Senior Data Scientist - Life Sciences.AI

McKinsey & Company; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 176,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey & Company's Life Sciences AI team, integrated with QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, seeks a Senior Data Scientist to build AI transforming Pharma and MedTech across North America. You will collaborate with global teams to move pilots to production, shaping end-to-end commercial workflows and delivering real patient impact.

You'll design advanced ML models, evaluate agentic outputs, write production-grade code, and mentor colleagues while partnering with senior stakeholders to translate

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD level in CS/ML/AI or related fields.
• ,

Responsibilities

• You will partner with global teams to create differentiated analytics for Life Sciences use cases.
• You will help transform pilots into production-ready systems that reshape end-to-end commercial workflows.
• You will design advanced ML models, evaluate agentic outputs, write optimized production code.
• You will mentor junior colleagues and translate analytics into actionable insights.
• You will explore emerging technologies and collaborate with diverse experts to deliver innovations.

Skills

Advanced degree in CS/ML/AI

Machine learning

Knowledge graphs

Agentic ML methods

Graph neural networks

Deep learning

Python

Production-grade code

Git / version control

Team leadership

Communication skills

Travel flexibility

English communication

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/ML/AI-related field

Tools

Python

PyTorch/TensorFlow/Keras

Pandas/NumPy/Matplotlib

SQL

Databricks

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

GCP

Azure

LangChain

LangGraph

Job description

You'll be on the global Life Sciences AI team, fully integrated with QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, as a Senior Data Scientist, building AI that transforms Pharma and MedTech.

• Atlanta
• Boston
• Charlotte
• Connecticut - Darien
• Miami
• New Jersey
• New York City
• Philadelphia
• Raleigh

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 partner with global teams to create differentiated advanced analytics and agentic solutions that address high-value commercial use cases across the Life Sciences sector.

You will help transform standalone pilots into integrated, production-ready systems that reshape end-to-end commercial workflows and drive meaningful impact for patients.

You will leverage your advanced analytics expertise to solve complex problems, develop advanced machine learning models, design agentic flows, evaluate agentic outputs, write optimized code, and enhance our internal Data Science toolkit. You will collaborate on multiple projects, ensuring statistical rigor and reusable methodologies, while mentoring junior colleagues and supporting senior stakeholders in translating analytics into actionable insights. You'll explore emerging technologies and collaborate with diverse experts to deliver impactful innovations.

Your work will create real-world impact. By building cutting-edge technology assets, you will help clients modernize their commercial engagement model, harness the power of data, and achieve lasting improvements. Your contributions will enable organizations to unlock insights, get real-time insights from their data, and power our clients' future commercial capabilities.

You'll grow as a technologist and leader.You'll have the freedom to experiment with leading technologies, and work alongside inspiring, multidisciplinary teams. Your work offers a unique opportunity to innovate, learn, and make a tangible difference for clients worldwide.

You'll be working in one of our North American offices in our Life Sciences practice. You will help revolutionize how Pharma and MedTech companies connect with their customers to improve human lives. You will be working in a team that is fully integrated with QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey.

There is flexibility to hire at the Senior Data Scientist I/II or Principal Data Scientist I/II 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

• Master's or PhD level in a discipline such as computer science, machine learning, applied statistics, mathematics, engineering, or artificial intelligence
• 5+ years of deep technical experience in machine learning, knowledge graphs, agents, evaluation frameworks for agentic outputs, graph neural networks, deep learning, computer vision, and statistics-related work
• Strong programming experience in Python and the relevant analytics libraries, such as pandas, NumPy, matplotlib, scikit-learn, statsmodels, PyMC, PyTorch/TensorFlow/Keras, LangChain, and LangGraph
• Ability to write production-grade code and experience with version control, such as GitHub
• While we advocate for using the right tech for the right task, we often leverage the following technologies: Python, PySpark, the PyData stack, SQL, Databricks, our own open-source data pipelining framework called Kedro, Dask/RAPIDS, container technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes, cloud solutions such as AWS, GCP, and Azure, and more
• Client-facing skills, e.g., working in close-knit teams on topics such as data warehousing and machine learning
• Exceptional time management to meet your responsibilities in a complex and largely autonomous work environment
• Demonstrated leadership, either thought leadership or people leadership, e.g., managing project teams or direct reports
• Good presentation and communication skills, with a knack for explaining complex analytical concepts to people from other fields
• Willingness and ability to travel for work
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, in English, with the ability to adjust your style to suit different perspectives and seniority levels

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

• High Tech
• Life Sciences

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.

BR 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 $176,000 - $179,500 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.

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.