Data Scientist II - QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey

McKinsey & Company; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global consulting firm is seeking a Data Scientist in Johannesburg. In this role, you will leverage AI techniques to drive business performance, mentor colleagues, and collaborate on impactful projects across various industries. Ideal candidates will hold an advanced degree and possess substantial experience in data science practices. The position offers world-class benefits and opportunities for growth within a diverse and innovative environment.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Continuous learning opportunities

Global community

Voice that matters

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of deep technical experience in distributed computing and machine learning.
• Proven application of advanced data science methods in a commercial setting.
• Exceptional time management in a complex work environment.

Responsibilities

• Leverage AI to improve business performance and uncover insights.
• Mentor other data scientists and lead machine learning initiatives.
• Collaborate on interdisciplinary projects to solve business challenges.

Skills

Deep learning

Reinforcement learning

AI techniques

Programming in Python

Client-facing skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in relevant fields

Tools

Python

R

SQL

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

When you join us

Anything you might expect from a high‑performance culture, different in a way that you won’t find anywhere else.

• 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.

As a Data Scientist

In this role, you will leverage the latest advances in deep learning, reinforcement learning, and AI to uncover insights and improve business performance. You will mentor other data scientists, shape QuantumBlack’s R&D roadmap, and identify high‑potential machine learning initiatives for industry applications. Working closely with data engineers, machine learning engineers, and designers, you will build end‑to‑end analytics solutions that create real‑world impact.

Your work will transform industries. By leveraging advanced AI techniques and collaborating with industry leaders, you will help clients gain a competitive edge, solve critical challenges, and achieve lasting improvements in their operations.

You will be based in one of our McKinsey Digital Africa offices – Johannesburg or Casablanca – and collaborate closely with data scientists, data engineers, machine learning engineers, designers, and product managers around the world. Together, you’ll work on interdisciplinary projects to solve complex business challenges across a range of industries. Collaborating with QuantumBlack leadership, client executives, and technical experts, you will lead the development and application of cutting‑edge machine learning and AI solutions to drive measurable business impact.

At McKinsey, you’ll thrive in an unparalleled environment for growth. You’ll work on high‑impact projects, connect technology with business value, and collaborate with inspiring multidisciplinary teams, gaining a holistic perspective of AI’s transformative potential while advancing as a technologist and leader.

• Bachelors, Master’s or PhD level degree in disciplines such as computer science, machine learning, applied statistics, mathematics, engineering or artificial intelligence
• 3-5 years of deep technical experience in distributed computing, machine learning, and statistics related work
• Programming experience in languages such as : Python, R, Scala, SQL
• Proven application of advanced analytical, data science and statistical methods in the commercial world
• Knowledge of distributed computing or NoSQL technologies is a bonus
• Client‑facing skills e.g. working in close‑knit teams on topics such as data warehousing, machine learning
• 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
• Demonstrated leadership (thought leadership or people leadership e.g. managed project teams or direct reports)
• Willingness to travel
• Good presentation and communication skills, with a knack for explaining 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