Expert Associate Partner - Advanced Industries

McKinsey; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 243,000 - 249,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey & Company in Dallas seeks a senior leader to shape and deliver AI-enabled transformation for automotive, machinery, aerospace, semiconductor, and other industrial ecosystems. You will guide AI acceleration programs and translate strategy into production-ready AI solutions with QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey teams.

You will build scalable data architectures, ML pipelines, governance, and security foundations, while mentoring diverse teams and partnering with clients to achieve durable,

Qualifications

• 7+ years applying data science, analytics, and AI to drive measurable business impact in client-facing or senior stakeholder settings
• Experience designing and scaling modern AI solutions, including production-grade ML and agentic AI approaches
• Experience with data migrations/IT transformations or ERP/CRM implementations
• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary engineering and analytics teams
• Strong expertise with major cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and modern AI/data stacks
• Fluency in core languages (SQL, Python) and MLOps pipelines
• Willingness to travel 40-80%
• Strong communication and collaboration with client relationships

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end AI-enabled transformation programs for industrial clients, from use-case shaping to deployment and adoption
• Assess data and tech maturity across commercial, customer, and operations domains and translate findings into a clear, executable roadmap
• Build scalable, secure data architectures, MLOps, governance and security foundations for repeatable AI delivery
• Mentor and develop QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey teams and client staff across industries
• Partner with client product/tech leaders and stakeholders to drive measurable value and durable impact

Skills

Industrials AI

Data science

Production-grade AI

Cloud platforms

SQL

Python

MLOps

Team leadership

Travel 40-80%

Client relationships

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Dynamics

Oracle

Job description

You will play a senior leadership role, shaping & delivering AI-enabled transformation for leading automotive, machinery, aerospace, semiconductor & other industrial ecosystems.

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Boston
• Charlotte
• Chicago
• Cleveland
• Columbus
• Connecticut - Darien
• Dallas
• Denver
• Detroit

YOUR IMPACT

You will work with McKinsey client service teams to counsel clients, shape their AI agendas, and architect AI acceleration and transformation programs.

You’ll work with small, flexible QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey teams and McKinsey client service teams to translate strategy into production-ready AI solutions – setting technical direction, designing architectures, and driving execution alongside client teams to deliver measurable outcomes.

What that looks like in practice:

You will evaluate data and technology maturity across commercial, customer, and operational domains – then translate what you learn into a clear, sequenced roadmap that clients can actually execute (and fund). You will lead end-to-end solution delivery – from use case shaping through build, deployment, and adoption – so the work lands in the business (not just in a slide). This includes partnering with client product/tech leaders, aligning stakeholders, and putting the measurement approach in place so value is visible and durable.

You will build scalable, secure foundations (data architecture, MLOps, governance, security) that enable repeatable AI delivery across lines of business – especially in environments where legacy commercial systems, loyalty platforms, and operational systems have to work together. You will apprentice and mentor teams – being responsible for developing high‑performing QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey practitioners across Industries, raising the bar on quality, pace, and practical impact.

You’ll work as part of our Advanced Industries (Industrials) practice and QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey and directly with senior clients on topics related to digital, technology, and advanced analytics. You will be part of the senior leadership team that helps clients deliver material value from their digital and analytics assets – overseeing multiple deployments and leading large, complex, high‑profile working sessions on findings and implications.

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

• Deep experience in applying AI and analytics to industrials (e.g., automotive, machinery, aerospace, defense, semiconductor and other industrial players) with hands‑on understanding of the data and technology environments common to these sectors (commercial and demand data, pricing and revenue systems, customer and loyalty platforms, digital commerce, contact center/service operations, and operational and asset data)
• 7+ years of experience applying data science, advanced analytics, and AI to drive measurable business impact in client‑facing or senior stakeholder settings (e.g., forecasting, pricing and optimization, personalization, operational decision support, or end‑to‑end performance improvement)
• Experience designing and scaling modern AI solutions, including production‑grade machine learning, generative AI, and agentic or workflow‑embedded AI approaches that augment or automate complex business decisions
• Experience with data migrations, IT transformations (e.g., data lakes, platform warehouses, etc.) or enterprise implementations of CRM (Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.) or ERP (Oracle, etc.) systems
• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary engineering and analytics teams (data science, data engineering, full‑stack, platform, DevOps), including experience managing distributed and offshore teams
• Strong expertise with major cloud platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure) and fluency in modern AI and data stacks, including core languages (e.g., SQL, Python), and emerging agentic AI tooling (e.g., LLM orchestration frameworks, tool‑calling and workflow‑based agents, retrieval‑augmented generation, and MLOps pipelines)
• Flexibility with travel between 40‑80%
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with a proven track record of establishing client relationships with successful outcomes

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

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.
To help you understand what you can expect, the salary range for new joiners in this role in United States, including all office locations where the job may be performed, is $243,000 - $249,000 USD gross per year. 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.