Senior Forward Deployed Engineer - QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey

McKinsey; United States; Remote; USD 176,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey & Company is seeking a Senior Forward Deployed Engineer to deploy and scale EcliptOS, QuantumBlack's AI forward Operating System, across cloud and hybrid environments. You’ll own the platform delivery lifecycle, working with clients to translate AI strategies into reliable, production-ready solutions.

You will lead deployments in AWS/Azure/GCP, with Kubernetes, Docker, and CI/CD tooling, ensuring performance, reliability, and smooth handovers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science, ML, math, or engineering.
• 4+ years of hands-on software or platform engineering experience.
• Proficiency in Python and modern full-stack development (React/NextJS).
• Experience deploying cloud-based systems (AWS/Azure/GCP) with containers.
• Kubernetes expertise for production-scale cluster management.
• CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code (GitHub Actions, Terraform, Ansible, Helm).
• Strong data architecture knowledge (PostgreSQL, Neo4j) and data pipelines.
• Familiarity with AI platform concepts and agentic workflows is a plus.
• Good problem-solving and communication with technical/non-technical stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Deploy and configure production-grade systems across cloud and hybrid environments.
• Validate performance and reliability; ensure structured handovers for long-term success.
• Collaborate with data scientists, ML engineers, and product teams to operationalize AI.
• Develop deployment tooling, automation, and feedback loops to improve platform delivery.

Skills

Python

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Cloud infra

Terraform/Ansible/Helm

Data architectures

Observability tools

DevSecOps

Stakeholder communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS/ML/Math/Engineering

Tools

Docker

GitHub Actions

GitLab CI

Terraform

Ansible

Helm

Prometheus

Grafana

ELK

Job description

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 Senior Forward Deployed Engineer, you'll deploy and scale EcliptOS — QuantumBlack's AI forward Operating System — a next-generation platform designed to connect strategy to execution through agentic systems. This role sits at the intersection of software engineering and infrastructure, bringing EcliptOS into real‑world environments and ensuring it works at scale. You'll play a key role in how the platform is deployed, adopted, and operated, enabling organizations to translate complex AI strategies into practical, high-impact solutions. You'll own the EcliptOS platform delivery lifecycle, bridging product engineering and client environments. Responsibilities include deploying and configuring production‑grade systems across cloud and hybrid infrastructures (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP), validating performance and stability, and ensuring structured handovers for long‑term success. Work often involves containerized and distributed systems, including Kubernetes-based environments, where reliability and operational stability are critical. You'll troubleshoot issues end-to-end and ensure EcliptOS is fully production-ready, while also contributing to deployment tooling, automation, and product feedback loops to improve platform reliability and delivery. The impact of this work is tangible. You'll enable clients to run AI-driven workflows and manage intelligent systems within their existing technology ecosystems. Working closely with technical stakeholders, you'll ensure environment readiness, resolve deployment challenges, and guide adoption through practical best practices. Your experience from the field will also contribute to feedback loops between deployments and EcliptOS product development, supporting the continuous evolution of QuantumBlack's technology. Based in one of our North America offices, you'll work closely with engineers, product teams, and technical experts across QuantumBlack's global community. Beyond EcliptOS deployments, you'll collaborate with data scientists, machine learning engineers, designers, and technologists on interdisciplinary initiatives, contributing to a broader ecosystem of AI innovation. Together, you'll help operationalize advanced AI systems across industries, driving successful delivery, validation, and adoption in client environments. You'll also contribute to team knowledge-sharing — documenting patterns, refining delivery practices, and supporting colleagues across engagements. At QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, you'll thrive in an unparalleled environment for growth. You'll develop a sought-after perspective by connecting technology and business value, work across industries, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to unlock the transformative potential of AI, while advancing as a technologist and leader.

#LI-MP

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

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in computer science, machine learning, applied statistics, mathematics, engineering, artificial intelligence, or a related field
• 4+ years of hands‑on experience as a Software or Platform Engineer, with exposure to enterprise platform deployments
• Strong engineering fundamentals with proficiency in Python and familiarity with modern full‑stack development (e.g., React, NextJS or equivalent)
• Experience designing, deploying, and managing cloud‑based systems (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including containerization (Docker) and orchestration frameworks, with hands‑on experience operating and troubleshooting production systems
• Deep expertise in Kubernetes cluster architecture, installation, configuration, and lifecycle management at production scale
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and Infrastructure as Code (e.g., GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Terraform, Ansible, Helm)
• Strong understanding of data architectures and platform design, including relational and graph databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, Neo4j), data pipelines, and system integration patterns across structured and unstructured data
• Familiarity with AI platform concepts, including model integration patterns, agentic workflows, and how AI‑driven applications interact with underlying data and infrastructure is a plus
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a structured approach to debugging and resolving issues in complex, non‑standard environments
• Experience with DevSecOps and infrastructure security practices (e.g., IAM/SSO, RBAC, secrets management, encryption) is a plus
• Experience with deployment standards, runbook development, and automation frameworks is a strong advantage
• Familiarity with observability, monitoring, and compliance tooling (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK) and experience working in secure or regulated environments is a plus.
• Willingness to travel
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non‑technical stakeholders in client‑facing settings, including delivering walkthroughs, documentation, and training

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 $175,500 - $180,000 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 is 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.