Houston in Action: Data Engineer

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JOB DESCRIPTION

As a Data Engineer at Houston in Action, you will spearhead developing and managing our data infrastructure. You’ll work with our collective learning team to ensure our teams and partners have the insights and tools they need to build and run transformative campaigns.

We are looking for a Data Engineer with a combination of the right technical expertise and a passion for helping nonprofits develop non-partisan issue-based and electoral campaigns succeed. You will work with a tech stack that includes AWS (S3), SQL, Redshift, Python, Github, and Google Looker Studio. You’ll also work with our campaign-specific stack that includes, but is not limited to, platforms like CIVIS, BigQuery, NGPVAN, EveryActon, MiniVan, Impactive, Salesforce, DS Political, Meta Business Manager, Meta Ads Manager, FiveTran, and Mobilize. We are looking for someone who is flexible and willing to revisit projects and connections.

Houston in Action has a physical office located within the Museum District of Houston, Texas and staff currently work remotely with responsibilities that include in-person meetings and events. We are open to the candidate being located outside of Texas, but must be willing to become familiar with Texas politics.

To thrive/succeed, you should have:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in SQL, Redshift, and Python, with expertise in deploying and managing data pipelines, with preference going towards pipelines that include EveryAction. Previous experience includes data engineer, engineering-focused analyst, database administrator, software engineer, or something similar.

• GCP experience (in particular, BigQuery, Google Cloud Storage).

• Demonstrated analytical skills with a passion for quantitative problem-solving and attention to detail, with multitasking capabilities.

• Comfortable utilizing advanced formulas and familiar with data modeling within Excel/Google Sheets.

• Previous involvement in political campaigns, nonprofit issue-based and/or electoral organizing is highly valued.

• Knowledge and experience working with tools in our current technology stack: AWS (S3), SQL, Redshift, Python, GitHub, and Google Looker Studio.

• Familiarity with R, ShinyApps, and political CRMs like NGP/EveryAction is strongly preferred as well as dbt.

• Eagerness to excel in a fast-paced environment, possessing a proactive attitude toward tackling unique challenges and devising creative solutions.

Your responsibilities as the Data Engineer will include:

• Develop and Optimize Data Systems:

• Build, manage, and optimize data systems for storing, transforming, and analyzing large datasets, ensuring high performance, security, and reliability.

• Assemble, manage, and optimize large and complex data sets to meet ongoing and campaign specific requirements, enhancing data accessibility and utility.

• Engineer and Maintain Data Pipelines:

• Using AWS, SQL, and other technologies, develop and maintain core data pipelines, syncs, joins, and workflows that guarantee reliability, security, and performance

• Audit and optimize existing data pipelines and code for efficient data movement, integration, and accessibility.

• Design and implement efficient data movement strategies between databases, multiple data sources, and analytical tools, ensuring seamless data integration and accessibility.

• Develop and maintain infrastructure for effective data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) utilizing AWS and SQL technologies, streamlining data processing workflows.

• Collaborate with Stakeholders:

• Work closely with internal teams and campaigns to address data needs, troubleshoot issues, and support cross-functional data initiatives.

• Collaborate with various campaigns to address data infrastructure needs, troubleshoot technical issues, and support cross-functional data initiatives.

• Provide technical assistance to team members to facilitate data-driven decision-making.

• Drive Process Improvements:

• Enhance data delivery, automate tasks, and improve data management practices to boost efficiency and quality.

• Ensure Data Quality and Integration:

• Maintain high data quality and reliability standards, proactively identifying opportunities for data acquisition and integration to support organizational objectives.

• Produce clean, accurate data for analysis, reporting, and program tracking.

• Act as the primary liaison for external data vendors and platforms, such as The Movement Cooperative and Backbone Digital Leaders, ensuring effective partnership and data integration.

Houston in Action is working towards building a culture of data rooted in racial equity. We acknowledge this work is about people and communities; each number represents incredible efforts and people. Our work is rooted in love for our communities and our people. We spent many years of conversations, building trust with our partners, building systems, building capacity internally and externally. It is time for our data system to grow and evolve as our network grows and becomes more familiar with data.

A culture of data rooted in racial equity means that groups collect data for themselves in ways that are helpful to them and their communities first. It is our responsibility to create systems and data visualizations that honor that intent. To embed this intent into our everyday work, we include the following job responsibilities around equity and inclusion:

• Constantly learning & actively participating in programs, training sessions, and discussions regarding racial inequities, exclusions, oppressions.

• Appreciation of and willingness to work with and advocate for people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Work with historically marginalized racial groups in the U.S., particularly Black, Indigenous, Latinx groups, AAPI, LGBTQ+, youth, and women to ensure that data practices and outcomes serve their communities.

This can be a consultant position with a defined timeline, but we'd prefer a full-time, permanent role. Houston in Action has a physical office located within the Museum District of Houston, Texas, and staff currently work remotely, handling responsibilities that include in-person meetings and events. We are open to the candidate being outside Texas but must be willing to become familiar with Texas politics.