Merkle is a leading data-driven, technology-enabled, global performance marketing agency that specialises in the delivery of unique, personalised customer experiences across platforms and devices. We call it ‘people-based’ marketing, and with over 25 years’ experience, we are proud to be recognised as a Global leader.

Merkle’s heritage in data, technology and analytics is the foundation for our understanding of consumer insights that drives our people-based marketing strategies. With our expertise, we can offer our clients content-driven, contextual and compelling customer journeys and experiences that drive business growth.

With our Head Office in Columbia, Maryland and offices US wide, we continue to grow at a rapid rate across Europe and Asia. In 2016, the agency joined the Dentsu Aegis Network, one of the world’s biggest Global media companies.

The Role

This hands-on role will sit within our specialist Development Team where you will be developing a data warehouse and ultimately be responsible for the ETL processes - using SSIS and T-SQL to produce high quality, robust and unit-tested solutions.

You will also be responsible mobilising the latest principles on a diverse range of Marketing and Campaign Management projects, we will look to you for best practice and clever thinking.

An important aspect of the role is the ability to document architecture, structure and implementation details for your projects, and as a senior member of the team, you will also make recommendations on how to optimise and improve the engineering process – and help to design warehouses of the future.

You will support junior team members and assist with troubleshooting technical issues such as database performance issues, failed ETL loads and bug fixes.  Being one of the go-to database specialists, you will support the Account Management team in responding to client queries, setting expectation and ensuring process is adhered to. 

Life as a Database Engineer at Merkle:

• Ability to work on (and get your teeth into as this is a hands-on role) a truly diverse blue-chip Client portfolio across a number of industry sectors.
• Longer term opportunity to work across a number of complex solutions, using latest technologies such as Connected Customer Engagement, Big Data, Omni-Channel Marketing, 360 Single Customer Views, DMPs.
• Ability to attend industry conferences and technical events, internal innovation and best practice forums to keep abreast of market changes and emerging technologies.
• Innovation and training time to develop your skills and encourage continued professional development.
• Career progression: we have re-launched our appraisal system to encourage continuous development
• Opportunity to rub minds with the best minds in the business – we pride ourselves on being approachable and collaborative
• To work closely with the Data Science team, helping them investigate any issues arising from datasets and automating their outputs
• Ability to define ways of working, including SQL coding best practice and deployment processes
• Exposure to our REST based API, which allows 3rd parties to pull insights from the platform to make better informed decisions

A few of the benefits

Whether it’s the joy of working with people at the top of their game or the Merkle social calendar, people love working here – and we hope you will too

• Career development through Merkle University and other tools; with access to courses, textbooks and mentorship
• Private Medical Insurance, Company Pension, life insurance and other corporate benefits
• A selection of other benefits including ability to buy additional holiday, season ticket loan and 2 volunteer days

Diversity & Inclusion

At Merkle, we believe that a diverse and inclusive environment improves us as a community and as a business. We want to foster an environment of growth, where ideas and contributions are actively encouraged. We need this culture of courage to continue to thrive in our fast-paced industry.

We have created six Diversity and Inclusion Pillars. Each pillar is made up of a community of members who serve as role models and spread a message of inclusion throughout our global workplace. Pillar members are responsible for planning initiatives, events and training, along with championing change within our business. These pillars are Gender, Ethnicity, Mental Health, Religion, Disability, LGBT+.

Merkle is a place that embraces differences of opinion. To be an advocate for real change we really encourage applications from women, candidates with disabilities and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as we recognise that these groups are currently underrepresented in our marketing/technology industry.

• Microsoft-Certified (MCSD or MCSA desirable)
• It is anticipated the appropriate candidate will have circa 3 years database/data warehouse design and data modelling, preferably Kimball methodology (or other methodology, e.g. Inmon)
• Circa 3 years ETL development and design experience in SSIS
• Circa 5 years strong SQL/T-SQL experience
• Circa 3 years SQL Server experience (2008, 2012, 2014, preferably 2016)
• Source Control using Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS)
• Additional scripting languages a bonus
• Marketing Agency / Service Industry / SI Consultancy experience highly desirable
• Software and application development experience with the ability to understand the full solution
• Must have a genuine interest in technology and SQL Server, demonstrating an understanding of new SQL Server functionality (e.g. 2016)

Experience with:

• GDPR and in particular Privacy by Design and Rights of the Individual
• Large data sets and stores, with consumer/PII data
• Different SDLC methodologies such as Waterfall, Agile, Lean or Kanban
• Strong experience in Requirements Analysis and Specification, and estimating
• Source Control systems
• Server architectures, distributed systems and file systems

Approach:

• Genuine interest in technology and a curious mind
• Ability to think strategically, creatively and be an inspiring leader

Desirable Skills include:

• Exposure to databases technologies (MySQL, PostgresSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB)
• Exposure to cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, Google)
• Exposure to Big Data technologies (Spark, Hive, Oozie, Sqoop, NiFi, HDFS, R)

At the point of application, the candidate must have the legal right to work in the UK as we are unable to sponsor visas as this time. Merkle does not discriminate against job applicants on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Experience stipulated in this job description serves as a guide only and all applications will be considered on their merits, irrespective of experience.

As part of our Diversity and Inclusion agenda, and as an Equal Opportunities employer, if you require reasonable adjustments during the selection process please engage directly with your Recruiter.