Apache Kafka / Confluent Engineer - Onsite - Chandler, AZ

Job Title: Apache Kafka / Confluent Engineer Location: Chandler, AZ Pay Rate: Competitive (based on experience) Client: Confidential (Leading Financial Services Organization) Job Summary We are looking for a skilled Apache Kafka / Confluent Engineer to design, implement, and support real-time data streaming platforms in a large-scale enterprise environment. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with Kafka and Confluent Platform setup, configuration, and administration, along with strong expertise in distributed systems and event-driven architecture. Key Responsibilities • Install, configure, and manage Apache Kafka and Confluent Platform environments • Design and implement high-throughput, fault-tolerant data streaming solutions • Perform cluster setup, topic configuration, partitioning, and replication strategies • Monitor and optimize Kafka cluster performance, availability, and scalability • Troubleshoot production issues and perform root cause analysis (RCA) • Manage Kafka brokers, Zookeeper/KRaft mode, and Confluent components • Implement security (SSL, SASL, ACLs) and governance best practices • Work closely with development teams to integrate Kafka-based solutions • Support production environments, including on-call rotation if needed • Develop automation scripts for environment provisioning and monitoring Required Skills & Experience • 5+ years of experience in distributed systems / middleware support • Strong hands-on experience with Apache Kafka and Confluent Platform • Proven experience in Kafka setup, configuration, and cluster management • Knowledge of Kafka architecture (brokers, topics, partitions, consumers, producers) • Experience with Linux/Unix environments and scripting (Shell, Python, or similar) • Familiarity with monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana, or Confluent Control Center) • Strong troubleshooting skills in production environments • Understanding of event-driven architecture and messaging systems Preferred Qualifications • Experience in financial services or banking domain • Exposure to cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) • Experience with Kafka Connect, Schema Registry, ksqlDB • Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices • Familiarity with containerization tools (Docker, Kubernetes) Soft Skills • Strong communication and collaboration skills • Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-availability environment • Analytical and problem-solving mindset • Detail-oriented and proactive approach