Data Scientist I - QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey

QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A global AI consulting firm in Johannesburg seeks a Data Scientist I to create impactful analytics solutions in a dynamic environment. You will work with interdisciplinary teams to solve real-world problems through machine learning and data analysis. Ideal candidates have up to 3 years of experience and a relevant degree. This role offers growth and collaboration, coupled with competitive salary and world-class benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Up to 3 years of professional experience applying machine learning techniques.
• Ability to prototype analytical models and drive their development.
• Strong communication skills to explain complex concepts.

Responsibilities

• Develop impactful analytics solutions and optimize code.
• Collaborate with clients to understand needs and deliver solutions.
• Contribute to R&D and attend global conferences.

Skills

Machine learning

Data mining

Programming (Python, R)

Statistical analysis

Time management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in computer science, machine learning, statistics, mathematics, engineering, or AI

Tools

Python

R

SPSS

SAS

Hadoop

Job description

Who You'll Work With

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. 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 Impact

As a Data Scientist I, you will collaborate with clients and interdisciplinary teams to develop impactful analytics solutions, optimize code, and solve real-world business problems across diverse industries. You’ll grow as a technologist by contributing to cutting-edge projects, R&D, and global conferences while working alongside world-class talent in a dynamic, innovative environment.

In this role, you will partner with clients to understand their needs and develop impactful analytics solutions. You will translate business problems into analytical challenges, build models to solve them, and ensure they are evaluated with relevant metrics. You’ll also contribute to internal tools, participate in R&D projects, and have opportunities to attend and present at conferences like NIPS and ICML.

Your work will create real-world impact. By identifying patterns in data and delivering innovative solutions, you will help clients maintain their competitive advantage and transform their day-to-day operations. Your contributions will directly influence business outcomes and drive lasting improvements across industries.

You will be based in either one of our McKinsey Digital Africa office - Johannesburg or Casablanca, and collaborate closely with data scientists, data engineers, machine learning engineers, designers, and product managers around the world working on interdisciplinary projects that use math, statistics, and machine learning to derive insights from raw data. You will help global companies transform their businesses and enhance performance across industries such as healthcare, automotive, energy, and elite sports.

At McKinsey, you’ll thrive in an unparalleled environment for growth. You’ll develop a sought-after perspective by connecting technology and business value, tackle real-life challenges across diverse industries, and collaborate with inspiring multidisciplinary teams, gaining a holistic understanding of AI and its possible to drive transformation.

Your Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelors, Masters or PhD level in a discipline such as: computer science, machine learning, applied statistics, mathematics, engineering or artificial intelligence
• Up to 3 years of professional experience in applying machine learning and data mining techniques to real problems with copious amounts of data
• Programming experience (focus on machine learning): R and/or Python (must), SPSS, SAS, Ruby, Hadoop (valued)
• Ability to prototype statistical analysis and modeling algorithms and apply these algorithms for data driven solutions to problems in new domains
• Ability to independently own and drive model development, balancing demands and deadlines
• Demonstrated aptitude for analytics
• While we advocate for using the right tech for the right task, we often leverage the following technologies: Python, PySpark, the PyData stack, SQL, Airflow, 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
• Exceptional time management to meet your responsibilities in a complex and largely autonomous work environment
• Willingness to travel
• Good presentation and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex analytical concepts to people from other fields
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, in English and local office language(s), with the ability to adjust your style to suit different perspectives and seniority levels