Full-Time
Data & Software Engineer
Ovative
501-1,000 employees
Digital media, measurement, and creative services.
Compensation Overview
$75k - $93k/yr
Chicago, IL, USA + 2 more
More locations: New York, NY, USA | Minneapolis, MN, USA
Hybrid
Frequent paid travel to Minneapolis for company and team events and in-person collaboration.
 Software Engineering (1) |
|---|
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- The candidate must have 3+ years of relevant data and software engineering development experience.
- The candidate must be proficient in SQL, Python, command-line tools, and ETL/ELT pipelines for large datasets, including AI and analytics use cases.
- The candidate must be familiar with cloud platforms and modern artificial intelligence concepts and tools, including GCP, AWS, AI/ML APIs, vector databases, embeddings, and retrieval.
- The candidate must demonstrate strong attention to detail, communication skills, and a track record of knowledge sharing with team members.
- Assist in designing, developing, testing, and deploying software solutions that align with business and technical requirements.
- Contribute to identifying opportunities for automation, with a focus on the operational stability of software applications and systems.
- Collaborate with the team to translate business goals and user requirements into detailed, actionable technical requirements.
- Contribute to documentation and technical requirements, including software designs, evaluation plans, test results, technical manuals, formal recommendations, and reports.
- Contribute to creating and maintaining robust, performant solutions that provide high customer impact at scale.
- Provide technical assistance to teammates through collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Follow established software and product engineering best practices, including code quality, documentation, deployment, and testing.
- Explore new technologies and tools under guidance to enhance software development.
- Troubleshoot software issues with support from senior team members as needed.
- Participate in technical knowledge sharing with other team members.
- Stay current with emerging technology and software engineering innovations and continuously enhance skills.
- Adhere to the software development lifecycle and DevOps best practices, maintaining high standards of quality and security across all phases of development.
- Leverage AI-assisted development tools, such as GitHub Copilot, Claude, and internal large language model tooling, to explore solution options, generate scaffolding code, and improve development velocity while maintaining code quality and security.
- Experience with iterative development and Agile methodologies, including familiarity with Scaled Agile Framework or similar scaled frameworks.
- Experience with artificial intelligence and machine learning frameworks or APIs, such as OpenAI, Hugging Face, LangChain, or similar.
- Experience working with data warehouses and big data tools, such as BigQuery and Databricks.
- Experience working with APIs for data retrieval.
- Experience building lightweight internal tools, agents, or workflows that orchestrate large language model calls, such as prompt templates, retrieval-augmented generation, or scripted helpers for teammates.
- Experience working with marketing, analytics, and customer data.
- Experience contributing to data and table architecture.
- Experience integrating data models within software.
Ovative Group is an independent firm specializing in digital-first media, measurement, and creative solutions to drive sustainable growth by linking marketing activities to business outcomes through the Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR) framework. It combines six capabilities, including media, measurement, and creative services, into a proprietary platform called EMRge that provides a single view of marketing performance to optimize investments and strategies. It differentiates itself by offering both advisory guidance and hands-on campaign execution and measurement, all supported by the EMR framework rather than relying on technology alone. Goal: help clients achieve sustainable growth by optimizing marketing investments and proving the business value of their marketing efforts.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Founded
2009
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See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Ovative reported nearly 30% revenue growth from 2022 to 2024.
- Aerie's 2026 campaign drove a two-year high in brand awareness.
- Chicago headcount passed 100 in 2026, supporting continued hiring momentum.
What critics are saying
- Retail clients face fragmented measurement battles against Google, Meta, and retail media networks.
- Employee reviews cite 2024 layoffs, overwork, and talent flight, threatening delivery quality.
- If EMRge becomes commoditized, Ovative loses pricing power and agency differentiation quickly.
What makes Ovative unique
- EMRge and EMR triangulate in-market testing, MMM+, and bottom-up analytics.
- Meta named Ovative a 2025 Best Use of Data and Signals winner.
