Physical AI Data Science Consultant - QuantumBlack Labs

QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey London Munich seeks a senior researcher/engineer to lead technical workstreams in physics-informed machine learning and multi-physics simulations. You will develop surrogate models and digital twins, deploy production tools on HPC, and translate insights into strategic client recommendations.

The role is based in London or Munich, joining QuantumBlack Labs and the Robotics and Physical AI team.

Qualifications

• Advanced graduate degree (MS/PhD) in computational mechanics, materials science, mechanical/aerospace/nuclear engineering, computational physics, or related field; industry or national lab experience in applied simulation or scientific ML may apply.
• Demonstrated ability to develop high-quality engineering or scientific code in Python and/or C++.
• Fluency with statistical sampling, ML, and data science techniques.
• Simulation experience; PyTorch, ML/AI/Data Science a plus.
• Excellent organizational capabilities and ability to start and complete tasks independently.
• Proficient in data-driven decision making based on evidence.
• Ability to create work product-focused materials/output (PPT, Excel models, articles).
• Exceptional time management in a complex autonomous environment.
• Willingness to travel and work across varying environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical workstreams on client engagements across physics-informed ML and multi-physics simulation.
• Develop surrogate and ML models, deploy scalable production tools on HPC infrastructure.
• Build multi-physics simulation frameworks and digital twins.
• Translate computational insights into strategic recommendations and client solutions.
• Collaborate within QuantumBlack Labs and the Robotics and Physical AI team to accelerate growth.

Skills

Python

C++

Machine Learning

Statistics

Simulation

PyTorch

Time management

Data-driven decision making

Documentation

English proficiency

Education

MS/PhD in computational mechanics or related field

Tools

PyTorch

Job description

Who You'll Work With

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.

Who You'll Work With

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 Impact

You will apply deep expertise in physical sciences, computational engineering, machine learning, and physics-based modeling to help leading industrial clients tackle their most complex engineering challenges. Based in the London or Munich office, you will be part of QuantumBlack Labsand the Robotics and Physical AI team, a group of engineers, scientists, product managers, and machine learning specialists building a first of its kind physics AI capability that accelerates and scales how the world designs and builds physical systems.

You will lead technical workstreams on client engagements, building multi-physics simulation frameworks and digital twins, developing surrogate and machine learning models, applying physics-informed machine learning to real-world engineering systems, deploying scalable production tools on HPC infrastructure, and translating computational insights into strategic recommendations and solutions that deliver measurable impact for clients.

Your Qualifications and Skills

• Advanced graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in computational mechanics, materials science, mechanical/aerospace/nuclear engineering, computational physics, or a closely related engineering or physical science field required; significant industry or national laboratory experience in applied simulation or scientific machine learning may apply


• Demonstrated ability to develop high-quality engineering or scientific code (e.g., in Python, C++)


• Demonstrated fluency with statistical sampling, machine learning, and data science techniques


• Simulation experience, Pytorch, ML/AI/Data Science a plus


• Excellent organizational capabilities, including the ability to initiate tasks independently and see them through to completion


• Proficient in rational decision making based on data, facts, and logical reasoning


• Ability to create work product-focused materials / outputs, which may include PowerPoint decks, Excel models, articles, or other written deliverables


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


• Ability to work or attend meetings outside of traditional business hours or take on projects with limited or no notice at times


• Ability to travel to and work in varying environments that may be challenging and/or not accessible (e.g., manufacturing facilities, etc.)


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