Associate Director, Data Engineering

Business Overview 

KINESSO is the technology-driven performance marketing agency that sits at the very heart of IPG Mediabrands, providing actionable growth for both our agency partners and clients. We turn 'action' into 'outcome' for our clients, leveraging our unique capabilities in optimization, analytics, AI, and experimentation. KINESSO has brought together the collective power of what was formerly Matterkind, Reprise, P3, and Kinesso under one collective entity that will serve as the most powerful delivery engine in the industry. We have extensive offerings spanning across performance marketing and data and technology. Fueled by a deep understanding of consumer behavior, we offer an end-to-end engine of planning and optimization while also delivering on data-driven strategy for social platforms, actionable growth in e-commerce, and creating curated marketplaces specific to each client's function and needs. The company has more than 6,000 employees operating in more than 60 countries. Learn more at www.KINESSO.com.

Position Summary

We are looking for you to join the Kinesso team as an Associate Director, Data Engineering in our Data & Technology group. This person will be responsible for participating in the design, implementation, and maintenance of an agile reporting and database system, that is able to support an enterprise that has large data sets and requirements for custom reporting with quick turnaround times.
 
As a leader of the team, you will be expected to establish working partnerships with various groups across the enterprise including technology & business groups as well as outside customers, suppliers and vendors. The technologies you will be expected to work with involve both legacy systems as well as modern cloud-based services so you will be expected to learn new technologies and concepts very quickly.  This is a hybrid role consisting of both management and hands on data engineering.  A commitment to collaborative problem solving, sophisticated design, and quality product is essential.

Responsibilities

•    Design, test, and maintain data architectures to align with business objectives.
•    Oversee the creation and maintenance of ETL pipelines, leveraging Python, SQL, and modern data orchestration frameworks.
•    Ensure data quality by implementing tools/frameworks that detect and resolve inconsistencies.
•    Apply best practices in data engineering, with a focus on automation, scalability, and security.
•    Drive process improvements to optimize data delivery, automate manual processes, and enhance infrastructure scalability.
•    Troubleshoot and resolve issues with existing ETL pipelines, coordinating with partners for timely resolutions.
•    Continuously improve performance by addressing bottlenecks, refactoring code, and optimizing data flows.
•    Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation to support data projects.
•    Manage multiple projects concurrently, ensuring timely delivery and stakeholder engagement.
•    Research and recommend new technologies/vendors to enhance data engineering capabilities.
•    Provide leadership and mentorship to the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Experience

•    Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, with equivalent experience in data engineering.
•    A minimum of 7 years of experience in a data engineering role, with at least 4 years in a leadership position.
•    Strong knowledge of data warehouse concepts and large-scale relational database management systems (Snowflake experience preferred).
•    Proficiency in SQL, Python, and cloud computing services (preferably AWS).
•    Experience with data orchestration frameworks such as Airflow.
•    Familiarity with dbt and Dagster a plus.
•    Strong understanding of RESTful APIs as well as experience working with both synchronous and asynchronous endpoints
•    Familiarity with Git or equivalent version control systems and CI/CD pipelines.
•    Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze and communicate complex solutions.
•    Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure.
•    Experience with modern Scrum-based Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
•    A positive attitude and the ability to motivate a team in a collaborative environment. 

We See You  

At IPG Mediabrands, we are unified behind a commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging. Together, we shine through a set of shared values and behaviors. We take pride in our responsibility to our clients, communities, and to each other. We embrace differences and recognize the unique value that each of us brings to our community.  

We encourage you to apply, as unique backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences are welcomed.   

We See You at IPG Mediabrands. 

Wage and Benefits

We offer a Total Rewards package that includes medical and dental coverage, 401(k) plans, flex spending, life insurance, disability, employee discount program, employee stock purchase program and paid family benefits to support you and your family. To give you the ability to better meet your personal needs, and in support of your physical and emotional well-being, you will receive discretionary time off days and company-wide Appreciation Weeks and Wellness Days. 

We also offer a competitive Total Compensation package, including a competitive salary and eligibility for an annual discretionary incentive award or a relevant incentive award. 

The salary range for this position is posted below.  Where an employee or prospective employee is paid within this range will depend on, among other factors, actual ranges for current/former employees in the subject position, market considerations, budgetary considerations, tenure and standing with the Company (applicable to current employees), as well as the employee’s/applicant’s skill set, level of experience, and qualifications.   

Employment Transparency

It is the policy of Mediabrands, division of the Interpublic group, to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local law. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. The job description will be reviewed periodically as duties and responsibilities change with business necessity. Essential and other job functions are subject to modification. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

For applicants to jobs in the United States: In compliance with the current Americans with Disabilities Act and state and local laws, if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position with Mediabrands, please email accommodation@mbww.com.

About IPG Mediabrands 

IPG Mediabrands is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). IPG Mediabrands manages over $47 billion in marketing investment globally on behalf of its clients across its full-service agency networks UM, Initiative and Mediahub and through its award-winning specialty business units Healix, Kinesso, MAGNA, Mediabrands Content Studio, Orion Holdings, Rapport, and the IPG Media Lab. IPG Mediabrands clients include many of the world’s most recognizable and iconic brands from a broad portfolio of industry sectors including automotive, personal finance, consumer product goods (CPG), pharma, health and wellness, entertainment, financial services, energy, toys and gaming, direct to consumer and e-commerce, retail, hospitality, food and beverage, fashion and beauty. The company employs more than 18,000 diverse marketing communication professionals in more than 130 countries. Learn more at www.ipgmediabrands.com.