Kafka Developer / Consultant (Event-Driven Integration)

We are seeking a highly skilled Kafka Developer / Consultant to support a multi-year CIS transformation program for our public utility client in Columbus, Ohio. This role will be responsible for designing, developing, and supporting scalable event-driven integration solutions using Apache Kafka to enable real-time communication between SAP, CIS, and enterprise utility systems., * Design and develop event-driven architectures using Apache Kafka (Producers, Consumers, Topics, Streams)

• Build and manage real-time data pipelines and streaming integrations supporting the CIS transformation program
• Configure and optimize Kafka clusters, topics, partitions, replication strategies, and retention policies
• Develop Kafka-based integration solutions across SAP, CIS, and enterprise utility systems
• Implement event-streaming patterns including publish/subscribe, event sourcing, and asynchronous messaging
• Ensure scalability, reliability, fault tolerance, and high availability of Kafka-based solutions
• Integrate Kafka with middleware and enterprise integration platforms including SAP BTP Integration Suite, MuleSoft, Azure APIs, and related technologies
• Design and support real-time event-driven integrations between customer, billing, metering, and operational systems
• Monitor and troubleshoot Kafka environments using Confluent Control Center and related monitoring tools
• Collaborate with architects, business analysts, integration teams, and stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions
• Contribute to architecture design, technical documentation, error handling strategies, and integration best practices
• Support SIT, UAT, deployment, cutover, and production support activities
• Participate in enterprise integration governance and architecture review activities

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience building event-driven architectures, real-time data streaming solutions, distributed systems, and enterprise integration platforms. This individual will play a critical role in modernizing the utility technology landscape by enabling high-volume, resilient, and scalable integrations across customer, billing, metering, asset management, and operational systems., * Bachelor''s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field

• 4+ years of software development and integration experience
• Hands-on experience with Apache Kafka including design, development, configuration, and administration
• Strong understanding of:

• Event-Driven Architecture (EDA)
• Distributed systems
• Asynchronous messaging
• Real-time streaming architectures

• Experience building:

• Kafka Producers and Consumers
• Topic design and partitioning strategies
• Event streaming solutions

• Proficiency in one or more programming languages:

• Java
• Scala
• Python

• Experience with REST APIs and enterprise integration patterns
• Strong troubleshooting, debugging, and performance tuning skills
• Experience supporting enterprise integration testing and deployment activities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Confluent Kafka Platform including:

• Schema Registry
• Kafka Connect
• KSQL
• Confluent Control Center

• Experience with SAP BTP Integration Suite
• Experience integrating Kafka with enterprise platforms such as:

• SAP
• Salesforce
• CIS platforms
• Utility applications

• Experience with Azure APIs, MuleSoft, or other enterprise middleware solutions
• Cloud platform experience with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform Kafka services
• Familiarity with DevOps and CI/CD tools
• Understanding of:

• SSL
• SASL
• Authentication and Authorization
• Avro
• JSON
• Protobuf

Preferred Utility Experience

• Public utility industry experience strongly preferred
• Experience supporting Customer Information Systems (CIS) transformations
• Knowledge of utility business processes including:

• Customer Service
• Billing
• Metering
• Work Management
• Asset Management
• Field Operations

• Experience supporting large-scale utility modernization programs

Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Self-driven with an architect mindset for enterprise-grade solutions
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and business audiences

Typical Use Cases the Role Will Support

• Event-driven integration between SAP and external systems
• Real-time customer and service event streaming
• High-volume asynchronous data processing pipelines
• Enterprise publish/subscribe messaging architectures
• Real-time integration between CIS, SAP, metering, billing, and operational systems
• Utility customer lifecycle and service event processing
• Large-scale event-driven integrations supporting a multi-year CIS transformation program

Founded in 2007, DTI (Diversified Technology, Inc.) is a successful African American owned IT Consulting/Staffing firm based in Chicago''s Loop.