Data Engineer at Unknown Company in Durham, NC

At Attention Arc, we exist to make media matter. As part of our Technology & Analytics team — The Builders and Translators — you architect the systems that turn raw data into insight and insight into action. Your work connects planning, activation, attribution, and optimization — ensuring every impression is measurable, every dataset is trusted, and every system moves us forward.
This Data Engineer role specializes in client support and infrastructure modernization. You will maintain and strengthen our existing data ecosystem while thoughtfully evolving it for what’s next. It’s a hands-on, mid-level role with real ownership — ideal for someone who thrives on solving complex problems, improving legacy systems, and building scalable infrastructure that makes the entire agency smarter and faster.
You won’t just keep systems running. You’ll help raise the bar for how we build, support, and innovate.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Strengthen & Modernize Our Data Foundation

• Maintain and optimize Microsoft SQL Server databases and core data infrastructure
• Document existing systems and design clear, phased migration strategies from legacy workflows to modernized environments
• Refactor outdated processes to reduce friction, errors, and onboarding time
• Ensure best practices in database security, backup/recovery, performance tuning, and monitoring
• Build stable, high-performance relational and analytical data models
• Build & Scale Reliable Data Pipelines
• Design, build, and maintain scalable ETL/ELT pipelines ingesting data from internal systems, media platforms, and third-party vendors
• Standardize pipelines to enable repeatable, efficient client integrations
• Manage and optimize workflow orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow) to improve reliability and performance
• Create and maintain reporting tables, views, and structures used across the agency

Provide Client Support

• Partner directly with client teams to design and deliver custom reporting solutions
• Troubleshoot infrastructure and data issues quickly and thoughtfully
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable explanations
• Balance responsive client support with long-term system improvement

Support Marketing Technology & Measurement

• Support and enhance tracking and pixel infrastructure, including JavaScript-based implementations
• Improve tagging and vendor pixel management through automation and tooling (e.g., tag managers, CDNs)
• Collaborate with partners (e.g., Google and other platforms) to implement advanced attribution solutions
• Enable privacy-aware measurement approaches, including hashed identifiers and modern attribution techniques

Automate, Experiment & Improve

• Automate repetitive workflows using scripting and orchestration tools
• Evaluate and prototype new technologies (e.g., Snowflake, Azure, AWS) to assess business impact
• Improve analytics and machine learning workflows by increasing consistency and reducing manual effort
• Proactively identify inefficiencies and recommend thoughtful, scalable improvements

Collaborate With Intention

• Work cross-functionally with analysts, planners, activation teams, and developers to translate business needs into technical systems
• Establish and document best practices for data engineering and infrastructure design
• Maintain clear, accessible technical documentation and training materials

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

You bring a strong technical foundation, a disciplined approach to reliability, and a deep sense of ownership. You understand that great infrastructure builds trust — and that trust powers performance.

Experience & Technical Expertise

• 2–5 years of experience in data engineering, database development, or ETL engineering
• Advanced SQL skills with hands-on Microsoft SQL Server experience
• Proven experience designing, building, and maintaining ETL/ELT pipelines and orchestrated workflows
• Strong understanding of relational and dimensional data modeling
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python or PowerShell
• Working knowledge of JavaScript in tracking, tagging, or data collection contexts
• Comfort working across Windows and Linux environments
• Experience implementing data quality, validation, and monitoring frameworks
• Ability to translate technical complexity into clear, actionable communication
• Strong documentation habits and disciplined version control practices
• A structured, methodical approach to debugging and problem solving
• Comfort balancing reactive support needs with proactive system improvements
• Experience modernizing SSIS-based workflows
• Exposure to Snowflake or cloud data warehouses
• Experience with Azure or AWS environments
• Familiarity with SSAS, SSIS, or SSRS
• Understanding of digital media data, attribution modeling, and analytics
• Experience collaborating on machine learning workflows
• Tag management, CDN, or marketing pixel implementation experience

WHO YOU ARE

You are a builder at heart — but also a translator. You know that infrastructure is invisible when it works and invaluable when it matters. You find satisfaction in making systems stronger, clearer, and easier for others to use.

• All In You take ownership of the systems you design and support. You follow through, surface risks early, and focus on durable solutions — not quick fixes.
• No Sidelines You collaborate without ego. You invite input, share context freely, and understand that the best systems are built through partnership across disciplines.
• Move With Curiosity You ask why before how. You challenge assumptions, explore smarter architectures, and experiment with intention — balancing innovation with accountability.
• Truth With Heart You communicate clearly and honestly, especially when systems are imperfect or trade-offs are required. You give direct feedback with empathy and take responsibility when things break — because trust matters more than comfort.

You believe that strong data engineering is not just about infrastructure. It’s about credibility, clarity, connection, and care. It’s about building systems people trust — so we can turn attention into measurable impact.

SALARY RANGE

Our estimated range for this role is $80k - $120k

Compensation packages are based on the skill level and experience each candidate brings to their role. There may also be a more senior or junior position available that could be a better fit with your expertise. Each level has its own compensation range.

RIGHT TO WORK IN THE US 

You must be authorized to work in the US for any employer.  At this time, we are not sponsoring or providing assistance with obtaining work authorization.