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

McKinsey; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 147,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey & Company in Washington, DC is seeking a data engineer to help build foundational data infrastructure powering AI applications. You will design and maintain scalable pipelines, secure data environments, and prepare data for AI-driven systems, collaborating with cross-functional teams and clients.

You will work with McKinsey AI teams across industries, translating hypotheses into engineered features and advancing next-generation AI capabilities.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required for government/defense work.
• Degree in Computer Science/Engineering, or equivalent.
• 2+ years of relevant professional experience building and deploying data solutions.
• Strong Python and SQL proficiency with production-grade code across environments.
• Experience building end-to-end data pipelines for Agentic/Generative AI, ML, or BI.
• Experience with Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery, and data engineering tools.
• Hands-on MLOps, CI/CD for data workflows, LangSmith/Langfuse, and IaC (Terraform).
• Cloud platforms AWS/Azure/GCP; excellent time management in autonomous environments.
• Commercial client-facing or senior stakeholder management beneficial.
• English proficiency; willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain scalable data pipelines and secure data environments for AI systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and clients to prepare data for AI-driven systems.
• Translate hypotheses into engineered features and contribute to R&D initiatives.
• Build scalable, reproducible data components for machine learning and agentic AI.
• Work with McKinsey AI teams across industries to deliver AI solutions.
• Partner with Data Scientists and ML Engineers to deliver client-facing AI projects.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data engineering

LangChain

Spark

dbt

Pandas

CI/CD

MLOps

Communication

Education

Degree in Computer Science/Engineering

Equivalent experience

Tools

Databricks

Snowflake

BigQuery

AWS/GCP/Azure

Terraform

Job description

• Atlanta
• Boston
• Chicago
• New Jersey
• New York City
• Raleigh
• San Francisco
• Toronto
• Washington DC

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 build the foundational data infrastructure that powers cutting-edge AI applications leveraging LLMs, retrieval systems, workflows, and emerging agentic architectures.

You will design and maintain scalable data pipelines, manage secure data environments, and prepare data for AI-driven systems while collaborating with cross-functional teams and clients. You'll tackle real-world challenges by contributing to the development of next-generation AI systems and grow as a technologist by working alongside diverse experts across industries.

You will design and build the scalable, reproducible data components essential for machine learning, agentic, and autonomous AI systems. You'll assess data landscapes, apply data quality fundamentals, and prepare data for AI solutions. Additionally, you'll learn to translate simple hypotheses into engineered features, manage secure data environments, and contribute to R&D initiatives focused on innovating and scaling next-generation AI capabilities.

Your work will help solve some of the most complex and high-impact challenges facing clients across industries. Collaborating across QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey and QuantumBlack Labs teams, you'll help develop innovative AI capabilities and scalable enterprise solutions. You'll help build robust data foundations for scalable, production-ready AI systems. Your contributions will directly support the firm's ability to accelerate AI adoption, solve complex business problems at scale, and enable clients to achieve meaningful, lasting impact.

You'll be based in one of our North American offices as part of our global Data Engineering community. Working in cross-functional Agile teams, you'll collaborate closely with Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, and industry experts to deliver AI solutions. By partnering with clients—from data owners to C-level executives you'll help solve complex problems that drive tangible business value and begin to build your skills as a client-facing technologist.

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 at the forefront of AI, data engineering, and emerging agentic technologies. You'll develop expertise at the intersection of technology and business by tackling diverse challenges in the evolving AI landscape. Working alongside multidisciplinary teams, you'll gain a holistic understanding of how data engineering enables advanced 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 a requirement 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
• 2+ years of relevant professional experience building and deploying data solutions
• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL for data engineering and experience writing robust, production-grade code, including deploying code across environments
• Proven experience building end-to-end data pipelines and platforms for Agentic AI, Generative AI, Machine Learning, or Business Intelligence, covering data preparation, embeddings generation, vector search, and system integration using modern frameworks (Spark, dbt, LangChain)
• A strong foundation in system design, data storage, and reliability with commonly used data platforms (Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery, PSQL, etc.) and data engineering tools (e.g., Pandas, Spark, dbt, etc.)
• Hands-on experience with MLOps/LLMOps principles, including CI/CD for data workflows, automated agent evaluation (LangSmith, Opik, Langfuse), and infrastructure as code (Terraform)
• Experience building systems with different data formats (structured vs unstructured) and data processing methods (streaming vs batch) and deploying across major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Exceptional time management in a complex and largely autonomous work environment
• Commercial client-facing or senior stakeholder management experience is beneficial
• 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)
• Willingness to travel as required

Please review the additional requirements regarding essential job functions of McKinsey colleagues.

Our unwavering commitment to integrity drives everything we do, guiding us to always act in the best interests of our clients, our people, and the communities we serve.

Industries

Capabilities

• Technology

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.

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 $146,600 - $150,000 in USD and $132,300 - $140,000 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.