- Ovative signed 31,000 square feet at 111 N. Canal, reflecting sustained growth.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Flexible Paid Time Off
401(k) Company Match
Sabbatical Leave
Phone/Internet Stipend
Company News
Ovative marks ninth straight year on Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies. Article authors: Ovative Group MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. August 11th, 2026 - For the ninth year in a row, Ovative Group has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies with 39% three-year revenue growth. This achievement extends a streak that puts Ovative among a small group of companies that make the list more than once, let alone nine times. "Nine years on this list is a reflection of the world-class growth we've achieved and a result of the great results we drive for our clients every day. Thank you to each of our clients for your trust and partnership." said Dale Nitschke, CEO and Founder of Ovative. That client-first approach was on display this year with impact delivered for brands like Aerie. For their "The REAL Ones" bra campaign, they wanted a campaign focused on cementing and extending brand's trust with key audiences. Ovative built a media strategy around where confidence gets tested throughout a woman's day, that drove a two-year high in brand awareness and earned Ovative and Aerie a joint "Best Use of Out of Home" win at ADWEEK's Media Plan of the Year awards. Ovative has continued investing in this client-first culture throughout its growth streak. This year marketed the opening of a new office at 111 N Canal in the West Loop that quadrupled its Chicago footprint. The space was built for team collaboration as the Chicago team surpassed 100 employees, proof that the firm's investment in talent is keeping pace with its growth. The firm has continued to build out technology for client impact as well. EMRge(TM), its proprietary marketing intelligence platform, was built to help clients understand and drive Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), the true business impact of their marketing across revenue, customer growth, and brand. More than 90% of Ovative's clients now run on EMRge(TM), using it to see clearly what's driving results and to act faster, the same client impact the firm's culture has always been built to deliver. With smarter platforms, faster data, and AI reshaping what execution looks like, the market around Ovative has changed fast. What hasn't changed is Ovative's focus on driving client outcomes. That commitment has fueled the firm's growth since its founding in 2009, transforming it from a small startup into a national leader in marketing and measurement. Today, Ovative partners with some of the most recognized brands in retail, food and beverage, and beyond, including Polaris, Boost Mobile, Post Consumer Brands, Domino's, and American Eagle Outfitters. About Inc 5000 The Inc. 5000 ranks companies by percentage revenue growth over a three-year period, celebrating innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurial excellence. Past honorees include household names such as Intuit, Zappos, and Patagonia. View the complete 2026 Inc. 5000 list here. About Ovative Group Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging deep industry expertise, the firm helps brands like Polaris, Boost Mobile, Post Consumer Brands, American Eagle Outfitters, Petco, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media, measurement, and creative programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself. Ovative doesn't just track data, it redefines success. Its proprietary marketing intelligence platform, EMRge(TM), helps businesses transform marketing into a driver of sustainable growth. Powered by Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), Ovative's differentiated approach to holistic media buying, planning, and measurement, EMRge(TM) is the first marketing intelligence platform to measure businesses holistically. Ovative is all about raising the bar every day, and it shows. Its work has been recognized by organizations like AdWeek, Digiday, Google, Meta, Inc. 5000, and USA Today. For more information about Ovative, visit its website or follow Ovative on Instagram or LinkedIn. For media inquiries, please contact: Courtney Stoesz Sr. Manager of Brand Marketing and Events [email protected] 715-307-2255 ARTICLE AUTHOR * Ovative Group Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging its deep industry expertise, Ovative Group help brands like Domino's, Facebook, The Home Depot, General Mills, Disney, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself.
Ovative Group wins 2026 AMA Chicago Palmer Award for Engagement. "Launching Cinnamon Pebbles with High-Impact Social " earns top honors in the engagement category. Chicago, Illinois-(Newsfile Corp. - June 24, 2026) - The American Marketing Association Chicago (AMA Chicago) announced that Ovative Group has received a 2026 Palmer Marketing Award in the Engagement category. The award was presented during the Palmer Marketing Awards celebration held June 16 at the House of Blues Chicago. The Palmer Marketing Awards recognize marketing campaigns that demonstrate exceptional creativity, innovation and measurable results. In a rare tie, Ovative Group earned top honors in the Engagement category for its campaign, "Launching Cinnamon Pebbles(TM) with High-Impact Social," a campaign recognized for leveraging social media to generate audience excitement, participation and measurable engagement. "The judges were impressed by the campaign's ability to capture attention and create meaningful interactions through innovative social media strategies," said Chris McGuire, president of AMA Chicago. "Ovative Group demonstrated how creative audience engagement can translate into measurable success." Named for James L. Palmer, the first president of the Chicago chapter of the American Marketing Association, the Palmer Marketing Awards celebrate marketing excellence and recognize campaigns that push boundaries, elevate the profession and drive results. Rachel Cafferty and Jennifer Guido of Ovative Group accept a 2026 Palmer Marketing Award for Engagement President of AMA Chicago Chris McGuire presents Rachel Cafferty and Jennifer Guido of Ovative Group with a 2026 Palmer Marketing Award for Engagement About AMA Chicago AMA Chicago, the