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Kafka Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Socket.dev

Site Reliability Engineer - Kafka

Seattle, WA · On-site

$150 - $190/hr

This work requires an innovative spirit and an extraordinary degree of care and difficulty in engineering. Team members contribute to all major components of Kafka deployment infrastructure ...

Apple

Site Reliability Engineer - Kafka

Seattle, WA

$142K - $263K/yr

This work requires an innovative spirit and an extraordinary degree of care and difficulty in engineering. Team members contribute to all major components of Kafka deployment infrastructure ...

Navtech, Inc.

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 ...

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Kafka Engineer information

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$44.4K

$115.8K

$156.5K

How much do kafka engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for kafka engineer in Seattle, WA is $115,797.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,600.00 and $132,600.00 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 Seattle, WA?

For Kafka Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Kafka Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA look for?

The top searched job categories for Kafka Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:

What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Kafka Engineer jobs?

Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Kafka Engineer job openings:

Kafka Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Kafka Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 40% Full Time, and 60% Contract. Highlights an 80% In-person, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,862 per year, or $55.7 per hour.

Kafka Developer

Seattle, WA • On-site

Avani Technology Solutions, Inc.
IT Services • 201 - 500 employees
Learn more about Avani Technology Solutions, Inc.external

Full-time

Re-posted 4 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

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