Kafka Architect

Role: Kafka ArchitectLocation: McLean, VADescription: The Kafka Architect will be responsible for designing, implementing, and managing scalable, high-performance data streaming solutions using the Apache Kafka ecosystem, with a strong focus on Confluent Platform and Confluent Cloud. The role demands deep expertise in real-time data processing, event-driven architecture, and integration with modern cloud and data platforms.Key Responsibilities:Architect and implement enterprise-grade Kafka solutions using Confluent Platform/Cloud.Design and manage Kafka clusters, brokers, topics, and partitions for optimal performance and reliability.Lead migration efforts from legacy messaging systems (e.g., IBM MQ, TIBCO) to Kafka.Develop and optimize Kafka Streams, ksqlDB, Kafka Connect, and Flink-based pipelines.Ensure high availability, disaster recovery, and security (RBAC, ACLs) of Kafka infrastructure.Collaborate with data engineering, DevOps, and application teams to integrate Kafka into broader enterprise systems.Monitor and troubleshoot Kafka environments using tools like Grafana, Prometheus, and Confluent Control Center.Required Skills810+ years of experience in Kafka architecture and implementation.Deep expertise in:Apache KafkaConfluent Platform / Confluent CloudKafka Connect, Kafka Streams, ksqlDBZookeeper/KRaftExperience with cloud platforms (AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Azure) and CI/CD pipelines.Strong understanding of data integration tools (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, Hadoop).Familiarity with scripting (Shell, Python) and infrastructure-as-code (Terraform).Financial services or credit union domain experience is highly preferred.Certifications (Preferred)Confluent Certified Developer for Apache Kafka (CCDAK)Confluent Certified Administrator for Apache KafkaAWS/Google Cloud Platform Cloud CertificationsITIL Foundation