AI Data Engineer - QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey

McKinsey & Company’s QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey develops advanced AI capabilities and enterprise solutions for clients across industries. The AI Data Engineer will build scalable data infrastructure, pipelines, and secure data environments for LLMs, retrieval systems, machine learning, and emerging agentic AI architectures while collaborating with data scientists, machine learning engineers, clients, and industry experts.

What you'll do:

• You will build the foundational data infrastructure that powers cutting-edge AI applications leveraging LLMs, retrieval systems, workflows, and emerging agentic architectures
• You will design and maintain scalable data pipelines, manage secure data environments, and prepare data for AI-driven systems while collaborating with cross-functional teams and clients. You’ll tackle real-world challenges by contributing to the development of next-generation AI systems and grow as a technologist by working alongside diverse experts across industries
• You will design and build the scalable, reproducible data components essential for machine learning, agentic, and autonomous AI systems. You’ll assess data landscapes, apply data quality fundamentals, and prepare data for AI solutions. Additionally, you’ll learn to translate simple hypotheses into engineered features, manage secure data environments, and contribute to R&D initiatives focused on innovating and scaling next-generation AI capabilities
• Your work will help solve some of the most complex and high-impact challenges facing clients across industries. Collaborating across QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey and QuantumBlack Labs teams, you’ll help develop innovative AI capabilities and scalable enterprise solutions. You’ll help build robust data foundations for scalable, production-ready AI systems. Your contributions will directly support the firm’s ability to accelerate AI adoption, solve complex business problems at scale, and enable clients to achieve meaningful, lasting impact
• You’ll be based in either Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Newark, Raleigh, San Francisco or Washington DC as part of our global Data Engineering community. Working in cross-functional Agile teams, you’ll collaborate closely with Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, and industry experts to deliver AI solutions. By partnering with clients from data owners to C-level executives you’ll help solve complex problems that drive tangible business value and begin to build your skills as a client-facing technologist

What they're looking for:

• Upcoming graduation between December 2026-August 2027 with a degree in an engineering discipline
• Experience in a data-focused role (internships, academic projects acceptable)
• Ability to write clean, well-documented code in a modern programming language, with a strong preference for Python and SQL
• Interest in or exposure to data engineering in the context of Agentic AI, Generative AI, Machine Learning, or Business Intelligence across different types of data formats (structured vs unstructured) and processing methods (streaming vs batch)
• Familiarity with commonly used data platforms (Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery, PSQL, etc.), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and engineering tools (Pandas, Spark, dbt, LangChain, etc.)
• Exposure to modern software development practices, including version control (Git) and foundational concepts in DevOps and MLOps/LLMOps and CI/CD principles
• Exceptional time management in a complex and largely autonomous work environment
• Willingness to learn quickly and adapt to different project situations and tech stacks
• Ability to travel up to 80% and contribute with regular in-office presence
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, in English and local office language(s)
• Experience using coding agents (Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, etc.) is a plus

Benefits:

• Resources, mentorship, and opportunities for professional development
• Continuous learning through a learning and apprenticeship culture backed by structured programs
• Clear, actionable feedback focused on your development
• Opportunities to contribute ideas and practical solutions from day one
• Opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences
• A comprehensive benefits package to support holistic well-being for you and your family