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Kafka Engineer Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Overview Tax team is looking for a Software Engineering Manager to join their team! The Tax ... RabbitMQ, Kafka * MongoDB and related data stores * Docker, OpenShift * CI/CD automation for build ...

Overview Tax team is looking for a Software Engineering Manager to join their team! The Tax ... RabbitMQ, Kafka * MongoDB and related data stores * Docker, OpenShift * CI/CD automation for build ...

Kafka Engineer information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$38.5K

$100.4K

$135.7K

How much do kafka engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for kafka engineer in Rochester, NY is $100,422.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $82,900.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Kafka engineer do?

A Kafka Engineer specializes in designing, building, and maintaining distributed data streaming systems using Apache Kafka. They are responsible for configuring Kafka clusters, ensuring data reliability and scalability, and integrating Kafka with other systems. Kafka Engineers also monitor system performance, troubleshoot issues, and optimize data pipelines to support real-time data processing needs. Their work is essential for organizations that rely on high-throughput, low-latency data streaming for applications such as analytics, event sourcing, and microservices architectures.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Kafka engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Kafka Engineer, you need a strong understanding of distributed systems, proficiency in Apache Kafka, and experience with programming languages like Java or Python, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as Kafka Connect, Kafka Streams, monitoring systems (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana), and relevant certifications like Confluent Certified Developer for Apache Kafka are typically required. Problem-solving skills, effective communication, and the ability to work collaboratively make someone stand out in this position. These skills and qualities are crucial to ensure reliable data pipelines, seamless integration, and efficient troubleshooting in mission-critical, real-time data environments.

How does a Kafka engineer typically collaborate with development and operations teams?

Kafka Engineers play a key role in bridging the gap between development and operations teams. They work closely with developers to design and implement event-driven architectures using Kafka, ensuring data flows reliably between services. Simultaneously, they partner with operations teams to deploy, monitor, and maintain Kafka clusters, addressing issues like scalability, fault tolerance, and security. Effective communication and a strong understanding of both software development and infrastructure are essential for success in this collaborative environment.

What is the difference between Kafka Engineer vs Data Engineer?

AspectKafka EngineerData Engineer
Required CredentialsCertifications in Kafka, cloud platforms, programming languagesCertifications in data tools, cloud, SQL, programming
Work EnvironmentFocus on Kafka setup, streaming data, real-time processingBroader data pipeline, storage, and processing tasks
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, data-driven organizations using KafkaVarious industries managing large data systems
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for specialization in streaming dataBroader role encompassing multiple data technologies

The Kafka Engineer specializes in designing, implementing, and maintaining Kafka-based streaming data systems, focusing on real-time data processing. In contrast, Data Engineers work on building comprehensive data pipelines, integrating various data sources, and managing storage solutions. While Kafka Engineers focus on Kafka-specific tasks, Data Engineers handle a wider range of data tools and platforms, making their roles complementary but distinct in data infrastructure teams.

What are popular job titles related to Kafka Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY?

For Kafka Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Kafka Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY look for?

The top searched job categories for Kafka Engineer jobs in Rochester, NY are:

What cities near Rochester, NY are hiring for Kafka Engineer jobs?

Cities near Rochester, NY with the most Kafka Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Kafka Engineer job openings in Rochester, NY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Contract. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,550 per year, or $48.3 per hour.

Platform Engineer

Rochester, NY • On-site

$175 - $350/hr

Other

Medical, Life, Retirement

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Role Overview: Citadel Securities is seeking an exceptional Platform Engineer to join our Research Platform Engineering team in Miami, Zurich or New York. Our Research Platform teams are at the forefront of designing and developing the distributed systems, data platforms, and research infrastructure that power large-scale simulations, analytics, and model development across the firm. These systems are critical in allowing researchers to transform data into actionable insights and alpha-generating trading strategies.

Responsibilities:
  • Design and build distributed platforms and services that support quantitative research, simulations, AI-powered applications, and large-scale analytics workflows
  • Develop scalable platform services and data systems for ingestion, transformation, storage, and lifecycle management of large datasets
  • Build and maintain backend services, APIs, and SDKs that improve researcher productivity and self-service capabilities
  • Improve performance, reliability, and scalability of critical research systems operating in high-throughput environments
  • Collaborate closely with researchers and engineers to translate research requirements into production-read systems
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field
  • 3+ years of professional software engineering experience
  • Strong programming skills in Python, Go, or C++, or similar systems-oriented languages
  • Experience building and operating distributed systems in production environments
  • Experience designing scalable backend services, APIs, and data-intensive applications
  • Strong understanding of distributed systems, data-intensive applications, and system design fundamentals
  • Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and modern infrastructure technologies
  • Experience with technologies such as Kafka, Kubernetes, Spark, Airflow, distributed databases, or similar systems is a plus

In accordance with applicable law, the base salary range for this role is $175,000 to $350,000.

In addition, the employee who fills this role will be eligible to participate in a discretionary incentive compensation program, as well as a wide array of benefit programs, such as medical and life insurance, retirement and tax-free savings plans, and access to other healthcare programs.

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