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Senior Kafka Developer Jobs (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 ...

Sr. Java Full Stack Developer

Plano, TX · On-site

$50.25 - $64.75/hr

Java Frameworks - Spring Boot, AWS Cloud, microservices, kafka * DevOps tools - Splunk, Dynatrace & Automation * React Based UI * RESTful APIs. * DevOps - Automation * Jira, confluence * Scrum Agile ...

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Senior Kafka Developer information

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How much do senior kafka developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior kafka developer in the United States is $61.73, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $52.40 and $69.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Senior Kafka Developer, you need deep expertise in distributed systems, stream processing, and strong programming skills in languages like Java or Scala, typically backed by a relevant degree and significant experience with Apache Kafka. Familiarity with Kafka Connect, Schema Registry, monitoring tools, and cloud platforms, as well as certifications like Confluent Certified Developer, are highly valuable. Exceptional problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills help you design scalable solutions and work effectively with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure the reliability, performance, and scalability of critical data infrastructure that powers real-time business operations.

What is the difference between Senior Kafka Developer vs Kafka Engineer?

AspectSenior Kafka DeveloperKafka Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning, developing, and optimizing Kafka-based applicationsImplementing, maintaining, and scaling Kafka infrastructure
Required SkillsKafka API, Java/Scala, data streaming conceptsKafka setup, cluster management, performance tuning
CertificationsKafka certifications, Java certificationsKafka certifications, DevOps certifications
Work EnvironmentDevelopment teams, data engineering projectsOperations, infrastructure teams, cloud environments

While both roles require Kafka knowledge and related certifications, Senior Kafka Developers focus on application development and data integration, whereas Kafka Engineers concentrate on infrastructure, deployment, and system performance. The roles often collaborate but serve different aspects of Kafka implementation within organizations.

What does a Senior Kafka Developer do?

A Senior Kafka Developer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining systems that use Apache Kafka for real-time data streaming and processing. They work on building scalable data pipelines, integrating Kafka with other systems, and ensuring high availability and performance. Additionally, they often provide technical leadership, mentor junior developers, and help define best practices for event-driven architectures within an organization.

What are some common challenges Senior Kafka Developers face when managing large-scale data streaming pipelines?

Senior Kafka Developers often encounter challenges such as ensuring data consistency across distributed systems, optimizing Kafka cluster performance, and monitoring for bottlenecks or data loss. Managing schema evolution and handling message serialization can also be complex, particularly in environments with multiple producers and consumers. Collaborating closely with DevOps, data engineering, and application development teams is essential to proactively address these issues and maintain high system reliability.
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What cities are hiring for Senior Kafka Developer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Kafka Developer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Kafka Developer jobs? The most popular types of Kafka Developer jobs are:
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Infographic showing various Senior Kafka Developer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,400 per year, or $61.7 per hour.
Sr Java Developer with Kafka

Sr Java Developer with Kafka

Navtech, Inc.

Seattle, WA • On-site, Remote

$65.25 - $83/hr

Contractor

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

:
Job Title: Senior- Java Developer
Location : 100% remote
Duration: 9 Months Contract to begin with

Need 10 + Years of Experience only!
Tops 3 Skills Needed:
  • Java Coding - 5+ Years of Experience
  • Testing Frameworks 5+ Years of Experience
  • Kafka - 5+ Years of Experience

You will be responsible for being an active and important part of a multi-disciplinary team to design and develop custom streaming calculations of insights into store product sales to enable automated replenishment.
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 is strong on Kubernetes, Azure, Java, React talking to initial the microservices, UI team should grow a lot next year
Technology requirements?:
• Kubernetes and Docker knowledge is a strong plus.
• Java Coding
• Java Streaming
• Knowledge of Scala
• Springboot
• Kafka
Preferred background? Skills?:
• Experience work with payment systems
What determines the best candidate over an average candidate?:
• Cloud patterns like cloud storage and cloud messaging are a plus.

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About Navtech

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Civil engineering construction

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

New Bloomfield, PA, US

Year founded

1996