AI Data Engineer Intern: Build Next-Gen AI Pipelines

McKinsey & Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey & Company is seeking a Data Engineering Intern for a 10-week summer program in 2027. You will join our global Data Engineering community based in multiple US offices, collaborating with Data Scientists, ML Engineers, and clients to design and deliver scalable data foundations for AI systems.

You'll gain hands-on experience building pipelines, preparing data for AI solutions, and learning agentic AI concepts while working in cross-functional teams and with industry experts.

Qualifications

• Upcoming graduation between December 2027-August 2028 with a degree in an engineering discipline.
• Experience in a data-focused role, including internships or academic projects
• Ability to write clean, well-documented code with a strong preference for Python and SQL, with a growing understanding of software engineering best practices such as modular code and version control
• Interest in or exposure to data engineering in the context of Agentic AI, Generative AI, or Machine Learning across different data formats and processing methods
• Familiarity with commonly used data platforms such as Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery, or similar; cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP); and foundational engineering tools such as Pandas, dbt, or LangChain
• Exposure to basic data governance, security practices, and version control using Git
• 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
• Exceptional time management in a complex and largely autonomous work environment
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, in English and local office language(s)

Responsibilities

• Build scalable data pipelines and data environments for AI apps.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and clients.
• Map data landscapes and ensure data quality for AI solutions.
• Support R&D initiatives focused on scalable AI capabilities.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data engineering

Communication skills

English proficiency

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Databricks

Snowflake

BigQuery

Pandas

dbt

LangChain

Git

Job description

McKinsey & Company is seeking a Data Engineering Intern for a 10-week summer program in 2027. You will join our global Data Engineering community based in multiple US offices, collaborating with Data Scientists, ML Engineers, and clients to design and deliver scalable data foundations for AI systems.

You'll gain hands-on experience building pipelines, preparing data for AI solutions, and learning agentic AI concepts while working in cross-functional teams and with industry experts.