Lead Infrastructure Engineer - AFL-CIO - Washington, DC

[Carter Kalchik]

Hello everyone,

 

I wanted to let you all know about an opening on the AFL-CIO analytics shop for our Lead Infrastructure Engineer. The job description at the bottom of this email covers the day-to-day requirements of the position.

 

Here at the AFL-CIO we have a large analytics team, around twelve staff at its peak in the election cycle. We've in-housed polling and modeling, randomized controlled trials, prioritization of which elections to engage in, and the development of other essential strategic intelligence. In addition to providing basic analytic products, we're a necessary first step in the targeting and resource allocation pipeline for the Federation and its partners. All this adds up to an incredibly broad mission with boundless scope in our work.

 

As the Lead Infrastructure Engineer, you may be someone who:

 

·         Has a passion for data and technology and a drive to apply hard skills to hard problems in the labor movement.

·         Has a strong command over relational databases like PostgreSQL or Vertica and a scripting language like bash or python.

·         Understands statistical concepts like sampling and regression or has a desire and willingness to learn them quickly on the job.

·         Can own a project, from envisioning and brainstorming, getting buy in from diverse stakeholders, grinding through the nitty-gritty of coding and debugging, and finally to presenting finished products.

·         Just has to know how something works and spends time taking systems apart and building them back together (with your own improvements).

·         Can collaborate in a team environment, but also work independently for long period of time.

·         Is open to constructive criticism and team feedback.

 

We're aiming to fill this position quickly -- if you're at all interested in applying, we urge you to begin the application process and submit your resume and cover letter to http://aflcio.hirecentric.com/jobs/83463.html as soon as possible. We will then follow up with some applicants to answer questions and provide additional context for the role. If you feel that you don't meet all of the qualifications, we'd encourage you to apply anyway.

 

We will, of course, keep all conversations confidential.

 

Job Description:

 

 

JOB TITLE:                Lead Infrastructure Engineer

 

DEPARTMENT:  Political Department

 

JOB GRADE:        III

 

SUPERVISOR:     Director

 

LOCATION:                         Washington, D.C. [Headquarters]

 

Temporary fund not to exceed 3 years

 

OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

The Political Department provides union members with opportunities to make their voices heard in the political arena, informs members about candidates’ positions on important working family issues, and conducts nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities.

 

The Lead Infrastructure Engineer will oversee the analytics division’s data integration, including developing a data model, maintaining an analytics database, and writing scripts for data integration and analysis. They will create and oversee the automated reporting system, automated mapping system, supervise the data pipeline, and manage other proprietary systems. This role will work closely with other members of the analytics division to improve upon major deliverables.

 

The Lead Infrastructure Engineer works under the lead of the Senior Political Strategist.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

 

• Further develop and maintain an integrated database, including architecture and standards that meets the specific needs of the AFL Analytics team;
• Automate routine functions across various systems and networks, such as reporting and mapping;
• Create ad hoc reports and troubleshoot major projects;
• Effectively manage development timelines and defined goals;
• Present quantitative information clearly and concisely;
• Communicate infrastructure with political and other departments, including non-technical staff;
• Other duties as assigned.

 

Reporting

 

Keeps the Director fully informed on a regular basis on issues affecting departmental programs.  Prepares and submits regular and ad hoc reports on departmental activities as required.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

·         BA or BS in related field or equivalent work experience

·         Strong command of relational databases and common programming languages, such as SQL as well as a background with scripting languages.

·         Demonstrated analytical creativity, problem-solving abilities, and experience with communication via data analysis (using R, STATA, etc.).

·         Knowledge of technology and troubleshooting resources

·         Familiarity with principles of political targeting, politics and/or political campaigning.

·         Demonstrated interest in progressive causes – including experience with political campaign(s), labor, government or public interest groups.

• Ability to work long and extended hours.

• Strong Microsoft Word & Excel skills and experience with several of the following programs:
• Database interface and/or programming (SQL, etc)
• Some experience with a statistics package (Stata, R or similar)
• Mapping (ArcGIS, PostGIS or other)
• High degree of comfort working with UNIX (bash scripting, etc)
• Other programming preferred (Python, PHP, or similar)
• Experience with Vertica valuable
• Experience with GitHub valuable