Senior Scientist - Scientific AI & Protein Engineering

McKinsey & Company; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 235,000 - 287,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Continued learning opportunities

Global network access

Competitive compensation package

Job summary

McKinsey & Company seeks a senior scientist to join its global scientific AI team, focusing on Life Sciences, Specialty Chemicals, and related industries. You will contribute protein engineering or computational chemistry expertise to client knowledge creation, AI-enabled innovation, and scaling impact across disciplines.

You will lead dissemination of cutting-edge knowledge, publish in key venues, and mentor junior colleagues while building McKinsey's external reputation in scientific AI and

Qualifications

• Proven mastery in computational proteomics, protein engineering, or computational chemistry and current with latest research.
• Strong understanding of AI methods, data sources, and analytical tech (ML, LLMs, foundations, causal inference).
• Ability to design new blueprints and decompose them into incremental releases to prove feasibility and deliver value.
• Track record of AI-driven innovation at the intersection with science.
• Experience managing direct reports or complex stakeholder networks.
• Active leadership in external ecosystem via publications, conferences, or academia.
• Strong communication of technical concepts to executives and non-technical partners.

Responsibilities

• Deliver distinctive capabilities, knowledge, and insights with client teams.
• Provide technical and scientific leadership in creating and sharing proprietary assets.
• Elevate the firm's reputation in your area of expertise.
• Lead external reputation building and mentoring junior colleagues.
• Drive firm and cell-level initiatives to scale scientific AI service.

Skills

Computational proteomics

Protein engineering

Computational chemistry

AI/ML methods

Data sources & analytics

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

External ecosystem leadership

Tools

Foundation models

Bayesian modelling

Knowledge graphs

Job description

McKinsey & Company seeks a senior scientist to join its global scientific AI team, focusing on Life Sciences, Specialty Chemicals, and related industries. You will contribute protein engineering or computational chemistry expertise to client knowledge creation, AI-enabled innovation, and scaling impact across disciplines.

You will lead dissemination of cutting-edge knowledge, publish in key venues, and mentor junior colleagues while building McKinsey's external reputation in scientific AI and