Kafka Engineer

Zensar Technologies; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Zensar Technologies in Johannesburg is seeking a highly skilled Kafka Engineer to design, develop, implement, and support enterprise-scale real-time data streaming solutions using Apache Kafka. The role involves building scalable streaming platforms, ensuring high availability, performance tuning, and supporting mission-critical data pipelines.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience with Kafka components, Java/Scala/Python/Golang development, containers, and cloud platforms.

Qualifications

• Strong experience with real-time data streaming using Kafka.
• Experience with event-driven and microservices architectures.
• Proficient in Java/Scala/Python/Golang development and distributed systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain real-time data streaming solutions using Apache Kafka.
• Configure, deploy, and administer Kafka clusters in production environments.
• Develop Kafka Producers, Consumers, Streams, and Connectors.
• Implement event-driven architectures and messaging across applications.
• Monitor Kafka platform health, performance, and capacity planning.
• Troubleshoot production issues related to Kafka and data pipelines.
• Implement security controls including SSL, SASL, ACLs, and encryption.
• Optimize Kafka performance, partitioning, replication, and retention policies.
• Build data integration pipelines using Kafka Connect.
• Collaborate with DevOps, cloud, and data engineering teams.
• Automate deployment and administration using IaC and CI/CD practices.
• Ensure platform reliability, scalability, and disaster recovery readiness.
• Create technical documentation and operational procedures.

Skills

Event-driven architecture

Distributed systems

Java/Scala/Python/Golang

Tools

Apache Kafka

Kafka Connect

Kafka Streams

Schema Registry

ksqlDB

MirrorMaker

Docker

AWS

GCP

Grafana

ELK Stack

Splunk

Confluent Platform

Terraform

Job description

We’re a bunch of hardworking, fun-loving, people-oriented technology enthusiasts. We love what we do, and we’re passionate about helping our clients thrive in an increasingly complex digital world. Zensar is an organization focused on building relationships with our clients and with each other—and happiness is at the core of everything we do. In fact, we’re so into happiness that we’ve created a Global Happiness Council, and we send out a Happiness Survey to our employees each year. We’ve learned that employee happiness requires more than a competitive paycheck, and our employee value proposition—grow, own, achieve, learn (GOAL)—lays out the core opportunities we seek to foster for every employee. Teamwork and collaboration are critical to Zensar’s mission and success, and our teams work on a diverse and challenging mix of technologies across a broad industry spectrum. These industries include banking and financial services, high-tech and manufacturing, healthcare, insurance, retail, and consumer services. Our employees enjoy flexible work arrangements and a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), among other benefits. If you are looking for a place to have an immediate impact, to grow and contribute, where we work hard, play hard, and support each other, consider joining team Zensar!

Zensar is looking for Kafla Engineer in Johannesburg

Role Overview

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Kafka Engineer to design, develop, implement, and support enterprise-scale real-time data streaming solutions using Apache Kafka. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in event-driven architecture, distributed systems, data integration, and cloud-native technologies. The role involves building scalable streaming platforms, ensuring high availability, performance tuning, and supporting mission-critical data pipelines.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain real-time data streaming solutions using Apache Kafka.
• Configure, deploy, and administer Kafka clusters in production environments.
• Develop Kafka Producers, Consumers, Streams, and Connectors.
• Implement event-driven architectures and messaging solutions across applications.
• Monitor Kafka platform health, performance, and capacity planning.
• Troubleshoot production issues related to Kafka, messaging systems, and data pipelines.
• Implement security controls including SSL, SASL, ACLs, and encryption.
• Optimize Kafka performance, partitioning strategies, replication, and retention policies.
• Build and maintain data integration pipelines using Kafka Connect and related tools.
• Collaborate with application, DevOps, cloud, and data engineering teams.
• Automate deployment and administration using Infrastructure as Code and CI/CD practices.
• Ensure platform reliability, scalability, and disaster recovery readiness.
• Create technical documentation, standards, and operational procedures.

Required Skills & Experience

Technical Skills

• Strong experience with Apache Kafka administration and development.
• Experience with Kafka ecosystem components:
• Kafka Connect
• Kafka Streams
• Schema Registry
• ksqlDB
• MirrorMaker
• Strong knowledge of event-driven and microservices architectures.
• Experience with Java, Scala, Python, or Golang development.
• Hands-on experience with distributed systems and messaging platforms.
• Understanding of data serialization formats:
• JSON
• Experience with REST APIs and integration services.
• Knowledge of Linux/Unix system administration.
• Experience with containerization technologies:
• Docker
• Knowledge of cloud platforms:
• AWS
• GCP
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.
• Experience with monitoring tools:
• Grafana
• ELK Stack
• Splunk

Preferred Skills

• Experience with Confluent Platform.
• Knowledge of data engineering and ETL frameworks.
• Experience with Apache Spark, Flink, or other stream-processing technologies.
• Understanding of database technologies such as Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MongoDB.
• Exposure to Infrastructure as Code tools such as Terraform and Ansible.
• Kafka certification or Confluent certification preferred.

Nice to Have

• Financial services, banking, insurance, or telecom domain experience.
• Experience supporting mission-critical, high-volume enterprise platforms.
• Knowledge of Data Governance and Data Security best practices.

Zensar believes that diversity of backgrounds, thought, experience, and expertise fosters the robust exchange of ideas that enables the highest quality collaboration and work product. Zensar is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law. Zensar is committed to providing veteran employment opportunities to our service men and women. Zensar is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities or religious observances, including reasonable accommodation when needed.