Senior Software Engineer - Confluent (Workflow tooling)

IBM; Markham; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM Software is seeking a Cloud Reliability Engineer to design, deploy, and run scalable cloud-native infrastructure for our AI-powered platforms. You will join a cross-functional team responsible for reliability, security, and operability at scale across Confluent-backed services.

We look for deep expertise in distributed systems, Kubernetes, Go, and service mesh technologies, with a track record of running high-availability production environments and driving automation in a fast-paced,

Qualifications

• Experience building mission-critical, highly available production systems.
• Strong knowledge of distributed systems design and operational excellence.
• Proficient in Kubernetes-based architectures and cloud-native patterns.
• Experience with Go and statically typed languages in polyglot environments.
• Ability to drive automation and incident response in large-scale environments.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable infrastructure and internal tooling.
• Develop core software systems for incident management and automation.
• Collaborate with teams to improve reliability, security, and observability.
• Lead remediation workflows and performance optimizations for Tier-0 services.
• Advance security through access controls and auditing practices.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to improve deployment velocity.

Skills

Distributed systems

Cloud-scale infrastructure

High-availability production

Kubernetes

Go

Service mesh

gRPC

Elixir

Polyglot programming

Analytical mindset

Education

Master's Degree

Tools

gRPC

Service mesh

Elixir

Job description

At IBM Software, we transform client challenges into solutions. Building the world’s leading AI-powered, cloud-native products that shape the future of business and society. Our legacy of innovation creates endless opportunities for IBMers to learn, grow, and make an impact on a global scale. Working in Software means joining a team fueled by curiosity and collaboration. You’ll work with diverse technologies, partners, and industries to design, develop, and deliver solutions that power digital transformation. With a culture that values innovation, growth, and continuous learning, IBM Software places you at the heart of IBM’s product and technology landscape. Here, you’ll have the tools and opportunities to advance your career while creating software that changes the world. With Confluent, data doesn’t sit still. We put information in motion, streaming in near real time so organizations can react faster, build smarter, and deliver experiences as dynamic as the world around them.

Your Role And Responsibilities

The Cloud Reliability team at Confluent builds the infrastructure and tooling that keeps Confluent Cloud reliable, secure, and operable at scale. We build the systems that human operators and automated tools depend on to act on Confluent's compute environment, query infrastructure state, and automate remediation. Teams across Confluent rely on what we build to investigate incidents, run operational workflows, and enforce security protections across services.

What You Will Do

• Design, implement, and maintain highly scalable infrastructure and internal tooling.
• Engineer core software systems that empower organizational workflows, incident management, and automated troubleshooting.
• Solve complex distributed systems problems related to coordination, orchestration, and fault tolerance in massive environments.
• Optimize the availability, monitoring capabilities, and efficiency of mission-critical, Tier-0 services.
• Enhance system security through robust access management, adherence to least-privilege principles, and comprehensive auditing.
• Partner with cross-functional engineering teams to increase operational velocity and safety via advanced automation.

Preferred Education

Master's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• Deep technical foundation in distributed systems and cloud-scale infrastructure.
• Proven track record of developing and managing mission-critical, high-availability production environments.
• Advanced proficiency with Kubernetes and cloud-native architectural patterns.
• Fluency in Go or similar statically typed languages, with the ability to navigate a polyglot environment.
• Demonstrated initiative and analytical skills to thrive within a high-velocity organizational culture.

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Proven expertise across specialized domains, including distributed coordination, security protocols, workflow management, or performance optimization.
• Hands‑on experience developing service-to-service infrastructure utilizing gRPC or service mesh technologies.
• Technical familiarity with functional programming paradigms, such as Elixir.
• Track record of building advanced workflow tooling for operational automation, including AI‑driven systems.