Data Engineer II — Scalable Data Platforms & AI Solutions

McKinsey & Company; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 146,600 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Continuous learning opportunities

Global community

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

A global consulting firm seeks a Data Engineer II to design and optimize data platforms that power advanced analytics and AI solutions. This role involves collaboration with clients and teams to manage secure data environments and facilitate digital transformation initiatives across various industries. Applicants should have a degree in a related field and relevant work experience, especially in Python, SQL, and cloud technologies. Competitive salary with a comprehensive benefits package offered.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of professional experience in data engineering, software engineering, or adjacent technical roles.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms and modern data storage/warehouse solutions.
• Knowledge of distributed systems and streaming platforms for real-time processing.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize modern data platforms for advanced analytics and AI solutions.
• Collaborate with clients to architect scalable data pipelines.
• Ensure data accuracy, accessibility, and production-readiness for clients.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data Modeling

Communication

Time Management

Resilience

Education

Degree in Computer Science, Business Analytics, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field

Tools

AWS

GCP

Azure

Snowflake

Databricks

Airflow

Job description

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

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

Job ID: 102727

• Atlanta
• Chicago
• New Jersey
• New York City
• Seattle

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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 As a Data Engineer II, you will design, build, and optimize modern data platforms that power advanced analytics and AI solutions. You'll collaborate with clients and interdisciplinary teams to architect scalable pipelines, manage secure and compliant data environments, and unlock the value of complex datasets across industries. You'll sharpen your expertise by working on innovative projects, contributing to R&D, and learning from top-tier talent in a dynamic, global environment. Your work will drive lasting impact. By ensuring data is accurate, accessible, and production-ready, you'll enable clients to accelerate digital transformations, adopt AI responsibly, and achieve measurable business outcomes. Here's how you might contribute in a given year:

• Develop a streaming data platform to integrate telemetry for predictive maintenance in aerospace systems
• Implement secure data pipelines that reduce time-to-insight for a Fortune 500 utility company
• Optimize large-scale batch and streaming workflows for a global financial services client, cutting infrastructure costs while improving performance.
• Develop pipelines for embeddings and vector databases to enable retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) for a global defense client.

You'll work in cross-functional Agile teams with Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, Designers, and domain experts to deliver high-quality analytics solutions. Partnering closely with clients-from data owners to C-level executives-you'll shape data ecosystems that drive innovation and long-term resilience.

You should expect this role to include at least some work in critical industries (Government, Defense, Aerospace, Utilities, Oil and Gas), but you will have the ability to serve other industries as well. This role offers an exceptional environment to grow as a technologist and collaborator. You'll develop expertise at the intersection of technology and business by tackling diverse challenges while collaborating with some of the best technical and business talent in the world. There is flexibility to hire at the Engineer I/II or Senior Engineer level, depending on your experience 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 required 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, Business Analytics, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field
• 2+ years of professional experience in data engineering, software engineering, or adjacent technical roles
• Proficiency in Python, Scala, or Java for production-grade pipelines, with strong skills in SQL and PySpark
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms such as (AWS, GCP, Azure, Oracle) and modern data storage/warehouse solutions such as Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, and Delta Lake
• Practical experience with Databricks, AWS Glue, and transformation frameworks like dbt, Dataform, or Databricks Asset Bundles
• Knowledge of distributed systems such as (Spark, Dask, Flink) and streaming platforms (Kafka, Kinesis, Pulsar) for real-time and batch processing
• Familiarity with workflow orchestration tools such as (Airflow, Dagster, Prefect), CI/CD for data workflows, and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform, CloudFormation)
• Understanding of DataOps principles including pipeline monitoring, testing, and automation, with exposure to observability tools such as Datadog, Prometheus, and Great Expectations
• Exposure to ML platforms such as (Databricks, SageMaker, Vertex AI), MLOps best practices, and GenAI toolkits (LangChain, LlamaIndex, Hugging Face)
• Willingness to travel as required
• Strong communication, time management, and resilience, with the ability to align technical solutions to business value

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.

• High Tech

Capabilities

• Technology

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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 jurisdictions require McKinsey & Company to include a reasonable estimate of the salary for this role.
For new joiners for this role in the United States, including all office locations where the job may be performed, a reasonable estimated range
is $146,600 - $150,000 USD -to help you understand what you can expect. This reflects our best estimate of the lowest to highest
[salary/hourly wages] 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.