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Kafka Developer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Java Microservices Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$52.50 - $68/hr

... Kafka, Azure Event Hub) for efficient data transmission between microservices. • Implement ... engineering teams to design microservices that edit tasks, milestones, and other MRO-related ...

Python Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.75 - $71.25/hr

Back-End Python Developer You will be developing cutting edge back-end software solutions that will ... Spark, Kafka and/or Airflow * Cloud-native development experience (any cloud is fine, as we're ...

Python Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.75 - $71.25/hr

Back-End Python Developer You will be developing cutting edge back-end software solutions that will ... Spark, Kafka and/or Airflow * Cloud-native development experience (any cloud is fine, as we're ...

Python Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.75 - $71.50/hr

... Spark, Kafka and/or Airflow • Cloud-native development experience (any cloud is fine, as we're ... • DevOps experience • Front-end development experience • Bachelor's Degree in CS Company ...

Java Developer

Riverwoods, IL · On-site

$53 - $68.50/hr

Knowledge of Kafka, Kinesis, or other streaming technologies. * Exposure to DevOps practices, infrastructure-as-code, or containerization (Docker, Kubernetes). * Understanding of domain-driven design ...

UI/UX Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$51.50 - $67/hr

Company Description • Looking for a UI Developer • 80% front end 20% back end Tech Stack used ... • Kafka and AWS SQS for messaging • Amazon S3 for object storage • Event sourcing ...

Sr Mulesoft Developer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$56.25 - $74.25/hr

... SQL, Kafka, .NET connectors etc. • Must have experience in secure API development • ... SQL programming language including writing stored procedures and SQL queries • Must have good ...

Retail Integrations Developer

Lincolnshire, IL · On-site

$53 - $70.25/hr

... Kafka. • Design and optimize SQL queries and database interactions with SQL Server and Oracle ... programming and data structures. • Experience working with Kubernetes (K8s), including ...

Showing results 41-60

Kafka Developer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$17

$54

$87

How much do kafka developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for kafka developer in Chicago, IL is $54.23, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.61 and $62.40 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Kafka developer?

A Kafka Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining real-time data streaming applications using Apache Kafka. They work on building data pipelines, integrating Kafka with various systems, and optimizing event-driven architectures. Their role involves writing producers and consumers, handling message serialization, and ensuring efficient data processing. Kafka Developers also focus on fault tolerance, scalability, and security to support high-throughput data applications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Kafka developer?

To thrive as a Kafka Developer, you need a solid understanding of distributed systems, event-driven architecture, and strong proficiency in programming languages like Java or Scala. Familiarity with Kafka tools (such as Kafka Streams, Connect, and Zookeeper), cloud platforms, and Apache ecosystem certifications is highly valued. Problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and teamwork are crucial soft skills for this role. These competencies are essential for building reliable data pipelines, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and maintaining high-throughput message systems in a production environment.

What typical challenges might I face as a Kafka developer, and how is support structured within a team?

As a Kafka Developer, you’ll often face challenges related to ensuring data reliability, managing high-throughput event streams, and troubleshooting issues in distributed environments. Support is usually provided through collaborative team structures, where developers, DevOps engineers, and data engineers work closely to identify and resolve bottlenecks or performance issues. Regular code reviews, knowledge-sharing sessions, and access to system monitoring tools help address technical hurdles. You can expect a supportive environment where collaboration and proactive problem-solving are encouraged to ensure smooth data flow and system stability.

Is Kafka developer difficult to learn?

Learning to become a Kafka developer involves understanding distributed systems, messaging concepts, and Kafka's architecture, which can be complex for beginners. Proficiency typically requires knowledge of programming languages like Java or Python, along with experience in data streaming and system integration. With dedicated study and hands-on practice, many developers can acquire the necessary skills over time.

What are the most commonly searched types of Kafka Developer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Kafka Developer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What job categories do people searching Kafka Developer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Kafka Developer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Infographic showing various Kafka Developer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,791 per year, or $54.2 per hour.

Java - Lead at Chicago, IL _5 Days Onsite

BI-Commercial

Chicago, IL • On-site

Contractor

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Role: Java - Lead

Location: Chicago, IL

Experience: 10+ Years    "Skillset: Java microservices, Kafka, AI/ML, AWS

Java Lead:  An Lead has an “end to end product” mindset - design, implementation, testing and deployment

Design and developer application using Core Java Design and developer application using J2EE.

Experience in J2EE design patterns

Create/consume Rest APIs & Microservices

Experience with AI/ML

Experience with CI/CD, Jenkins

Experience with Junit/Mockito

Experience with database (SQL/No-SQL_

Experience with Agile, Jira, Git Experience with Kafka/Kubernetes

Experience with Cloud AWS – EKS, Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL, Dynamo DB, S3, IAM, Route 53, ELB, SNS, SQS,

Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (MSK), Cloud Watch"          Java microservices, Kafka, AI/ML, AWS