Senior Software Engineer II - Kora Compute

Confluent1 months ago

Location

Remote, United States

Workplace

Remote

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 197,400 – 232,000

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Jan 26, 2026

Full TimeRemoteSenior

The role

Summary

Confluent is seeking a Senior Software Engineer II to build Kora Compute, their cloud-native event streaming platform. This role involves developing highly available, scalable, and multi-tenant distributed systems for Kafka infrastructure, working on complex technical challenges with a focus on performance and reliability.

What you'll do

Build Kora Compute Platform: Develop highly available, reliable, secure, scalable, and multi-tenant compute layer for Kora platform

Drive Technical Solutions: Lead end-to-end technical solutions working closely with team and stakeholders

Design and Architecture: Design, architect, and develop top-notch solutions for complex distributed systems

Production Quality Focus: Deliver complex projects in production with strong focus on quality and reliability

Customer Problem Solving: Take on customers' most challenging problems to make them more successful

Root Cause Analysis: Identify root causes and solve hard problems beyond treating symptoms

Team Collaboration: Make decisions that benefit the team and company while maintaining strong teamwork

What we look for

Technical

Distributed SystemsStrong fundamentals in distributed systems design and development

Cloud Infrastructure4+ years of relevant cloud infrastructure and cloud networking experience

Large-Scale SystemsExperience building and operating large-scale systems in the Cloud

Systems OperationsSolid understanding of basic systems operations including disk, network, and operating systems

Programming LanguagesProficiency in Java, Scala, C/C++, Go or other statically typed languages

Education

Computer Science DegreeBS, MS, or PhD in computer science or related field, or equivalent work experience

Experience

Cloud Infrastructure4+ years of relevant cloud infrastructure and cloud networking experience

Distributed SystemsExperience with distributed systems design and development

Large-Scale SystemsExperience building and operating large-scale systems in production

Skills

Required skills

JavaProficiency in Java programming language

Distributed SystemsStrong fundamentals in distributed systems design

Cloud Infrastructure4+ years cloud infrastructure experience

Systems OperationsUnderstanding of disk, network, and operating systems

TeamworkAbility to work effectively in teams

Nice to have

JVM ExpertiseIn-depth familiarity with Java Virtual Machine

Distributed StorageStrong background in distributed storage systems or databases

Resource ManagementExperience in resource management and Quality of Service

Public Cloud PlatformsExperience with AWS, Azure, or GCP

Technical EvangelismInterest in giving talks and writing blog posts about Kafka

Database SystemsExperience working on databases or data storage systems

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 197,400 – 232,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity

Stock options and equity participation in company growth

Remote Work

Fully remote work arrangement with flexibility

Equal Opportunity

Equal opportunity workplace with inclusive culture

Professional Growth

Opportunities to lead, grow, and challenge what's possible

Conference Speaking

Opportunities for evangelism including tech conference speaking and blog writing

Interview process

1
Initial Screen — Phone or video screening with recruiter to discuss background and role fit
2
Technical Assessment — Coding assessment focusing on distributed systems and backend development
3
System Design Interview — Architectural discussion about building scalable, multi-tenant systems
4
Team Interviews — Multiple rounds with engineering team members covering technical depth and collaboration
5
Final Interview — Leadership interview focusing on cultural fit and career goals