Senior Software Engineer

Confluent3 weeks ago

Location

GB Remote United Kingdom

Type

Full Time

Salary

GBP 84,500 – 99,300

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Feb 19, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Senior Software Engineer role at Confluent focusing on designing and implementing distributed control planes for Confluent Cloud offerings. The position involves deep Kubernetes expertise, infrastructure provisioning with Terraform, and full-stack development lifecycle responsibilities including on-call support. Candidates need strong distributed systems experience and proficiency in Go, C++, Java, or Python.

What you'll do

Control Plane Design: Design and implement distributed control planes for managing Confluent Cloud product lifecycles

Kubernetes Development: Deep dive into Kubernetes framework development and contribute to internal K8S initiatives

Infrastructure Provisioning: Provision and manage infrastructure using Terraform and internal tooling

Application Deployment: Deploy applications and changes using Helm and Kubernetes deployment strategies

Full Lifecycle Ownership: Own the complete software lifecycle from development to production operation and support

DevOps Integration: Work in a DevOps-driven environment with emphasis on continuous integration and delivery

On-call Support: Participate in on-call rotation to support production systems before and after release

Agile Collaboration: Thrive in fast-paced Scrum environment with iterative development cycles

Pair Programming: Collaborate extensively through pair programming sessions with other engineers

System Operation: Understand and operate the underlying infrastructure that supports deployed code

What we look for

Technical

Programming LanguagesExperience with one or more: Go, C++, Java, or Python

Distributed SystemsDeep expertise in building and operating distributed systems

Infrastructure FrameworksStrong software design and implementation skills for infrastructure frameworks

Kubernetes & DockerSolid understanding and hands-on experience with container technologies

Full Project LifecycleExperience from zero lines of code to operating and supporting production systems

Education

Computer Science DegreeBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field (preferred)

Experience

Senior Level Experience5+ years of software engineering experience with focus on distributed systems

Infrastructure DevelopmentProven experience building infrastructure frameworks and control planes

Production SupportExperience with on-call responsibilities and production system operations

Skills

Required skills

Distributed SystemsDeep expertise in designing and building distributed systems

Infrastructure ProgrammingStrong software design skills for infrastructure frameworks

Container TechnologiesSolid understanding of Kubernetes and Docker

Systems ProgrammingExperience with Go, C++, Java, or Python for systems development

DevOps PracticesFull lifecycle ownership including production support and on-call duties

Nice to have

Control Plane DevelopmentExperience building control planes for virtualization or software-defined networking/storage

API DevelopmentExperience building RESTful and gRPC-based APIs

Data Center InfrastructureFamiliarity with networking, storage, and security in data centers

Kubernetes EcosystemHands-on experience with Kubernetes operators, Helm, or StatefulSets

Open Source ContributionsContributions to Kubernetes SIGs or adjacent open source projects

Development PracticesExperience with Property-Based Testing (PBT), Test-Driven Development (TDD), and pair programming

Compensation & benefits

Salary

GBP 84,500 – 99,300 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Stock options and equity participation in company growth

Remote Work

Full remote work flexibility within the United Kingdom

Professional Development

Opportunities to work with Kubernetes contributors and open source projects

Collaborative Environment

Pair programming culture with emphasis on knowledge sharing

Autonomy

Decision-making authority with minimal red tape and maximum collaboration

Inclusive Culture

Equal opportunity workplace with focus on belonging and diverse perspectives

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Phone or video call with recruiter to discuss background and role fit
2
Technical Phone Screen — Technical discussion with engineering team covering distributed systems concepts and programming experience
3
Technical Deep Dive — In-depth technical interview focusing on Kubernetes, infrastructure design, and system architecture
4
Coding Interview — Live coding session in preferred language (Go, C++, Java, or Python) with emphasis on distributed systems problems
5
System Design Interview — Design session focusing on control plane architecture and distributed system scalability
6
Team Fit Interview — Cultural fit assessment with emphasis on collaboration, pair programming, and Agile practices
7
Final Interview — Meeting with senior engineering leadership to discuss long-term goals and team contribution