📍 Job Overview

Job Title: DevOps Engineer – Kafka Service
Company: Sopra Steria
Location: Leudelange, Luxembourg
Job Type: On-site, Full-time
Category: DevOps Engineer
Date Posted: June 18, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Kafka Infrastructure Management: Deploy, configure, monitor, and maintain Kafka clusters in a high-availability production environment.
Performance Optimization: Tune Kafka configurations, partitions, replication, and producers/consumers for efficient message streaming.
Automation & IaC: Automate Kafka infrastructure deployment and management using tools like Terraform and Ansible.
Monitoring & Troubleshooting: Implement robust monitoring solutions and troubleshoot performance bottlenecks, latency issues, and failures.
Security & Compliance: Ensure secure data transmission, access control, and adherence to security best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a strong focus on Kafka administration, performance optimization, and automation to ensure high availability and scalability in a complex enterprise environment.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Kafka Administration: Deploy, configure, monitor, and maintain Kafka clusters in a high-availability production environment.
Performance Tuning: Optimize Kafka configurations, partitions, replication, and producers/consumers for efficient message streaming.
Infrastructure Automation: Automate Kafka infrastructure deployment and management using tools like Terraform and Ansible.
Monitoring & Troubleshooting: Implement robust monitoring solutions and troubleshoot performance bottlenecks, latency issues, and failures.
Security & Compliance: Ensure secure data transmission, access control, and adherence to security best practices (SSL/TLS, RBAC, Kerberos).
CI/CD & Automation: Integrate Kafka with CI/CD pipelines and automate deployment processes to improve efficiency and reliability.
Capacity Planning & Scalability: Analyze workloads and plan for horizontal scaling, resource optimization, and failover strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a deep understanding of Kafka internals, strong scripting skills, and experience with automation tools to ensure efficient and reliable message streaming in a distributed data streaming platform.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science or a relevant equivalent experience

Experience: 5-7 years minimum

Required Skills:

5+ years of experience in DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering (SRE), or Kafka administration.
Strong hands-on experience with Apache Kafka (setup, tuning, and troubleshooting).
Proficiency in scripting (Python, Bash) and automation tools (Terraform, Ansible).
Experience with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and Kubernetes-based Kafka deployments.
Familiarity with Kafka Connect, KSQL, Schema Registry, Zookeeper.
Knowledge of logging and monitoring tools (Dynatrace, ELK, Splunk).
Understanding of networking, security, and access control for Kafka clusters.
Experience with CI/CD tools (Jenkins, GitLab, ArgoCD).
Ability to analyze logs, debug issues, and propose proactive improvements.
Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.

Preferred Skills:

ITIL qualification.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a strong technical skill set with a focus on Kafka administration, automation, and performance optimization. Familiarity with cloud environments, CI/CD tools, and monitoring solutions is also essential for success in this role.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Kafka Projects: Demonstrate your Kafka administration and performance optimization skills through case studies or projects showcasing your experience with Kafka clusters, tuning, and monitoring.
Automation & IaC: Highlight your automation skills by showcasing Terraform or Ansible configurations for Kafka infrastructure deployment and management.
Monitoring & Troubleshooting: Present your monitoring and troubleshooting skills through real-world examples of identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks or failures in Kafka clusters.
Security & Compliance: Showcase your security and compliance expertise by demonstrating your experience with secure data transmission, access control, and adherence to security best practices in Kafka environments.

Technical Documentation:

Code Quality & Documentation: Demonstrate your coding and documentation skills by providing examples of well-commented and well-documented Kafka configurations, scripts, and code snippets.
Version Control & Deployment Processes: Showcase your experience with version control systems and deployment processes by providing examples of how you've managed and deployed Kafka infrastructure using tools like Git, Terraform, or Ansible.
Testing Methodologies & Performance Metrics: Demonstrate your understanding of testing methodologies and performance metrics by providing examples of how you've tested and optimized Kafka clusters for performance and reliability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a strong focus on Kafka administration, performance optimization, and automation. Therefore, your portfolio should emphasize your experience and skills in these areas, with a particular emphasis on real-world examples and case studies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €60,000 - €80,000 per year (based on market research for DevOps Engineer roles in Luxembourg with 5-10 years of experience)

