Job description

The Democratic Data Exchange (DDx) is looking for an experienced Senior Director of Engineering – MIG to oversee the development of the Movement Infrastructure Working Group’s (MIG) new API for real-time sharing of data between the various tools used by movement groups and Democratic political campaigns.

MIG is developing infrastructure in the form of APIs and a data application layer to make it possible for organizations and campaigns to move data to all destinations across the progressive ecosystem.This infrastructure will allow for new models of political organizing and more holistic metrics for organizers to execute the most responsive programs possible.

Reporting to the Chief Product Officer of MIG, you will have the opportunity to work and shape the early technical direction of this fundamental product and build a top-tier engineering team. You will be involved in strategic decisions about system architecture, feature development, and product strategy. This is a hands-on role that combines leadership responsibilities and direct technical contributions.

Please know that job candidates do not always meet 100% of the preferred qualifications. If much of this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply.At DDx, we believe:

• Empathy is the most important part of being a team member
• Inclusivity builds stronger, more supportive teams
• Thoughtfulness is good for business and good for teamwork
• Mentorship is something everyone should be involved in
• A bias toward action is better than delaying for a perfect solution

Job requirements

Responsibilities:

These core areas of responsibilities include estimations of the anticipated percentage of time spent in the role in each core area of work.

Technical Strategy and Implementation (50%)

• Shape the product’s technical direction in alignment with DDx’s mission and strategic goals.
• Collaborate closely with the Product Team, Technical Advisor, Executive Director, and other teammates to ship critical technical infrastructure for the progressive movement.

Staff Management and Development (25%)

• Recruit, lead, and nurture a team of software engineers, dev ops professionals, data engineers, and other technical staff, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Promote best practices in software development, security and compliance.

Cross-Team Collaboration on Workflow and Metrics (15%)

• Foster strong relationships with cross-functional teams, including design, product management, and external stakeholders to drive cohesive and strategic product development.
• Implement and refine engineering processes and methodologies to achieve efficient and effective project execution.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends to maintain a competitive edge and promote innovation.

Shared Team Responsibilities (10%)

• Be available to assist with escalations or outages as needed (which may require availability outside of the standard Monday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm general working hours, determined in advance).
• Join and participate in team retreats and collaborative opportunities.

Who You Are:

• Problem Solver: You are someone who may take vague requirements and work to propose and implement solutions.
• Collaborator: You take technical requirements and can communicate with those with technical and non-technical backgrounds.
• Innovative Leader: You enjoy collaborating with team members on finding new and creative ways to build a product.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven leadership experience in a senior engineering role, preferably as an Engineering Director or similar role with responsibility, within the software development sector.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with a track record of building and nurturing high-performing engineering teams.
• Prior usage in TypeScript/NodeJS, Python, Kubernetes, Postgres, BigQuery, Kafka/Redpanda, Data Warehousing and ETL, OpenAPI Spec, REST, and GraphQL.
• Prior experience in managing the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from prototype to scale up.
• Extensive knowledge of best practices in software development, including agile methodologies, continuous delivery and deployment, code reviews, source control management, and testing.
• Excellent understanding of regulatory requirements and industry standards in software development and security.
• Strong problem-solving skills, strategic thinking capabilities, and attention to detail.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills in a remote and asynchronous environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Electoral or non-electoral campaign experience or experience with political data and products is not required but is a bonus qualification for this role.
• Proven experience in establishing or contributing to open source projects.
• Previous experience with advising executive-level stakeholders to guide decisions.

Location:

• This is a remote position; anywhere in the US. DDx is a remote-first organization.
• While this position is remote, this role may require 15% travel. Expected travel may include the MIG team gathering in person for a few times per year in one location in the United States for retreats or in-depth collaborative opportunities. This would likely require travel and overnight stays in a location outside of one’s home location, though would be scheduled in advance to account for planning.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

• Ability to sit at a computer monitor for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds occasionally

Salary and Benefits:DDx offers a competitive compensation salary and benefits package, including:

• Company-paid healthcare, dental, and vision insurance for full-time employees
• Matching 401(k) contributions up to 3%
• Unlimited paid time off (PTO) policy
• 16 weeks of paid leave for new parents
• Other perks such as a generous holiday schedule and monthly team wellness days

The salary range for this position is $175,000 to $200,000.

About Us:

Founded in 2019, the Democratic Data Exchange (DDx) is a for-profit company that aims to expand access to data within the Democratic and progressive ecosystem by facilitating the real-time blind exchange of program data across the ecosystem and providing easy-to-use tools to help clients accomplish their goals.

We believe that when Democratic and progressive data ecosystems have access to the most robust and complete pool of program data possible, they can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their campaigns and organizing work, build long-term power in our communities, and win elections.

DDx is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Hiring Process for This Role:

While there may be shifts to the hiring process, this is the anticipated hiring process’s steps for any candidates who advance from the application stage onwards:

1. Phone Screening: A 30-minute audio-only initial interview with a team member
2. First Round Interview: A 60-minute audio and video interview with a senior team member
3. Second Round Interview: A 60-minute audio and video interview with a panel of peers and engineering team members.
4. Final Round Interview: A 60-minute audio and video interview with a senior or executive team member.
5. Request for References: This will be a request for 3 professional references, one of which should be a previous direct supervisor.