Fast Facts

SMU DataArts seeks a Data Engineer I or II to design, manage, and optimize its Snowflake data warehouse while ensuring data consistency, security, and accessibility for research purposes. This position supports data-driven decision-making through effective ETL processes and data analysis.

Responsibilities: The Data Engineer will maintain the Snowflake data warehouse, integrate public and private datasets, automate data pipelines, analyze data for research, and ensure data quality and compliance.

Skills: Required skills include proficiency in Python and R on Linux platforms, strong relational database management (e.g., MS SQL), experience with ETL processes, and knowledge of cloud services (e.g., AWS).

Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree is required, with 2 years of experience for Data Engineer I or 3 years for II in data management and software solutions.

Location: This position can be performed remotely or from SMU's Dallas campus.

Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation ranges for this position are between $65,000 - $100,000.

Salary Range: 

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences , Cox School of Business , Lyle School of Engineering , Meadows School of the Arts , Simmons School of Education and Human Development , Dedman School of Law , Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies .

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

SMU DataArts provides data-driven insights for the agencies, funders, and organizations shaping arts and culture across the country. We specialize in identifying trends affecting cultural organizations, assessing vibrancy across the arts ecosystem, and illuminating barriers to access and inclusion in all areas of culture.??

As a research center at SMU that collaborates across multiple disciplines, we develop innovative approaches and curated datasets—and apply them to critical challenges facing the sector. SMU DataArts mission is to equip the arts and culture ecosystem with data and research insights that help build strong, vibrant, and equitable communities.? We partner with organizations whose strategies have wide influence across the sector to maximize impact.?

About the Position:

The SMU DataArts team is distributed across the country. This position can work remotely or from SMU's Dallas campus. 

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.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefit s. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities , including tuition benefits .

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

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. 

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

September 19, 2025