Benefits:

Competitive salary and benefits package
Opportunities for professional development and career growth
Collaborative work environment with high-level professionals
Recognition as part of Europe's leading digital service provider

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with on-call duties and shift work as required

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on market research for DevOps Engineer roles in Luxembourg with 5-10 years of experience. The actual salary may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications and the company's internal salary structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital services and software development

Company Size: Large (56,000+ employees)

Founded: 1968

Team Structure:

The DevOps team is responsible for managing and optimizing the company's IT infrastructure, including Kafka services.
The team consists of DevOps Engineers, Site Reliability Engineers, and other technical specialists.
The team works closely with other departments, such as software development, quality assurance, and IT operations, to ensure the smooth operation of the company's IT ecosystem.

Development Methodology:

The company uses Agile methodologies for software development and IT project management.
The team follows best practices for infrastructure as code (IaC), continuous integration, and continuous deployment (CI/CD) to ensure efficient and reliable IT services.
The team uses monitoring and logging tools to identify and resolve performance issues and ensure the stability and security of the IT infrastructure.

Company Website: Sopra Steria

📝 Enhancement Note: Sopra Steria is a large digital services and software development company with a strong focus on IT infrastructure management and optimization. The company uses Agile methodologies and best practices for infrastructure as code (IaC), continuous integration, and continuous deployment (CI/CD) to ensure efficient and reliable IT services.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Senior DevOps Engineer

Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the IT Infrastructure Manager

Technical Impact: The role has a significant impact on the company's IT infrastructure, ensuring high availability, scalability, and performance of Kafka services. This, in turn, enables the company to process and analyze large volumes of data efficiently and reliably, supporting business operations and decision-making processes.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: With experience and proven success in the role, there may be opportunities to take on a technical leadership position, mentoring junior team members and driving best practices for Kafka administration and performance optimization.
Architecture & Design: As the company's IT infrastructure evolves, there may be opportunities to contribute to the design and architecture of new Kafka services or to optimize existing services for improved performance and scalability.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working closely with other departments, such as software development and data analytics, can provide opportunities to expand your skill set and take on new challenges in related areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role of Senior DevOps Engineer at Sopra Steria offers significant opportunities for career growth and development, with a focus on technical leadership, architecture and design, and cross-functional collaboration.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern, collaborative office space with state-of-the-art technology and amenities

Office Location(s): Leudelange, Luxembourg

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Work Environment: The office fosters a collaborative work environment, with open-plan workspaces and dedicated team areas for brainstorming and problem-solving.
State-of-the-Art Technology: The office is equipped with the latest technology, including high-performance workstations, multiple monitors, and testing devices to support efficient and effective work.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: The office is designed to facilitate cross-functional collaboration, with dedicated spaces for meetings, workshops, and training sessions.

Work Schedule: Standard work hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with flexibility for deployment windows, maintenance, and project deadlines as required.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment at Sopra Steria is designed to support collaboration, innovation, and productivity, with a focus on providing the latest technology and amenities to enable employees to perform at their best.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone/Screening Interview: A brief phone or video call to assess your communication skills, Kafka experience, and understanding of the role's requirements.
Technical Deep Dive: A detailed technical interview focused on your Kafka administration, performance optimization, and automation skills. Be prepared to discuss your experience with Kafka clusters, tuning, and monitoring, as well as your familiarity with automation tools and cloud environments.
Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: An interview to assess your problem-solving skills, communication style, and cultural fit within the team and the company. Be prepared to discuss your experience working in a collaborative, dynamic environment and your ability to thrive under pressure.
Final Decision: The hiring manager will make a final decision based on the interview feedback and your overall fit for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Kafka Projects: Highlight your Kafka administration and performance optimization skills through case studies or projects showcasing your experience with Kafka clusters, tuning, and monitoring.
Automation & IaC: Showcase your automation skills by presenting Terraform or Ansible configurations for Kafka infrastructure deployment and management.
Monitoring & Troubleshooting: Demonstrate your monitoring and troubleshooting skills through real-world examples of identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks or failures in Kafka clusters.
Security & Compliance: Showcase your security and compliance expertise by demonstrating your experience with secure data transmission, access control, and adherence to security best practices in Kafka environments.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Kafka Administration: Brush up on your Kafka administration skills, including cluster deployment, configuration, monitoring, and maintenance.
Performance Tuning: Review Kafka performance tuning best practices, including configurations, partitions, replication, and producers/consumers.
Automation & IaC: Familiarize yourself with automation tools like Terraform and Ansible, and practice deploying and managing Kafka infrastructure using these tools.
Monitoring & Troubleshooting: Review monitoring and troubleshooting best practices for Kafka clusters, and practice identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks and failures.

