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# Principal Systems Engineer

- **Company:** The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation
- **Location:** Tampa, FL, United States
- **Experience:** Experienced
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Systems Engineering, User Authentication, System Configuration, Software Debugging, Disaster Recovery, Middleware, Mainframes, Performance Tuning, Data Streaming, Apache Kafka, Confluent
- **Published:** September 3, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.themuse.com/jobs/dtcc/principal-systems-engineer-4d274b

## About the Role

* Minimum of 8 years of related experience
 * Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience

Talents Needed for Success:

 * Minimum 5 years of experience in Kafka administration, including Confluent Kafka.
 * Strong understanding of Kafka security, including encryption, authentication, and authorization.
 * Experience with Kafka integration, including configuring and managing Kafka connectors.
 * Hands-on experience with Kafka upgrades, patching, and disaster recovery planning.
 * Proficiency in troubleshooting Kafka-related issues and optimizing system performance.
 * Strong documentation skills and ability to communicate effectively across teams.

## Description

The Systems Engineering family is responsible for the entire technical effort to evolve and verify solutions that satisfy client needs. The primary focus is centered on reducing risk and improving the efficiency, performance, stability, security, and quality of all systems and platforms. The Systems Engineering role specializes in the analysis, evaluation, design, testing, implementation, support, and debugging of all middleware, mainframe, and distributed platforms, tools, and systems of the firm.

Your Primary Responsibilities:

 * Install, configure, and manage Kafka clusters, including Confluent Kafka components.
 * Maintain and optimize existing clusters while setting up new environments as needed.
 * Continuously monitor Kafka clusters for performance, reliability, and capacity planning.
 * Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks, ensuring optimal system efficiency.
 * Implement and manage security protocols, including encryption, authentication, and authorization.
 * Ensure compliance with industry standards and internal security policies.
 * Work closely with development teams to integrate Kafka with various data sources and sinks.
 * Configure and manage Kafka connectors to facilitate smooth data flow.
 * Plan and execute Kafka upgrades and patches, keeping systems updated with the latest features and security fixes.
 * Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans, conducting regular testing to ensure business continuity.
 * Manage Kafka topics, including configurations, retention policies, and cleanup settings.
 * Provide technical support for Kafka-related issues, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure quick resolutions.
 * Maintain comprehensive documentation for Kafka configurations, processes, and best practices.
 * Contribute to knowledge sharing within the team to enhance operational efficiency.


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