Senior Data Scientist - Quantumblack, Ai By Mckinsey

Quantumblack, Ai By Mckinsey; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1 573 000 - 1 989 000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent technology consulting firm is looking for a Senior Data Scientist in Johannesburg to lead cutting-edge AI and machine learning projects. Candidates should have a Master's or PhD, over 7 years of relevant experience, and strong programming skills in languages like Python and SQL. They will collaborate with diverse teams globally to tackle complex business challenges and deliver impactful solutions. This position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Continuous learning opportunities

Comprehensive benefits package

Global community exposure

Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD level degree in computer science, machine learning, or similar.
• 7+ years of experience in distributed computing and machine learning.
• Programming skills in Python, R, SQL.

Responsibilities

• Develop AI and machine learning solutions.
• Mentor junior data scientists.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Skills

Distributed computing

Machine learning

Statistics

Python

SQL

R

Communication skills

Education

Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, AI, or related fields

Tools

PySpark

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Job description

Senior Data Scientist - Quantum Black, AI by McKinsey

Join to apply for the Senior Data Scientist - Quantum Black, AI by McKinsey role at Quantum Black, AI by Mc Kinsey .

Overview

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.

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.
• 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.
• Global community : With colleagues across 65+ countries and over different nationalities, our firm's diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients.
• 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 Senior Data Scientist, you’ll lead the development of cutting-edge AI and machine learning solutions to tackle some of the most complex business challenges across industries—delivering measurable impact at scale.

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 Quantum Black’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, helping clients gain a competitive edge, solve critical challenges, and achieve lasting improvements in their operations.

You will be based in one of our Mc Kinsey Digital Africa offices and collaborate closely with data scientists, data engineers, machine learning engineers, designers, and product managers around the world.

Qualifications and Skills

• Master’s or Ph D level degree in disciplines such as computer science, machine learning, applied statistics, mathematics, engineering or artificial intelligence
• 7+ 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 No SQL technologies is a bonus
• Client‑facing skills, e.g., working in close‑knit teams on topics such as data warehousing, machine learning
• Experience with Python, Py Spark, Py Data stack, SQL, Airflow, Databricks, Kedro, Dask / RAPIDS, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, GCP, 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).

Seniority Level: Associate

Employment Type: Full‑time

Job Function: Consulting and Information Technology

Location

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (Mc Kinsey Digital Africa offices)