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Kafka Developer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Sr Java Developer with Kafka

Seattle, WA · On-site +1

$65.25 - $83/hr

Key projects: • Sr Java engineer - will work with other engineers to create a Java API around a legacy Scala codebase and implement Kafka stream processing. Team culture/work environment: • Team ...

... Devops practices to build and run large-scale, massively distributed, fault-tolerant systems. Our ... You will help build next-generation Kafka infrastructure and platform services, collaborating cross ...

... Devops practices to build and run large-scale, massively distributed, fault-tolerant systems. Our ... You will help build next-generation Kafka infrastructure and platform services, collaborating cross ...

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Kafka Developer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$19

$60

$96

How much do kafka developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for kafka developer in Seattle, WA is $60.14, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48.32 and $69.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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.

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.

Is Kafka difficult to learn?

Kafka developers need to understand distributed systems, messaging concepts, and Kafka's architecture, which can involve a learning curve for beginners. Familiarity with programming languages like Java or Python and experience with data streaming tools can facilitate learning Kafka. Overall, with dedicated study and practical experience, many find Kafka manageable to learn over time.

What does a Kafka developer do?

A Kafka developer designs, develops, and maintains applications that utilize Apache Kafka for real-time data streaming and processing. They configure Kafka clusters, write producer and consumer code, and ensure data reliability and scalability, often working with related tools like Kafka Connect and Kafka Streams. Strong programming skills and knowledge of distributed systems are essential for this role.

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 popular job titles related to Kafka Developer jobs in Seattle, WA? For Kafka Developer jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Kafka Developer jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Kafka Developer jobs in Seattle, WA are:
Infographic showing various Kafka Developer job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 15% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $125,091 per year, or $60.1 per hour.

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago


Job description

  • Strong Kafka development experience
  • Strong Java development experience
  • Provides expertise & takes ownership of the Kafka Technology stack that includes - Kafka connect, schema registry, KSQL, Rest proxy and Kafka Control center.
  • Understands limits & nuances of Kafka brokers & zookeepers
  • Develop custom producers and consumers using Kafka APIs/SDK.
  • In-depth working experience with Ansible, Github, Eclipse, Jenkins, Terraform, Splunk
  • Proven experience with modern DevOps practices like implementing CICD pipeline
  • Strong technical, hands-on, experience to support development, infrastructure, and operations
  • Proven experience fulfilling a major systems delivery program
  • Experience in Linux/Unix System Administration, System and Server Builds, installations, upgrades, tuning, migration and troubleshooting.
  • Experience working with security log analysis, application log analysis, and general log management practices
  • Experience with Agile teams (preferably Scrum)
  • Familiarity with Streaming Platforms (Real-Time Data at Massive Scale like Confluent Kafka)
  • Familiar with the project tools: Jira, Confluence, Slack, MS Office, SharePoint, Smartsheet
  • Solid working experience with cloud technologies and platforms such as AWS and Azure