Position Overview
SMU Data Arts is seeking a dynamic individual who will serve as a Data Engineer I, or Data Engineer II, depending on level of experience.
The Data Engineer is responsible for the design, management, and optimization of the organization’s Snowflake data warehouse. This role oversees the integration of public and private datasets into core research workflows, ensuring data consistency, security, and accessibility for analytical and operational use. The position requires expertise in data engineering, ETL processes, and API-based data integration to support research and data-driven decision-making.
The Data Engineer also pulls data insights from DataArts' databases and other datasets for research purposes. This can involve compiling, analyzing and visualizing data independently, or supporting research projects and responding to requests internally and externally.
Essential Functions:
Data Warehouse Management: Oversee and maintain the Snowflake data warehouse, ensuring its architecture supports efficient storage, querying, and scalability; Implement best practices for performance optimization, cost efficiency, and security in Snowflake; Develop and manage role-based access controls (RBAC) and data governance policies to protect sensitive data.
Data Integration & Automation: Ingest and clean public and private datasets to build the core data infrastructure for research need; Develop and maintain connections to external data sources via APIs to enable real-time or batch data ingestion; Design and implement ETL pipelines for structured and unstructured data; Automate data pipelines using Python, SQL, and dbt.
Data Quality, Security, & Compliance: Establish data validation and quality control processes to maintain high-integrity datasets; Monitor data quality and resolve data discrepancies across integrated sources; Align with leading and/or required data privacy frameworks, particularly for sensitive or restricted data; Implement disaster recovery and backup solutions for critical datasets
Data Analysis and Project Support: Conduct data analysis and data compilations to support projects; Develop analytical tools, dashboards, and pipelines for research projects; Use statistical tools and methodologies to generate insights for research or data projects; Visualize data with tables, charts, graphs and maps for internal and external use.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with researchers and communication team to understand data requirements and optimize workflows; Work closely with the IT and security teams to enforce data privacy and compliance standards; Support the documentation of data, metadata, process and tools.
Continuous Improvement & other duties as assigned: Identify and propose enhancements in data management processes and systems; Stay current with emerging tools, technologies, and best practices in research and data management.
About SMU DataArts: SMU DataArts, the National Center for Arts Research, is a project of the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. SMU DataArts compiles and analyzes data on arts organizations and their communities nationwide and develops research articles and reports on important issues in arts management, arts ecosystems, patronage, and equitable access and inclusion. Its findings are available free of charge to arts leaders, funders, policymakers, researchers, and the general public. SMU DataArts is committed to equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion and prioritizes data collection and research projects that celebrate the arts and culture of communities of color, and advance equity in access to art, cultural funding, and the sector at large. For more information, visit www.smu.edu/dataarts.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree is required.
A minimum of two years of work experience in data wrangling, database management, and the design, engineering, and implementation of end to end software solutions, from prototype through production pipeline is required for a Data Engineer I level or a minimum of three years of work experience in data wrangling, database management, and the design, engineering, and implementation of end to end software solutions, from prototype through production pipeline for a Data Engineer II level is required.
Candidate must have experience with multiple statistical languages (e.g., Python and R in Linux platforms) to query databases, manipulate data, and maintain large data sets. Strong relational database skills (e.g., MS SQL) and working knowledge of Cloud services (e.g., AWS) are also required.
Preferred qualifications:
Candidate with experiences in non-profit financing, economics, and project management are preferred. Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.
Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.
Python and R in Linux platforms, and relational database skills, such as MS SQL are required. Candidate with proficiency in sing UNIX OS in high performance environment is preferred. Candidate with intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills is desired. Familiarity with ARC GIS, Tableau, and other data analysis and visualization software (e.g. SAS, STATA, Python, R etc.) and experience using Salesforce is preferred.
Compensation
The salary range for the role is $90,000 - 120,000
Location
Remote or on campus in Dallas, TX.
Deadline to Apply
September 19, 2025
SMU is an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of teachers and scholars that value diverse research agendas. SMU is in the culturally dynamic city of Dallas. Explore Virtual SMU at www.smu.edu. SMU offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits, for further information see: www.smu.edu/hr/total_comp/benefits/Docs
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