachelor’s or PhD program to work on advanced analytics and AI solutions. You will join a multidisciplinary team, translate business challenges into analytical problems, and contribute to models across ML, GenAI, and optimization.

You will learn from data scientists and engineers, collaborate with cross‑functional experts, and grow toward delivering robust, client‑facing AI work in a global context.

Qualifications

• Upcoming graduation between Dec 2026 and Aug 2027 with a Master’s, Bachelor’s or PhD in computer science, ML, statistics, math, engineering, AI or related field.
• Professional experience applying ML, statistical modeling, optimization, or GenAI to real business problems; proficiency in Python and SQL is required, including the Python AI stack.
• Ability to translate business problems into analytical challenges and evaluate models across supervised, unsupervised, statistical, or forecasting approaches.
• Foundational understanding of optimization, simulation, and decision logic with guidance.
• Developing familiarity with Generative AI tools and agentic AI frameworks; eager to learn how LLMs can automate tasks.
• Software development and MLOps/LLMOps practices with basic CI/CD exposure.

Responsibilities

• Translate business challenges into analytical problems and develop robust AI solutions.
• Collaborate with data scientists, data engineers, and engineers to deliver end‑to‑end AI projects.
• Apply models across industries to improve decisions, operations, and capabilities for clients.
• Grow ownership of project delivery, ensuring data quality and evaluation standards.

Skills

Python

SQL

Machine learning

GenAI

Communication

Time management

Education

Master's/Bachelor's/PhD in CS or related field

Tools

Python AI stack

Job description

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.

YOUR IMPACT

You will work as a core member of a multidisciplinary team to build and deliver advanced analytics and AI solutions that address complex business challenges across industries. You’ll contribute to analytical workstreams, learn from experienced data scientists and engineers, and build your expertise across a breadth of industries and technologies. This Full-time opportunity is for current students with an upcoming graduation between December 2026 and August 2027 with a Master's, Bachelor's or PhD in computer science, machine learning, applied statistics, mathematics, engineering, artificial intelligence, or a related field. You will translate business challenges into analytical problems and develop and evaluate solutions across machine learning, optimization, GenAI, and agentic AI systems. With guidance from more experienced colleagues, you’ll contribute to selecting and implementing analytical approaches, and ensure your work meets rigorous standards for data quality and evaluation. As you develop, you’ll take on increasing ownership for delivering solutions that are robust and fit for purpose. Your work will create measurable impact on some of the most complex challenges facing organizations today. Collaborating across QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey and QuantumBlack Labs teams, you’ll help clients harness advanced analytics and AI to improve decisions, transform operations, and build new capabilities.

Here’s how you might contribute over a given year:

• Develop an agentic AI solution that automates complex claims workflows for a global insurance company


• Optimize the schedule and funding of a multi-billion-dollar capital project to accelerate delivery


• Leverage predictive modeling and agentic AI to improve customer service outcomes for a global travel company


• Build a digital twin of an automotive supply chain to enhance product availability

You’ll be based in one of our Toronto office as part of our global Data Science community. Working in cross-functional teams, you’ll collaborate with data scientists, data engineers, software engineers, and industry experts, and work with clients across technical and business teams. Through these experiences, you’ll build your ability to connect analytical work with business needs and develop your skills as a client-facing technologist. Your work offers a unique opportunity to grow at the front‑of the AI and data science. You’ll build expertise at the intersection of technology and business, develop your understanding of how AI solutions move from problem definition through development, evaluation, and implementation, and learn alongside leading technologists and AI practitioners.

In accordance with Ontario law: This job posting is for an existing vacancy. Artificial intelligence systems (AI) may be used to assist recruiters in the screening and/or assessment of candidates for this role. AI is neither the sole determinative factor at any stage of the application process nor the decision-maker. All AI-generated assessments are reviewed by a McKinsey recruiter before any decision is made regarding a candidate's candidacy.

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

• Upcoming graduation between December 2026 and August 2027 with a Master's, Bachelor's or PhD degree in computer science, machine learning, applied statistics, mathematics, engineering, artificial intelligence, or a related field


• Professional experience applying machine learning, statistical modeling, optimization, or GenAI techniques to real business problems; proficiency in Python and SQL is required, including the Python AI stack


• Ability to translate business problems into analytical challenges, building and evaluating models across supervised, unsupervised, statistical, or forecasting approaches with guidance


• Foundational understanding of optimization, simulation, and decision logic concepts, with the ability to apply methodologies with guidance


• Developing familiarity with Generative AI tools and simple agentic AI frameworks, with an eagerness to learn how LLMs can be applied to automate defined tasks


• A quality and risk mindset: able to validate own work, document assumptions and limitations, and apply basic evaluation methods for prompts, RAG models, or agents; growing awareness of fairness, explainability, and human oversight considerations


• Follows software development and MLOps/LLMOps best practices with guidance, with introductory exposure to CI/CD and agentic engineering concepts


• Exceptional time management to meet your responsibilities in a complex and largely autonomous work environment


• Willingness to travel


• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, in English and local office language(s), with the ability to adjust your style to suit different perspectives and seniority levels

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 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, including all office locations where the job may be performed, is $103,600 - $109,500 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.