largest professional chapter in the American Marketing Association's North American network, provides ongoing development opportunities for marketers to expand knowledge, improve skills and grow careers through access to industry thought leaders and cutting-edge programming. Marketers from agencies, brands, small businesses, nonprofit organizations and consultancies are invited to join and connect with peers across industries. Learn more at amachicago.org. Ready to announce with confidence? Send us a message and a member of our TMX Newsfile team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Turning nostalgia into now across Meta and TikTok. Ovative developed a layered, cross-platform paid social strategy designed to earn attention and inspire interaction at every touchpoint. Rather than leaning on reach alone, the approach was built around quality of attention, pairing efficient scale with high-impact placements. The strategy activated Meta Reach campaigns for audience scale and TikTok Reach campaigns to connect with younger, highly engaged segments. TikTok Top Feed served as the campaign's launchpad, guaranteeing premium visibility right at launch, ensuring Cinnamon Pebbles(TM) showed up in exactly the right place at exactly the right moment. Creative strategy was equally intentional, with content designed to feel native and credible within each platform's feed. Relatable everyday scenarios like office routines and gaming sessions positioned Cinnamon Pebbles(TM) as a natural fit for modern adult life while keeping the playful, recognizable Pebbles(TM) identity intact. Creator-led assets added authenticity and cultural relevance. Boosted organic content rounded out the approach, amplifying posts that were already gaining traction. Together, this platform strategy and creative approach ensured Cinnamon Pebbles(TM) was impossible to scroll past. Impact. Pebbles(TM) nostalgia became Cinnamon Pebbles(TM) association. Prioritizing attention over passive scale paid off. Cinnamon Pebbles(TM) outperformed Pebbles(TM) core campaigns across every key engagement metric while holding efficiency steady, confirming the strategy earned genuine interest. TikTok Top Feed was the campaign's standout investment. The placement delivered outsized engagement and video completion rates that exceeded both Pebbles(TM) and TikTok's CPG benchmarks, validating the decision to lead with premium visibility at launch. Brand lift results added the most meaningful proof: lifts in ad recall and message association showed the campaign did not just reach its audience; it resonated with them. When consumers were asked to associate a cereal with cinnamon, Cinnamon Pebbles(TM) emerged as a top-of-mind choice. AMA Chicago awarded Ovative the "Engagement" award at its 2026 Palmer Awards, recognizing the outstanding performance its team drove for Cinnamon Pebbles(TM). By pairing Pebbles(TM) nostalgia with modern, platform-native creative and high-impact placements, Ovative helped Post Consumer Brands do more than introduce a new flavor. They made it one consumers noticed, remembered, and connected with. message association lift higher engagement rate than Pebbles(TM) core campaigns higher CTR than Pebbles(TM) core campaigns higher video completion rate than Pebbles(TM) core campaigns
Ovative named Top workplace for the 11th consecutive year. Article authors: Ovative Group MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. June 15th, 2026 - For the eleventh consecutive year, Ovative Group has been named to Star Tribune's Top Workplaces list, ranking #38 in the large-size company category. Ovative, a media, measurement, and creative firm, has spent more than 15 years transforming how brands measure marketing success through growth in revenue, customer, and brand equity. What started in Minneapolis has grown into a three-city firm with offices in New York and Chicago, and a team that has expanded from 200 to more than 500 employees in just a few years. This year, Ovative expanded its Chicago presence, signing a 31,000-square-foot lease at 111 N. Canal in the West Loop and welcoming its 100th Chicago-based team member. That kind of growth is the result of an intentional, people-first culture built on five core values: accountable, driven, inclusive, engaged, and genuine. "11 years in a row. That doesn't happen by accident - it happens because of committed people. Our team members who live our values, mindsets, and skillsets every day. Our clients who trust us to push them toward better performance. Our partners who strengthen our expertise and capabilities. Everyone in this ecosystem is invested in making Ovative better - and that investment pays out every single day. Appreciate all of you!" said Dale Nitschke, Founder and CEO of Ovative. Central to that culture is Elevate, Ovative's custom leadership and development platform that equips team members to drive deeper impact. Ovative's proprietary Elevate Leadership Platform (ELP) gives its team a shared framework for growth built around values, mindsets, and skillsets. These pillars help team members self-assess, develop, and coach against key Ovative expectations. The goal is simple: clear expectations and real opportunities to grow. Inclusion is equally foundational for Ovative. Its DEIB program, Champions of Change, empowers team members to take action through four key initiatives: cultural agility education, equitable operating practices, charitable giving, and skills-based partnerships. In 2025, team members completed a 10-month curriculum covering topics like microaggressions, racial identity development, and inclusive feedback practices. Community investment remains a cornerstone of Ovative's culture. In 2025, Ovative team members provided $400k of digital marketing pro bono services to local community organizations and awarded $45k in scholarships to students from historically marginalized communities. Top Workplaces is an annual showcase of Minnesota's best places to work, based entirely on employee feedback measuring engagement, organizational health, and satisfaction. See the full list of Top Workplaces here. ARTICLE AUTHOR * Ovative Group Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging its deep industry expertise, Ovative Group help brands like Domino's, Facebook, The Home Depot, General Mills, Disney, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself.
