Platform Full-Stack Engineer - US Defense / Public Sector

McKinsey & Company; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 195,300 - 199,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Continuous learning opportunities

Generous retirement contributions

Job summary

McKinsey & Company in Palo Alto is looking for a Software Engineer to develop and customize an AI platform for Defense clients. Responsibilities include maintaining code in Python, React, and Next.js, and identifying technical issues related to generative AI technologies.

The ideal candidate will have over 3 years of experience, knowledge of security clearance levels such as SECRET, and be a US citizen. A comprehensive benefits package and competitive salary, ranging from $195,300 to $199,200 annually, are offered.

Qualifications

• US citizenship required.
• 3+ years as a Software Engineer with enterprise platform experience.
• Experience with security clearance levels.

Responsibilities

• Develop AI platform for Defense clients with a focus on deployment.
• Write, test, debug, and maintain application code.
• Leverage LLMs for data retrieval and synthesis.

Skills

Python

React

Next.js

CI/CD Pipeline Management

Containerization

Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Tools

Neo4J / Knowledge Graphs

PostgreSQL

Job description

Locations

• Boston
• Chicago
• New York City
• San Francisco
• Silicon Valley
• Washington DC

Overview

Do you want to work that matters, alongside supportive leaders who will help you grow faster than you ever thought possible? Are you a creative problem‑solver energized by challenges? You’ve come to the right place.

Responsibilities

• Develop and customize an AI platform for Defense and other Government clients, focusing on new features and deployment.
• Write, test, debug and maintain application code in Python, React and Next.js.
• Leverage industry‑leading LLMs to drive data retrieval and synthesis.
• Identify and resolve technical issues, staying current with fast‑moving generative‑AI technologies.
• Collaborate with senior firm leaders, CST leaders, practice leaders, and distributed engineers to deliver AI solutions.

Qualifications & Skills

• US citizenship required.
• Defense experience and experience working with data at various classification levels required.
• SECRET Security Clearance Required; TS+ clearance preferred.
• 3+ years of experience as a Software Engineer; prior enterprise platform experience preferred.
• Strong programming skills in Python.
• Expertise with AI agents / agentic applications.
• Experience with React and NextJS, Neo4J / knowledge graphs, PostgreSQL or cloud equivalent such as Amazon RDS.
• Experience with CI/CD pipeline setup and management.
• Experience with confidence scoring and validation pipelines.
• Familiarity with deploying and managing applications on multiple cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) a plus.
• Knowledge of containerization.

Industry

Aerospace & Defense

Benefits

• Competitive salary based on location, experience and skills.
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, mental health, dental, vision, telemedicine, life, accidental and disability insurance, parental leave, family planning benefits, caregiving resources, generous retirement contributions, financial guidance, and paid time off.
• Continuous learning through structured programs and mentorship.
• A voice that matters—your ideas and contributions are valued.
• Global community across 65+ countries and over 100 nationalities.

Estimated salary range for U.S. applicants: $195,300 - $199,200 USD gross per year. Salary may vary based on location, experience and performance.

EEO Statement

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.

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.