We are looking for an experienced Platform Engineer to join our team and help build, operate, and evolve our cloud-native platform. In this role, you will be responsible for managing and automating a production-grade Apache Kafka ecosystem running on Kubernetes. You will work closely with engineering teams to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure platform services while promoting Infrastructure as Code and GitOps best practices.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys solving complex infrastructure challenges, automating operations, and working within an international engineering team. Key Responsibilities * Design, deploy, operate, and optimise production Apache Kafka clusters and supporting components, including Schema Registry and Kafka Connect. * Manage Kubernetes-based infrastructure, including developing and maintaining Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) and working with Kubernetes Operators. * Implement and maintain Infrastructure as Code using Terraform, with exposure to Terragrunt and Ansible where applicable. * Build and maintain GitOps workflows, ensuring infrastructure and Kafka resources are managed declaratively through code and Kubernetes CRDs. * Monitor, troubleshoot, and resolve issues across distributed streaming systems in Kubernetes-native environments. * Collaborate with software engineers, platform teams, and operations teams to improve platform reliability, scalability, and developer experience. * Contribute to platform automation, operational excellence, and continuous improvement initiatives. * Communicate effectively with colleagues across international teams.
Required Skills & Experience * Proven hands-on experience operating Apache Kafka in production environments, including: * Kafka brokers * Schema Registry * Kafka Connect * Strong experience with Kubernetes, including: * Writing and managing Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) * Working with Kubernetes Operators * Solid experience with Infrastructure as Code, preferably using Terraform, with knowledge of Terragrunt and Ansible. * Experience with GitOps practices, managing infrastructure and Kafka resources declaratively through code and Kubernetes CRDs. * Strong troubleshooting skills for distributed streaming platforms running in Kubernetes-native environments. * Excellent English communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in an international team.
Nice to Have * Experience with Go, particularly for extending or maintaining Kubernetes Operators and internal tooling. * Experience operating Kafka on Aiven. * German language skills.
What We’re Looking For The ideal candidate is passionate about platform engineering, automation, and cloud-native technologies. You enjoy working with distributed systems, continuously improving operational processes, and building scalable infrastructure that enables engineering teams to move quickly and safely.
