Junior Programmatic Trader

ABOUT THE SHIPYARD

The Shipyard is a leading, independent agency that builds performance-driven brands audiences can’t help but love.

By applying modern mindsets to established models, we fuel brand and marketing decisions that are more courageous and more validated.

Our ability to align bold creativity with individual consumer motivations lets us do more than hope for brand love – we methodically engineer it throughout the consumer journey. That’s how we activate the synergistic power of brand building and performance marketing.

Engineering Brand Love through the courageous ambitions of our people and our clients.

The agency has significant momentum and we’re still growing. Come join our team!

SUMMARY

We’re looking for a sharp, driven, and collaborative Junior Programmatic Trader to join our San Diego or Sacramento team.

This person will be looking to take the next step in their programmatic career by moving beyond campaign support into hands-on ownership of programmatic activations. In this role, you’ll begin managing campaigns directly within the DSPs while building confidence in optimizations, reporting, and cross-departmental communication.

As a Junior Programmatic Trader, you will support the execution of strategic media recommendations while beginning to develop and articulate your own tactical input. You’ll ensure campaigns launch accurately and deliver against client KPIs, while also proactively monitoring pacing, performance, and opportunities for improvement. You will be a bridge between Coordinator and Trader responsibilities, balancing executional accuracy with growing strategic insight.

This role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a collaborative mindset. The Junior Trader is expected to participate in ongoing training, actively pursue platform certifications, and contribute to process improvements and team knowledge sharing.

At The Shipyard, we know that it's your unique talents, backgrounds, and perspectives that make you who you are, just like our team, who come from various career paths and experiences. We believe we can't be truly diverse without bringing your most authentic self to the agency.  

Studies show that people from marginalized communities may not always apply for positions if they don't meet every single requirement in a job posting. At The Shipyard, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the requirements. We believe that your passion for what we stand for — our values and purpose — is just as important as meeting every checkbox. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Independently set up and QA campaigns across DSPs (e.g., The Trade Desk, Amazon, etc.) with guidance from Traders and Senior Traders
• Monitor campaign delivery and pacing daily, proactively flagging issues, optimizing for performance, and communicating updates to internal teams
• Tagging & trafficking creative assets and accurately utilize standard naming conventions
• Pull, format, and analyze reporting data to identify early insights and trends
• Contribute tactical recommendations in RFP responses, including vendor selection, audience targeting, and budget allocation support
• Communicate clearly with internal planning, creative, and data teams to ensure smooth campaign launches and troubleshooting
• Participate in vendor trainings and platform certifications, staying current on programmatic best practices and emerging tools
• Ownership and implementation of quality assurance standards for the Programmatic media team
• Maintain and update team documentation, ensuring learnings and optimizations are shared consistently

WHAT YOU’LL BRING 

• Has 1-3 years’ experience in programmatic media, ad operations, or digital media buying
• Hands-on familiarity with DSPs (The Trade Desk experience preferred)
• Can work in a fast-paced environment and continuously learn, as the market changes and new platforms/ways of working develop
• Has worked in a team environment
• Is a self-starter
• Detail-orientated and organized, with the ability to balance multiple accounts
• Effective communicator with cross-functional teams; able to explain technical details in clear, digestible ways
• Desire to become a product expert in Programmatic buying
• Knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint – especially pivot tables and functions/formulas in Excel to streamline data analysis
• An eagerness for career progression in Programmatic and AdTech
• Strong analytical mindset; able to connect campaign data with performance outcomes
• Passion for your work and your clients’ satisfaction
• Proactive and curious, eager to learn and apply new strategies and tools
• Outstanding written and verbal communication
• Creative thinking, research, and problem-solving skills
• Imaginative, bold, and out-of-the-ordinary thinking
• Has enthusiasm and a positive attitude

WHAT YOU’LL GET 

• The overall target range of base compensation for this role is $69,700 - $82,000. Compensation offered will be determined by additional factors such as location and experience
• Open PTO
• 40 hours of paid sick time (annually)
• Flexible work hours and remote work
• Paid holidays + holiday closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance and disability benefits
• 401k program with employer matching
• 6 weeks paid parental leave
• Employee bonus referrals
• Dog-friendly offices
• Company-provided snacks and beverages (yes, beer/wine included)
• … and lots more!

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship