Overview PepsiCo Data BI & Integration Platforms is seeking a Confluent Kafka Platform technology leader, responsible for overseeing the deployment, and maintenance of on-premises and cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure) for its North America PepsiCo Foods/Beverages business. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in managing and maintaining Confluent Kafka platforms, ensuring system stability, security, and optimal performance with Azure/AWS services – Infrastructure as Code (IaC), platform provisioning & administration, cloud network design, cloud security principles and automation. Responsibilities Kafka platform administration In-depth knowledge of Apache Kafka and the Confluent Platform. Experience with Kafka Streams, Kafka Connect, and Schema Registry. Familiarity with Confluent Control Center and other Confluent tools. Experience with CI/CD pipelines and automation tools (e.g., Jenkins, Azure DevOps). Monitoring system health and performance, identifying and resolving issues, and ensuring smooth operation of business processes. Tuning system parameters, optimizing resource utilization, and ensuring the efficient operation of applications. Implement and maintain security protocols for Kafka, including SSL/TLS encryption, Kerberos, and role-based access control (RBAC). Manage Kafka Connect for integrating data from various sources and optimize Kafka Streams applications for real-time data processing. Collaborating with development, QA, and other teams to resolve technical issues and ensure seamless integration of applications. Developing scripts and automating tasks for administration and maintenance purposes. Cloud Infrastructure & Automation Implement cloud infrastructure policies, standards, and best practices, ensuring cloud environment adherence to security and regulatory requirements. Design, deploy and optimize cloud-based infrastructure using Azure/AWS services that meet the performance, availability, scalability, and reliability needs of our applications and services. Drive troubleshooting of cloud infrastructure issues, ensuring timely resolution and root cause analysis by partnering with global cloud center of excellence & enterprise application teams, and PepsiCo premium cloud partners (Microsoft, AWS, Confluent). Establish and maintain effective communication and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including business leaders, developers, customers, and vendors. Develop Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to automate provisioning and management of cloud resources. Write and maintain scripts for automation and deployment using PowerShell, Python, or Azure/AWS CLI. Work with stakeholders to document architectures, configurations, and best practices. Knowledge of cloud security principles around data protection, identity and access Management (IAM), compliance and regulatory, threat detection and prevention, disaster recovery and business continuity. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in computer science. At least 6 to 8 years of experience in IT cloud infrastructure, architecture and operations, including security, with at least 4 years in a technical leadership role. Deep understanding of Kafka architecture, including brokers, topics, partitions, replicas, and security. Experience with installing, configuring, and maintaining Kafka clusters. Proficiency in data streaming concepts and tools. Knowledge of monitoring tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or similar. Familiarity with Kafka security best practices (SSL, SASL, ACLs). Proficiency in languages like Java, Scala, or Python. Strong knowledge of cloud architecture, design, and deployment principles and practices, including microservices, serverless, containers, and DevOps. Strong expertise in Azure/AWS messaging technologies, real time data ingestion, data warehouses, serverless ETL, DevOps, Kubernetes, virtual machines, monitoring and security tools. Strong expertise in Azure/AWS networking and security fundamentals, including network endpoints & network security groups, firewalls, external/internal DNS, load balancers, virtual networks and subnets. Proficient in scripting and automation tools, such as PowerShell, Python, Terraform, and Ansible. Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences. Certifications in Azure/AWS platform administration, networking and security are preferred. Strong self-organization, time management and prioritization skills A high level of attention to detail, excellent follow through, and reliability Strong collaboration, teamwork and relationship building skills across multiple levels and functions in the organization Ability to listen, establish rapport, and credibility as a strategic partner vertically within the business unit or function, as well as with leadership and functional teams Strategic thinker focused on business value results that utilize technical solutions Strong communication skills in writing, speaking, and presenting Capable to work effectively in a multi-tasking environment. Fluent in English language.