Director, Cloud-Native Kafka Platform

International Business Machines Corporation; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM Software is building a massively scalable data streaming platform and cloud-native solutions to transform enterprise data processing. You will lead a global team of engineers and engineering leaders responsible for the Kafka-based Confluent Cloud Brokers, Networking, and Security.

This role emphasizes strategic vision, execution, and collaboration with internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate has a proven track record in leading teams, delivering on complex distributed systems, and driving

Qualifications

• 3+ years of second-level engineering management experience.
• Experience running large stateful data systems in the cloud.
• Strong fundamentals in distributed systems design and development.
• Track record of shipping features and meeting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead a global team of software engineers and engineering leaders.
• Define long-term direction and strategy for the Kafka platform and Confluent Cloud.
• Drive technical innovation and prioritize high-impact initiatives.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement and operational maturity.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Distributed systems

Cloud infrastructure

Hiring & coaching

Strategic planning

Tools

Kafka

Confluent Cloud

Job description

IBM Software is building a massively scalable data streaming platform and cloud-native solutions to transform enterprise data processing. You will lead a global team of engineers and engineering leaders responsible for the Kafka-based Confluent Cloud Brokers, Networking, and Security.

This role emphasizes strategic vision, execution, and collaboration with internal stakeholders. The ideal candidate has a proven track record in leading teams, delivering on complex distributed systems, and driving