Associate Director, Data Engineering

WPP Media • New York, NY

2d • $75,000 - $180,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

As an Associate Director of Data Engineering, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Unilever client by designing, building, and maintaining cloud-based data solutions. You’ll partner closely with the internal BI team, troubleshooting data discrepancies, ensuring data quality, and driving the evolution of our data pipelines and reporting infrastructure. This is an opportunity to take the lead on high-impact projects, support a major client, and help shape the data operations function as our team expands. You will act as a subject matter expert, guiding both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and helping to standardize and optimize data processes. Your work will directly impact campaign performance, data integrity, and the overall success of our client partnerships.

Requirements

• 2–3 years of experience in data engineering, data warehousing, ETL/ELT, and business intelligence environments.
• Advanced proficiency in SQL; hands-on experience with data pipelining and ingestion.
• Familiarity with cloud environments (Azure preferred; AWS and GCP also acceptable).
• Experience with the full development lifecycle of data/reporting solutions.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to foster collaborative relationships across teams.
• Experience supporting or leading QA processes and data quality initiatives.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Statistics, Economics, Business, Math, Computer Science, or related field.
• Python programming skills.
• Experience in media, digital investment, analytics, or ad operations.
• Understanding of processes across multiple media channels (digital, search, social, offline, etc.).
• Experience with cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Redshift), data engineering tools (e.g., Databricks), and BI tools (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI).
• Familiarity with project/product management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, Smartsheets, Azure DevOps).
• Experience with advertising campaign management/buying platforms (e.g., Sizmek, GCM, Flashtalking, Moat, DV, IAS, Mediaocean, Nielsen, ComScore, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, Google Ads, Bing, Kenshoo, SA360, DV360, Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics).

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain cloud-based data pipelines and workflows to support media performance reporting for Unilever.
• Collaborate with internal Business Intelligence, Data Strategy, Analytics, Investment, and Planning teams to address data needs and troubleshoot discrepancies.
• Work with offshore engineering teams on CI/CD pipelines and daily scrum activities.
• Define and document data architecture and reporting/visualization requirements in partnership with client stakeholders.
• Lead the migration from legacy data platforms to new cloud solutions, ensuring data quality and providing ongoing support.
• Guide and onboard new client teams to cloud data solutions, offering training and support throughout the process.
• Develop and automate QA guidelines and processes to ensure data integrity.
• Act as the subject matter expert for data quality, BI tools, and business rules, ensuring best practices are followed.
• Stay current on industry trends, data privacy laws, and third-party measurement tools; contribute to POV development and thought leadership.
• Facilitate communication and task progression through regular status meetings, proactively resolving project roadblocks.
• Build positive relationships with internal teams, clearly communicating roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Provide project status updates, progression, and roadblocks to the Director.

Benefits

• Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees