1

Kafka Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kafka Developer Charlotte, NC | 10 - 15 years of experience Must Have Technical/Functional Skills Primary Skill: Kafka Developer Secondary: Hadoop Experience: Minimum 10 years Roles ...

Java Kafka Developer

$52.25 - $67.50/hr

Sr Java Kafka Developer Location: Strongsville OH, Pittsburgh, PA Remote position Fulltime TCS / PNC JD: * 10 years of experience in Sr Java Kafka Developer * Must have strong experience in Java;

Java Kafka Developer

Dallas, TX ยท On-site

$50.50 - $65.25/hr

Role: Sr Java Kafka Developer Location: Dallas, TX, Strongsville OH, Pittsburgh, PA Onsite position Fulltime position ***NO C2C***** JD: 8 to 10 Years of experience in Sr Java Kafka Developer * Must ...

Lead Kafka Developer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site

$57.25 - $75/hr

... Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Security Clearance: Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

Lead Kafka Developer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site

$57.25 - $75/hr

... Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Security Clearance: Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

... Software Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

... Software Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

Lead Kafka Developer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site

$57.25 - $75/hr

... Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Security Clearance: Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

Sr Kafka Developer

Owings Mills, MD ยท On-site

$50.50 - $65.50/hr

we are hiring Sr Kafka Developer for our client in Owingmills,MD. if you are comfortable with then submit your resume along with linkedin and Visa copy. Job title KAFKA Developer Job summary:

Lead Kafka Developer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site

$57.25 - $75/hr

... Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Security Clearance: Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

Lead Kafka Developer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site

$57.25 - $75/hr

... Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Security Clearance: Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

Lead Kafka Developer

Pittsburgh, PA ยท On-site

$57.25 - $75/hr

... Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Security Clearance: Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

... Software Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

... Software Engineer Lead Location: Pittsburgh, PA Type: Contract Compensation: Contractor Work Model: Onsite - onsite Hours: 40.0 Responsibilities * Design and develop Kafka-based streaming ...

Showing results 41-60

Kafka Engineer information

See salary details

$39K

$101.8K

$137.5K

How much do kafka engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for kafka engineer in the United States is $101,752.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $84,000.00 and $116,500.00 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.

More about Kafka Engineer jobs

What cities are hiring for Kafka Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Kafka Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Kafka Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Kafka Engineer jobs include:

Infographic showing various Kafka Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $101,752 per year, or $48.9 per hour.

Kafka Developer

Northern Base

Charlotte, NC โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

Kafka Developer
Charlotte, NC | 10 - 15 years of experience

Job Description
Must Have Technical/Functional Skills
 
Primary Skill: Kafka Developer
Secondary: Hadoop
Experience: Minimum 10 years
 
Roles & Responsibilities
 
Responsible for designing, building, and optimizing real-time data streaming applications and event-driven architecture. They write producer and consumer code, build scalable data pipelines, and configure clusters using tools like Kafka Streams, Connect, and Schema Registry.
 
· Pipeline Development: Design and maintain reliable, high-throughput, and fault-tolerant data pipelines.
· Cluster Management: Set up, configure, and monitor Kafka brokers, topics, and partitions.
· Integration & Processing: Use Kafka Connect to integrate with external systems and utilize Kafka Streams or KSQL for real-time stream processing.
· Troubleshooting & Optimization: Analyze bottlenecks, optimize cluster performance, and resolve message delivery or serialization issues