What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Analyst position at Tunnl?
The Research Analyst will support the execution of Tunnl’s research projects through audience building, data validation, quality control, and reporting. Reporting to a Research Director, this role is essential to ensuring our research is executed accurately, on time, and with clarity.
You will collaborate closely with Strategic Research, Account Management, and Product teams to support audience building projects from kickoff to delivery. You will support client projects from kickoff through delivery, gaining exposure to the full audience lifecycle—from audience building to activation. You will play a key role in structuring and optimizing Tunnl’s professional data table, which combines multiple datasets to create high-value Opinion Maker audiences for our clients. You will develop and implement a standardized taxonomy to improve searchability, segmentation, and data usability. You will also contribute to enhancing match accuracy between datasets by applying SQL and python-based solutions and working alongside the product and engineering team to refine automated processes. This is a hands-on role suited for someone with strong attention to detail, comfort working with data, and a desire to grow technical and analytical skills in survey research, microtargeting, and management of large datasets.
The ideal candidate is a motivated self-starter who enjoys solving problems, works well in fast-paced environments, takes pride in getting the details right, and is eager to build technical and analytical skills in survey research and microtargeting. Candidates must be located in the DC-area.
Responsibilities
Tunnl is building a future where artificial intelligence enables organizations to connect meaningfully with the people who matter most. We help organizations conduct research at scale, define the right audiences, surface real-time insights, identify optimal communication channels, and measure changing attitudes over time.
Tunnl serves brands, agencies, and advocacy groups alike—organizations navigating complex communications, reputational, and regulatory landscapes. These teams need smarter, faster ways to make audience-informed decisions that stand up to scrutiny and resonate across stakeholder groups. Whether you're building a campaign, shaping public opinion, managing risk, or launching a new initiative, Tunnl is the only solution integrating research, targeting, and measurement—in one unified experience.
You will collaborate closely with Strategic Research, Account Management, and Product teams to support audience building projects from kickoff to delivery. You will support client projects from kickoff through delivery, gaining exposure to the full audience lifecycle—from audience building to activation. You will play a key role in structuring and optimizing Tunnl’s professional data table, which combines multiple datasets to create high-value Opinion Maker audiences for our clients. You will develop and implement a standardized taxonomy to improve searchability, segmentation, and data usability. You will also contribute to enhancing match accuracy between datasets by applying SQL and python-based solutions and working alongside the product and engineering team to refine automated processes. This is a hands-on role suited for someone with strong attention to detail, comfort working with data, and a desire to grow technical and analytical skills in survey research, microtargeting, and management of large datasets.
The ideal candidate is a motivated self-starter who enjoys solving problems, works well in fast-paced environments, takes pride in getting the details right, and is eager to build technical and analytical skills in survey research and microtargeting. Candidates must be located in the DC-area.
Responsibilities
- Audience Building
- Data Structuring & Standardization
- Optimize the searchability and segmentation of professional audiences within Tunnl’s internal tooling
- Document and maintain a structured data framework to ensure long-term usability and scalability
- Data Querying & Reporting
- Support internal teams with audience segmentation and custom data requests leveraging Python and SQL
- Develop automated reports to monitor data integrity, match rates, and audience performance
- Assist with data validation processes to ensure high-quality outputs for clients
- Quality Control & Data Validation
- Manage hand-matching workflows that ensure high-profile matches are correct
- Conduct first-pass QC on survey instruments, fielding logic, and audience assignments
- Validate data files, ensuring accurate application of weights, quotas, and filtering
- Identify inconsistencies or data issues and propose fixes before manager review
- Data Import/Export & ETL Support
- Support importing/exporting data from internal systems and external platforms (e.g., LiveRamp, Qualtrics, Dropbox)
- Assist with audience file formatting, ID matching, and record tagging
- Conduct QA on incoming and outgoing datasets, including row-level spot checks and file integrity reviews
- Partner with senior team members to troubleshoot ETL issues and improve import/export processes
- Process Documentation & Continuous Improvement
- Follow SOPs for QC, audience tagging, survey builds, and delivery
- Document recurring issues and suggest improvements to workflow
- Maintain internal Dropbox folders and tracking tools to support delivery consistency
- 0–3 years of experience in data analysis, data engineering, database management, survey research, market research, analytics, or equivalent (internships or academic experience considered)
- Working knowledge of SQL with the ability to write queries to explore, validate, and QA data (complex optimization skills can be developed over time).
- Proficiency with Python for data manipulation and automation
- Strong attention to detail and communication skills with demonstrated ability to catch and resolve errors
- Proactive team player that wants to join a high performing team and is curious about research
- Experience working with large datasets and entity resolution techniques
- Ability to structure unorganized data into a usable, scalable taxonomy
- Experience with AWS services, particularly S3 for data storage and retrieval
- Familiarity with Databricks and Spark for large-scale data processing
- Experience with version control tools such as Git/GitHub for collaboration and code management
- Familiarity with APIs and json data structures
- Experience in public affairs, brand insights, political campaigns, or market research
- Strong written communication skills for summaries and client-facing outputs
- Experience with Dropbox, Hubspot, or ticketing/project tracking systems
- Audiences are built with minimal errors and proactively checked
- Data files and reports are accurate, on time, and meet internal QA standards
- Project documentation is clean, current, and reduces repeated errors
- Stakeholders see you as a reliable, detail-oriented teammate
- You grow in your technical skills across audience building, activations, and reporting
- Join a team driven by curiosity, teamwork, integrity, and a shared passion for solving big challenges.
- A friendly, welcoming, and supportive culture with regular social and team events.
- Eligible for the Company Bonus Plan (targeting 15% of Base Salary).
- Comprehensive benefits with excellent medical, vision, and dental coverage.
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.
- Employer-paid Life & AD&D insurance, with voluntary additional coverage available.
- Voluntary short- and long-term disability, accident, and critical illness insurance.
- Flexible hybrid work policy.
- Flexible unlimited paid vacation plus 80 hours of paid sick leave.
- 10 paid company holidays per year plus the week between Christmas and New Year’s off.
- 401(k) plan with 100% match up to 3%, plus 50% match up to 5% (subject to IRS limits).
- Cell phone reimbursement stipend.
- Monthly parking or commuter stipend for VA-based employees.
Tunnl is building a future where artificial intelligence enables organizations to connect meaningfully with the people who matter most. We help organizations conduct research at scale, define the right audiences, surface real-time insights, identify optimal communication channels, and measure changing attitudes over time.
Tunnl serves brands, agencies, and advocacy groups alike—organizations navigating complex communications, reputational, and regulatory landscapes. These teams need smarter, faster ways to make audience-informed decisions that stand up to scrutiny and resonate across stakeholder groups. Whether you're building a campaign, shaping public opinion, managing risk, or launching a new initiative, Tunnl is the only solution integrating research, targeting, and measurement—in one unified experience.