ATS Keywords: [Apache Kafka, DevOps, Site Reliability Engineering, Scripting, Automation Tools, Cloud Environments, Kubernetes, Kafka Connect, KSQL, Schema Registry, Zookeeper, Monitoring Tools, CI/CD Tools, Problem-Solving, Communication Skills, ITIL]

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for the Senior DevOps Engineer role at Sopra Steria is designed to assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the team and the company. Be prepared to discuss your experience with Kafka administration, performance optimization, and automation, as well as your ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies: N/A (not applicable for this role)

Backend & Server Technologies:

Apache Kafka: The primary technology used in this role, responsible for processing and analyzing large volumes of data in real-time.
Cloud Environments: Experience with cloud environments (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and Kubernetes-based Kafka deployments is required.
Kafka Connect: Familiarity with Kafka Connect, a tool for integrating Kafka with external systems such as databases, message queues, and file systems.
KSQL: Experience with KSQL, a streaming SQL engine for Kafka, enabling real-time data processing and analysis.
Schema Registry: Familiarity with the Schema Registry, a component of the Kafka ecosystem that stores and manages metadata for Kafka messages.
Zookeeper: Understanding of Zookeeper, a coordination service used by Kafka to manage configuration information and maintain cluster health.

Development & DevOps Tools:

Terraform: Experience with Terraform, an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool, is required for automating Kafka infrastructure deployment and management.
Ansible: Familiarity with Ansible, a automation and configuration management tool, is required for automating Kafka deployment and configuration tasks.
Dynatrace: Experience with Dynatrace, a monitoring and analytics platform, is required for monitoring Kafka cluster performance and troubleshooting issues.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack for this role is heavily focused on Apache Kafka, with experience required in cloud environments, Kafka Connect, KSQL, Schema Registry, and Zookeeper. Familiarity with automation tools like Terraform and Ansible, as well as monitoring tools like Dynatrace, is also required.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Expertise: Demonstrate a deep understanding of Apache Kafka, with a strong focus on administration, performance optimization, and automation.
Collaboration: Work effectively with other team members, stakeholders, and departments to ensure the smooth operation of the company's IT infrastructure.
Innovation: Embrace a culture of continuous learning and improvement, staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in Kafka administration and performance optimization.
Reliability: Ensure high availability, scalability, and performance of Kafka services, with a strong focus on monitoring, troubleshooting, and proactive issue resolution.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Work closely with other departments, such as software development, quality assurance, and IT operations, to ensure the smooth operation of the company's IT ecosystem.
Code Review Culture: Participate in code reviews and pair programming to ensure the quality and maintainability of Kafka infrastructure and automation scripts.
Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning, by mentoring junior team members and sharing your expertise with the wider team and the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture at Sopra Steria is highly collaborative, with a strong focus on expertise, innovation, reliability, and continuous learning. The team values cross-functional integration, code review culture, and knowledge sharing, with a commitment to working closely with other departments to ensure the smooth operation of the company's IT infrastructure.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Kafka Administration: Deploy, configure, monitor, and maintain Kafka clusters in a high-availability production environment, with a focus on performance optimization and scalability.
Performance Tuning: Optimize Kafka configurations, partitions, replication, and producers/consumers for efficient message streaming, with a focus on minimizing latency and maximizing throughput.
Infrastructure Automation: Automate Kafka infrastructure deployment and management using tools like Terraform and Ansible, with a focus on ensuring consistency, reliability, and scalability.
Monitoring & Troubleshooting: Implement robust monitoring solutions and troubleshoot performance bottlenecks, latency issues, and failures, with a focus on proactive issue resolution and continuous improvement.
Security & Compliance: Ensure secure data transmission, access control, and adherence to security best practices, with a focus on protecting sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of the Kafka ecosystem.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: Expand your technical skill set by working on cutting-edge projects, attending industry conferences, and obtaining relevant certifications.
Leadership Development: Develop your leadership skills by mentoring junior team members, driving best practices for Kafka administration and performance optimization, and contributing to the design and architecture of new Kafka services.
Architecture & Design: Contribute to the design and architecture of new Kafka services or optimize existing services for improved performance and scalability, with a focus on driving innovation and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role of Senior DevOps Engineer at Sopra Steria presents significant technical challenges and learning opportunities, with a focus on Kafka administration, performance optimization, and automation. The role also offers opportunities for leadership development and architecture and design, with a commitment to driving innovation and continuous improvement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Kafka Administration: Describe your experience with Kafka administration, including cluster deployment, configuration, monitoring, and maintenance. Provide examples of real-world scenarios and the solutions you implemented to optimize performance and ensure high availability.
Performance Tuning: Explain your approach to Kafka performance tuning, including configurations, partitions, replication, and producers/consumers. Provide examples of real-world scenarios and the strategies you used to minimize latency and maximize throughput.
Automation & IaC: Discuss your experience with automation tools like Terraform and Ansible, and provide examples of how you've used these tools to automate Kafka infrastructure deployment and management. Explain your approach to ensuring consistency, reliability, and scalability in automated deployments.

Company & Culture Questions:

Team Dynamics: Describe your experience working in a collaborative, dynamic environment, and how you've contributed to a culture of knowledge sharing and continuous learning. Provide examples of how you've worked effectively with other departments and stakeholders to ensure the smooth operation of the company's IT infrastructure.
Problem-Solving: Explain your approach to problem-solving, and provide examples of how you've identified and resolved performance bottlenecks, latency issues, and failures in Kafka clusters. Discuss your ability to thrive under pressure and make data-driven decisions to optimize performance and ensure high availability.
User Experience Impact: Describe your understanding of the user experience impact of Kafka services, and how you've worked to ensure the smooth operation of the company's IT ecosystem. Provide examples of how you've collaborated with other departments, such as software development and data analytics, to optimize performance and drive business value.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Kafka Projects: Highlight your Kafka administration and performance optimization skills through case studies or projects showcasing your experience with Kafka clusters, tuning, and monitoring.
Automation & IaC: Showcase your automation skills by presenting Terraform or Ansible configurations for Kafka infrastructure deployment and management.
Monitoring & Troubleshooting: Demonstrate your monitoring and troubleshooting skills through real-world examples of identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks or failures in Kafka clusters.
Security & Compliance: Showcase your security and compliance expertise by demonstrating your experience with secure data transmission, access control, and adherence to security best practices in Kafka environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for the Senior DevOps Engineer role at Sopra Steria is designed to assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the team and the company. Be prepared to discuss your experience with Kafka administration, performance optimization, and automation, as well as your ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior DevOps Engineer role at Sopra Steria:

Customize Your Portfolio: Highlight your Kafka administration and performance optimization skills through case studies or projects showcasing your experience with Kafka clusters, tuning, and monitoring. Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and showcases your best work.
Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to emphasize your relevant experience and skills in Kafka administration, performance optimization, and automation. Highlight your experience with automation tools, cloud environments, and monitoring solutions, and provide specific examples of your achievements and impact in previous roles.
Prepare for Technical Interviews: Brush up on your Kafka administration skills, including cluster deployment, configuration, monitoring, and maintenance. Review Kafka performance tuning best practices, and practice identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks and failures. Familiarize yourself with automation tools like Terraform and Ansible, and practice deploying and managing Kafka infrastructure using these tools.
Research the Company: Learn about Sopra Steria's industry, company culture, and values. Understand the company's focus on digital services, software development, and IT infrastructure management, and how the Senior DevOps Engineer role contributes to the company's success.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web technology industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

DevOps Engineer – Kafka Service