Ovative signals continued growth with strategic Chicago office expansion at 111 N Canal. Article authors: Ovative Group CHICAGO, IL March 3rd, 2026 - In an unpredictable economic and technological landscape, Ovative is quadrupling down on growth. The independent media, measurement, and creative firm has signed a 31,000-square-foot lease at 111 N. Canal in Chicago's West Loop, quadrupling its local footprint and marking a major milestone in the company's continued growth. The new space, previously occupied by Pinterest, places Ovative alongside globally recognized brands and further cements its presence in one of the nation's most iconic advertising and marketing cities. The expansion comes as Ovative reaches another significant milestone: the hiring of its 100th Chicago-based team member. The growth in headcount reflects not only the firm's continued business momentum, but its long-term commitment to investing in talent and building a thriving presence in the city. Founded in Minneapolis, Ovative has rapidly expanded its Chicago presence in recent years. The firm has been listed as one of AdWeek's Fastest-Growing Agencies for four years running and reported nearly 30% revenue growth from 2022 to 2024. That momentum is mirrored in Chicago, not only in square footage, but in talent, partnerships, and client impact. "In a market known for shaping the future of advertising, we're proud to be building something distinctive here," said Dale Nitschke, CEO and Founder of Ovative Group. "Our growth isn't just about space. It's about people. It's about creating an environment where talented teams can come together, collaborate deeply, and drive meaningful growth for our clients. As other companies pull back, we're leaning in: investing in our people, our clients, and the communities we're part of." Chicago has long been synonymous with advertising innovation, home to some of the industry's most influential agencies and brands. Ovative's expansion reflects its ambition to contribute to that legacy while bringing a differentiated approach to the market, one grounded in its proprietary marketing intelligence platform, EMRge(TM), and its focus on driving enterprise-wide business growth, not just media performance. The move to 111 N. Canal signals more than physical expansion. The building, which recently underwent significant upgrades, offers open, collaborative spaces designed to bring people together. For Ovative, that intentional investment in gathering space is strategic. "Connection fuels growth," Nitschke added. "We believe in bringing people together across disciplines, clients, and industries. This office is a commitment to that belief. We're building a space where teams can solve complex challenges side by side, where relationships are strengthened in person, and where the energy of collaboration drives better outcomes." Ovative's Chicago growth mirrors its broader trajectory as an independent, impact-driven firm. The company partners with leading retail, CPG, and healthcare brands to unlock measurable, profitable growth by integrating media, measurement, and creative. Its approach aligns media investment to enterprise outcomes, helping brands move beyond siloed channel metrics to true business impact in revenue, brand health, and customer growth. With the new Chicago office set to open on March 3rd, Ovative is inviting clients, partners, and talent to be part of what's next. About Ovative Group Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging its deep industry expertise, Ovative Group help brands like Polaris, Boost Mobile, Post Consumer Brands, American Eagle Outfitters, Petco, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media, measurement, and creative programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself. At Ovative, Ovative Group don't just track data, Ovative Group redefine success. How do Ovative Group do it? Its proprietary marketing intelligence platform, EMRge(TM) helps businesses transform marketing into a driver of sustainable growth. Powered by Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), its differentiated approach to holistic media buying, planning, and measurement, EMRge(TM) is the first marketing intelligence platform to measure businesses holistically. Ovative Group is all about raising the bar every day, and it shows. Its work has been recognized by organizations like AdWeek, Digiday, Google, Meta, Inc. 5000, and USA Today. For more information about Ovative, visit its website or follow Ovative on Instagram or LinkedIn. For media inquiries or to connect with the Ovative Chicago team, please contact: Courtney Stoesz Sr. Manager of Brand Marketing and Events [email protected] 715-307-2255 ARTICLE AUTHOR * Ovative Group Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging its deep industry expertise, Ovative Group help brands like Domino's, Facebook, The Home Depot, General Mills, Disney, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself.