Software Engineer I
McKinsey & Company
Software Engineering
San Jose, CA, USA
Posted on Jan 29, 2026
Software Engineer I
Job ID: 105029
Do you want to work on complex and pressing challenges—the kind that bring together curious, ambitious, and determined leaders who strive to become better every day? If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place.
Your Impact
As a Software Engineer I, you will apply cutting-edge engineering frameworks and best practices to design and build core software and data frameworks that support our client service organizations. Your work will enable software capabilities utilized by data engineers, data scientists, consulting teams, and external clients, driving innovation and efficiency across diverse teams.
In this role, you will design and build the technical backbone for advanced analytics engagements. You will create robust, scalable, and reproducible software solutions and data pipelines for machine learning, curate and prepare data for advanced models, and manage secure data environments. You will also contribute to R&D projects and help develop innovative internal assets and frameworks. You will help to shift our model toward asset-based consulting and expand our investment in our entrepreneurial culture.
The Chemicals practice is a global network of chemical experts and practitioners. At any point in time, approximately 250 consultants are involved in chemical-related client projects. In the past five years alone, our Chemicals practice has supported clients across the world on more than 1,000 strategic, operations, commercial, and organization projects.
Powerful forces are reshaping the chemicals industry. As a result, the formula for success in its market is changing. Our industry experience and global reach make us uniquely positioned to help our clients address evolving challenges — and capture new opportunities within the chemicals industry.
Your work will have a tangible impact on real-world, high-stakes projects. By building technology assets for internal and external clients, you will help shape how organizations leverage data and software to achieve their goals, supporting McKinsey’s shift toward asset-based consulting and delivering lasting value.
You will be based in one of our global hubs as part of our advanced analytics and software engineering community. You will work in cross-functional Agile teams, collaborating with data scientists, machine learning engineers, project managers, and industry experts to create innovative solutions and assets that help clients unlock the full potential of their data and software systems.
At McKinsey, you will have the freedom to innovate and grow as a technologist and leader. You will work with leading technologies, collaborate with diverse, multidisciplinary teams, and gain a holistic perspective on AI, software engineering, and data engineering, positioning yourself at the forefront of innovation.
Your Growth
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, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. 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 qualifications and skills
- Undergrad or Advanced degree in a quantitative field like computer science, software engineering, machine learning, applied statistics, or mathematics, or equivalent experience
- 1-2 years of relevant experience as a Software Engineer, Data Engineer, or similar role
- Strong technical knowledge in Next.js, FastAPI, agentic frameworks, GitHub Actions, and Terraform
- Hands-on experience with SDLC methodologies and best practices, including DevOps, DataOps, and MLOps
- Proven experience building scalable, production-grade software solutions and data pipelines for advanced analytics use cases
- Experience working across structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data
- Familiarity with distributed computing frameworks, cloud platforms, containerization, and analytics libraries
- While we advocate using the right tech for the right task, we often leverage the following technologies: Python, PySpark, the PyData stack, SQL, Airflow, Databricks, 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
- 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
Please review the additional requirements regarding essential job functions of McKinsey colleagues.
Our unwavering commitment to integrity drives everything we do, guiding us to always act in the best interests of our clients, our people, and the communities we serve.
FOR U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
FOR NON-U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. For additional details regarding our global EEO policy and diversity initiatives, please visit our McKinsey Careers and Diversity & Inclusion sites.
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Job Skill Group - N/A
Job Skill Code - SCOA - Software Engineer I
Function -
Industry -
Post to LinkedIn - Yes
Posted to LinkedIn Date - Fri Nov 14 00:00:00 GMT 2025
LinkedIn Posting City - San Jose
LinkedIn Posting State/Province -
LinkedIn Posting Country - Costa Rica
LinkedIn Job Title - Software Engineer I
LinkedIn Function - Consulting;Engineering
LinkedIn Industry - Chemicals;Computer Software
LinkedIn Seniority Level - Entry level
Job Skill Code - SCOA - Software Engineer I
Function -
Industry -
Post to LinkedIn - Yes
Posted to LinkedIn Date - Fri Nov 14 00:00:00 GMT 2025
LinkedIn Posting City - San Jose
LinkedIn Posting State/Province -
LinkedIn Posting Country - Costa Rica
LinkedIn Job Title - Software Engineer I
LinkedIn Function - Consulting;Engineering
LinkedIn Industry - Chemicals;Computer Software
LinkedIn Seniority Level - Entry level