Data Scientist – Agriculture & Nature Analytics (ML/Geospatial)

About the role

Join McKinsey’s Agriculture & Nature Analytics team (ACRE) in San Jose, Costa Rica, to apply cutting‑edge machine learning and geospatial analytics to global agriculture and nature challenges. You will split your time between client‑facing impact work and strengthening ACRE’s core analytical products.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver data‑driven insights for agribusiness, government and NGOs, using satellite imagery, agronomic data and predictive models.
• Design and implement geospatial workflows and pipelines, including remote‑sensing image processing and spatiotemporal analysis.
• Collaborate with senior consultants and industry experts to shape product road‑maps and client solutions.
• Travel up to 50% to client sites and attend in‑person trainings worldwide.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in a quantitative or environmental discipline (e.g., agriculture, ecology, geography, climate).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with a curiosity for innovative solutions.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Spanish.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, high‑performance environment.

Required skills

• Python programming, including parallel processing and cloud‑computing resources.
• Geospatial analysis, remote sensing, and image‑processing techniques.
• Version‑control and collaboration tools (e.g., Git).
• Design of geospatial data pipelines and workflows.

What we offer

• Continuous learning through structured apprenticeship and coaching programs.
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits supporting holistic well‑being.
• Global community of colleagues across 65+ countries.
• Opportunities for rapid career acceleration and leadership development.