Data Services Engineer

Catalist

Catalist

Software Engineering

Washington, DC, USA

USD 59k-69k / year

Posted on Jun 3, 2026
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For over 20 years, Catalist has been a leader in civic data and data science innovation. Our mission is to provide progressive organizations with the data, software, and services needed to better identify, understand, and communicate with the people they need to engage and mobilize. Our clients include the largest, most influential organizations in the U.S. active in civic engagement, advocacy, and political campaigns.
Catalist is home to a dedicated, creative team of technologists, data scientists, and campaign experts committed to using our talents and technology to nurture a vibrant and growing progressive community.

As a Data Services Engineer (DSE) at Catalist, you will have a leading role in providing support and creating solutions for a wide array of Catalist clients and partners as well assisting or leading cross-departmental projects. The DSE supports Catalist clients and partners by developing data products outside of the scope of the Catalist Tools such as custom reports, data processing, and digital integrations.

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with excellent technical skills, a strong desire to learn new skills, and an interest in progressive politics. Catalist values creativity and problem-solving. Our work is on the cutting edge of data-driven politics, and your support will help Democratic candidates and progressive organizations conduct successful advocacy and electoral campaigns.

This position reports to the Director of Data Support. Data Services Engineers work closely with the Client Services, Analytics, and Tech teams, and as part of the Data team they support all underlying work at Catalist.

This position is included in our CWA bargaining unit.

Principle Duties & Responsibilities

  • Acts as an advanced user of all internal and external Catalist tools, data, and products for the purpose of supporting client requests and internal projects
  • Understands client needs, political implications, and scope of work through consistent communication with other Catalist departments and partner organizations
  • Oversees all projects assigned from start to finish; successfully delivers reports, lists, and other material requests on time, accurately, and in a client-friendly format with actionable insights
  • Executes requests for new business development support from Marketing team
  • Escalates issues and concerns to the Director of Data Support as needed
  • Creates and maintains documentation to support all deliverables for future replication

Requirements

  • BS or BA or relevant experience
  • Willingness to be a creative problem solver and produce results in a fast paced environment
  • Ability to focus on details and make productive suggestions on ways to streamline and improve processes
  • Ability to communicate with technical and non-technical audiences, and articulate ideas verbally and through written communications
  • Ability and willingness to learn new skills quickly
  • Ability to become an internal subject matter expert on various datasets and support other Catalist departments/teams on usage of those datasets
  • Background check required

Preferred Skills & Abilities

  • Interest, familiarity, or experience with SQL, BigQuery, Python, or other relational database programming language
  • Experience in the following: Terminal or using a Unix command line interface
  • Experience working with cloud infrastructure and large-scale data workflows in AWS or GCP
  • Experience managing projects
  • Familiarity with Catalist data, progressive politics, voter files, and/or large commercial datasets
  • Interest or familiarity with using LLM’s in secure environments to support work products
Benefits
Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug
Catalist offers Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug coverage for eligible staff and their eligible dependents. Catalist’s Medical plan is a comprehensive PPO program including Prescription Drug coverage with 85% of the premium paid by Catalist. We also offer an HDHP plan with HSA eligibility. Dental and Vision coverage is provided at no cost to employees.
Group Term Life Insurance and Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Coverage
Group Term Life Insurance and Long-Term and Short-Term Disability coverage is available for eligible staff. These benefits are provided at no cost to Catalist employees.
401(k) Safe Harbor Plan
A 401(k) Safe Harbor Plan is available to eligible staff with a 3% contribution from Catalist from the date of hire. Employees may contribute pre-tax or post-tax from their salary up to the legal limits set forth by the IRS.
Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Catalist offers an FSA Program that gives eligible staff the ability to pay out-of-pocket medical/dental/vision/child care expenses from pre-tax earnings.
Transit Benefits
Catalist also makes available a Transit benefit FSA program to eligible employees using pre-tax contributions with a company match.
Professional Development and Remote Work Expenses
Eligible employees may be reimbursed up to $750 each year for professional development / education and $500 for remote work expenses.
Student Loan PayDown or SaveUp
Catalist offers a Student Loan PayDown and College SaveUp benefit for eligible staff.
Vacation, Personal Leave, Sick Leave Benefits
Catalist offers generous vacation benefits to all eligible staff. Eligible employees also receive:
- 15 Paid Holidays (16 in Presidential Inauguration years)
- Personal Days
- Sick Leave
- Parental Leave
Hybrid Office/Remote Work
Certain positions at Catalist are eligible for Office/Remote Hybrid or full Remote status.

59000 - 69000 USD a year

Apply now
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