CRM Data Engineer – Smithsonian Institution
(IS-2210-14 | Trust Fund Position)
About the Role
The Smithsonian Institution seeks a CRM Data Engineer to join the Office of Digital and Innovation (ODI) within the Office of the Deputy Secretary in Washington, D.C. This full-time, onsite position plays a vital role in supporting the Institution’s mission to increase and diffuse knowledge by building cohesive digital experiences and strengthening audience relationships through robust data management systems.
The Mission Behind the Role
The Office of Digital and Innovation leverages technology to enhance visitor engagement and institutional efficiency. Within ODI, the Engagement Solutions division manages constituent relationship management (CRM) systems and associated data platforms. The CRM Data Engineer ensures the accuracy, quality, and usability of the Smithsonian’s CRM data—laying the foundation for meaningful, data-driven engagement strategies across museums and research centers.
Core Responsibilities
- Develop, document, and maintain CRM data policies, quality assurance strategies, and data management standards.
- Design and implement scalable data pipelines and automations, ensuring optimal data availability, performance, and integrity.
- Drive automation initiatives, manage CRM integrations, and optimize system workflows.
- Maintain a comprehensive data dictionary and enforce validation rules across all CRM data instances.
- Cleanse, unify, and enrich data using services such as address verification, deduplication, and demographic appends.
- Lead Smithsonian-wide data initiatives to preserve database integrity and enhance analytics capabilities.
- Recommend and implement modern technologies aligned with CRM data and reporting needs.
Desired Expertise
- Proven mastery of CRM and data platforms such as Salesforce, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Redshift, Glue, Athena, and Snowflake.
- Strong command of data integration, modelling, ETL, and warehousing best practices.
- Advanced proficiency in Python, SQL, R, T-SQL, KQL, and Apache Spark.
- Experience designing CI/CD pipelines for automated data engineering workflows.
- Expertise in data quality management, automation, and performance optimization.
- Exceptional analytical, communication, and documentation skills.
- Preferred: Background in nonprofit or federal environments.
Educational Background
Applicants must hold a relevant degree in data science, computer engineering, or a related field.
Foreign education credentials must be verified as equivalent to U.S. programs by a recognized evaluation service.
Work Environment & Classification
- Location: Washington, DC
- Workplace Type: Onsite
- Employment Type: Trust Fund, Indefinite
- Schedule: Full-Time
- Position Sensitivity: High Risk
- Compensation: $142,488 – $185,234 per year
What Are Trust Fund Positions?
Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. Endowments, grants, contracts, business revenues, and donations fund them. While Trust employees do not hold federal status, they work alongside federal staff and receive comparable benefits, including:
- Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Life and AD&D Insurance
- Transit/Commuter Benefits
- 403(b) Retirement Plan
- Paid Annual & Sick Leave
- Child Care and Flexible Spending Accounts
- Discounts on Smithsonian memberships, museum stores, and restaurants
Employment Conditions
Applicants must:
- Pass a pre-employment background check and periodic reinvestigations.
- Complete a probationary period.
- Maintain a bank account for direct deposit.
- Be eligible to work in the United States (proof not required at the time of application).
All qualifications must be met within 30 days of the closing date.
Application Timeline
- Open Date: October 10, 2025
- Closing Date: November 10, 2025 (or earlier if 250 applications are received)
Application Instructions
Interested applicants should submit a resume detailing both paid and unpaid experience, including job titles, responsibilities, start and end dates (month/year), and weekly hours worked.
Following the application period, all resumes will be reviewed for qualification alignment. Qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration.
Equal Opportunity Commitment
The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations by contacting OHRTrustbranch@si.edu.
To learn more, visit:
About the Smithsonian Institution
Established in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum and research complex—comprising 21 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and 14 research facilities. With more than 6,500 employees, including 500 scientists, and over 157 million objects and specimens, the Institution continues to inspire generations through knowledge and discovery.
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