Kafka Cluster

Kafka Cluster Management :

• Set up, configure, and maintain Kafka brokers for handling high-volume real-time data streams.

• Ensure high availability, fault tolerance, and data durability of Kafka clusters through effective architecture and configuration.

• Monitor and optimize Kafka cluster performance, troubleshooting issues with brokers, producers, consumers, and partitions.

• Oversee cluster scalability, managing Kafka partitioning and replication strategies to meet changing data demands.

• Ensure secure communication between Kafka brokers and clients using encryption and authentication mechanisms like SSL and SASL.

Kubernetes & Containerization :

• Manage and orchestrate Kafka clusters using Kubernetes , ensuring seamless deployment, scaling, and operations.

• Deploy Kafka and Zookeeper on Kubernetes clusters, leveraging containerization tools like Docker .

• Configure Helm charts for Kafka and Zookeeper deployment, making sure that configurations are consistent and scalable across environments.

• Implement robust monitoring and logging for Kafka services running on Kubernetes, ensuring minimal downtime and rapid issue resolution.

Kafka Connect :

• Design and manage Kafka Connect for seamless integration of Kafka with external systems, including databases, cloud services, and other messaging systems.

• Configure and monitor Kafka Connect connectors to ensure reliable data movement between systems.

• Troubleshoot and optimize connector performance, resolving integration challenges as they arise.

• Implement and maintain custom Kafka Connectors as required.

Kafka Streams & Real-Time Data Processing :

• Implement Kafka Streams applications for real-time data processing, including data transformation, aggregation, and enrichment.

• Design and build real-time data pipelines that support high-throughput, low-latency data processing.

• Ensure data consistency and stream processing performance by monitoring and tuning Kafka Streams applications.

Zookeeper Management :

• Manage Zookeeper clusters for distributed coordination and leader election, ensuring that Kafka brokers are properly synchronized.

• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to Zookeeper-based coordination in the Kafka ecosystem.

• Ensure high availability and consistency of Zookeeper nodes, which are crucial for the Kafka cluster s stability.

Performance Tuning and Optimization :

• Perform regular health checks and performance tuning of Kafka clusters, brokers, consumers, and producers.

• Implement and configure retention policies, log compaction, and other Kafka configurations to optimize performance.

• Monitor Kafka cluster metrics and logs using tools such as Prometheus and Grafana to identify bottlenecks, optimize resource usage, and ensure system reliability.

Security & Data Integrity :

• Ensure data privacy and integrity by implementing robust security measures, including encryption, authentication, and authorization for Kafka clusters.

• Set up access control using ACLs to manage permissions for Kafka consumers and producers.

• Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to protect the Kafka environment.

Incident Response & Troubleshooting :

• Respond promptly to production issues, performing root cause analysis and taking corrective actions to resolve Kafka-related incidents.

• Implement proactive monitoring and alerting for Kafka clusters, ensuring any performance issues or failures are identified early.

• Troubleshoot complex distributed systems issues related to Kafka, Zookeeper, and Kubernetes.

Documentation & Knowledge Sharing :

• Document Kafka cluster architecture, configuration, and operational procedures for internal reference and future improvements.

• Share knowledge of Kafka and related technologies across teams to ensure smooth collaboration and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Key Skills and Qualifications :

• Proven experience in managing and optimizing Kafka clusters in a production environment.

• Strong understanding of Kafka brokers , Zookeeper , Kafka Connect , and Kafka Streams .

• Hands-on experience deploying and managing Kafka and Zookeeper on Kubernetes using Docker .

• Experience with Helm for managing Kubernetes-based deployments.

• Knowledge of real-time data processing using Kafka Streams and building robust data pipelines.

• Proficiency in monitoring tools like Prometheus , Grafana , or similar for Kafka clusters and Kubernetes environments.

• Strong understanding of distributed systems, including partitioning, replication, and fault tolerance in Kafka.

• Expertise in securing Kafka environments, including SSL/TLS, SASL, and ACL-based access control.

• Experience with CI/CD practices for deploying Kafka clusters and related applications.

• Strong troubleshooting skills in a complex distributed environment.

• Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and deploying Kafka in cloud-native environments.

• Familiarity with Kafka security features , including Kerberos , SSL encryption , and authorization models .

• Experience building custom Kafka Connectors for integration with various systems.

• Knowledge of event-driven architectures and how Kafka fits into such systems.

• Familiarity with Kafka Tiered Storage and data retention policies.