Cloud Native Software Engineer – Kafka & Kubernetes

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Cloud Native Software Engineer with expertise in Kafka and Kubernetes to join a dynamic IT-OT integration team. This role is part of a broader initiative to modernize and enhance critical infrastructure systems, including the replacement of a core EMS/SCADA system and the development of a cutting-edge integration platform bridging operational technology (OT) and IT environments.

Location: Arnhem (2–3 days per week on-site) Workload: Full-time (1 FTE) Key Responsibilities Design, develop, and maintain robust Java and/or Python applications with a strong focus on performance, reliability, security, observability, and scalability. Containerize and deploy workloads to Kubernetes clusters, adhering to best practices for CI/CD, monitoring, and fault tolerance.

Implement comprehensive test coverage, including unit, integration, and system tests to ensure code quality and stability. Troubleshoot and resolve issues identified during testing or in production, with a focus on root cause analysis and sustainable solutions. Continuously improve codebases, deployment pipelines, and development practices through proactive contributions.

Engage in design discussions, code reviews, and knowledge-sharing sessions to foster a collaborative engineering culture. Participate in a rotating on-call schedule (approximately once every two months) to support mission-critical services outside regular hours. Candidate Profile Proven experience in developing and operating production-grade backend applications, preferably in Java or Python.

Strong understanding of cloud-native design principles, distributed systems, and microservice architectures. Hands-on experience deploying containerized applications on Kubernetes in production environments (required). Proficiency with streaming platforms such as Apache Kafka (required), and familiarity with stream processing frameworks like Apache Flink, Kafka Streams, or Apache Beam.

Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools and CI/CD pipelines (e.g., ArgoCD, Terraform, Tekton, GitHub Actions), as well as modern DevOps practices (e.g., Git. Ops, observability, auto-scaling). Familiarity with cloud object storage solutions (e.g., MinIO, S3) and modern databases (e.g., MongoDB, PostgreSQL, TimescaleDB).

Bonus points for experience with data-intensive applications, including time-series data, analytics, or real-time processing. Comfortable working in agile, cross-functional teams and taking ownership throughout the software development lifecycle. Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset; fluency in English is required.

Knowledge of Dutch or German is a plus. Willingness to participate in a night-time on-call rotation (approximately once every two months) to support critical systems. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a technical field such as Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or Computer Science. Are you ready to take on a key role in shaping the future of critical infrastructure systems?

Apply now and become part of a forward-thinking team in a temp-to-perm position with long-term potential.