Physical AI Data Scientist - QuantumBlack Labs

QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Mentorship and continuous learning opportunities

Job summary

QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey is seeking an expert in physics AI to join their Robotics and Physical AI team. You will lead projects that create multi-physics simulation frameworks, develop machine learning models, and collaborate with a diverse global team. The ideal candidate has an advanced degree in a relevant field and expertise in programming languages like Python and C++.

This role is based in London or Madrid, focusing on deploying cutting-edge technology to solve complex engineering challenges and drive measurable results.

Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in computational mechanics, materials science, or a related field required.
• Experience in applied simulation or scientific machine learning.
• Exceptional time management in a complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical workstreams on client engagements for AI and robotics.
• Develop multi-physics simulation frameworks and digital twins.
• Collaborate with global teams to drive innovation and deliver impactful solutions.

Skills

High-quality engineering code development

Statistical sampling

Machine learning techniques

Organizational capabilities

Communication skills

Education

Advanced graduate degree in computational mechanics or related field

Tools

Python

C++

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.

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 be part of QuantumBlack Labs and the Robotics and Physical AI team within our Advanced Industries Sector, 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.

Our team is responsible for:

• Building multi‑physics simulation frameworks, digital twins, and surrogate models that stand in for slow, expensive physics solvers
• Applying physics‑informed machine learning and robotics to real‑world engineering systems across advanced industries, from chip design to aircraft manufacturing
• Deploying scalable, production‑grade tools on HPC infrastructure that embed our distinctive technical approach and engineering knowledge for industrial clients

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.

You’ll create surrogate models that replace costly simulations, compress design cycles from weeks to minutes, and bring autonomy to robotic systems on the factory floor. Collaborating with global, multidisciplinary teams, you’ll drive innovation, develop impactful technologies, and grow as a leader in physical AI.

You will work with diverse and complex engineering data sets, develop scientific software products, and write optimized code to enhance our internal tools. Collaborating with scientists, engineers, and designers, you will leverage advanced math, statistics, and machine learning to deliver impactful solutions and grow the firm’s capacity to deliver at scale.

Your work will help clients address their most pressing challenges by deploying cutting‑edge technology and amplifying impact across industries. You will also contribute to the broader physical AI community by writing papers, presenting at conferences, and sharing knowledge with colleagues.

You will be based in London or Madrid and collaborate closely with scientists, data engineers, machine learning engineers, designers, and product managers around the world. Together, you’ll work on interdisciplinary projects to solve complex engineering challenges across a range of industries, leading the development and application of cutting‑edge physics AI solutions that drive measurable business impact.

You’ll grow as a technologist and leader in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment, pushing the boundaries of innovation while shaping the future of physical AI and robotics.

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.).
• 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.