Lead Java Backend Developer with Kafka

Location: Pittsburgh, PA/ Cleveland, OH/ Dallas, TX

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Summary:

We are seeking a skilled Lead Java Backend Developer with hands-on experience in Kafka to design, develop, and maintain scalable backend systems. The ideal candidate will be proficient in building microservices, real-time data pipelines, and enterprise-grade backend platforms using Java and Kafka.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain high-performance Java-based microservices and REST APIs.
• Design, implement, and manage Kafka-based messaging systems for real-time data streaming and processing.
• Collaborate with architects, DevOps, and frontend teams to design scalable backend solutions.
• Ensure systems are secure, scalable, maintainable, and performant.
• Write unit, integration, and performance tests to ensure system quality.
• Monitor and troubleshoot production issues and participate in on-call support if required.
• Participate in code reviews and ensure best practices are followed.
• Work in Agile/Scrum development environments and contribute to sprint planning and retrospectives.

Required Skills:

• 10+ years of backend development experience with Java 8/11/17
• Strong experience with Spring Boot, Spring Cloud, and REST APIs
• Hands-on experience with Apache Kafka – producers, consumers, topics, partitions, offsets, etc.
• Experience with Kafka Streams or Kafka Connect is a plus
• Familiarity with event-driven architectures
• Strong understanding of microservices architecture, asynchronous messaging, and distributed systems
• Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra)
• Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, Docker, and Kubernetes
• Familiarity with monitoring/logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK, Splunk)
• Proficient with Git, Maven, or Gradle
• Solid understanding of system design and performance tuning

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• Exposure to schema registry, Avro/Protobuf, or Kafka security (SSL, SASL)
• Understanding of OAuth2, JWT, and security best practices
• Bachelor’s or master’s in computer science, Engineering, or related field