Staff Software Engineer I - Confluent
IBM · Posted Nov 4
Hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, quantum computing, and IT consulting services
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About the role
IBM Software builds AI-powered, cloud-native products, and the Confluent Platform team (fully based in India since 2023) delivers an enterprise-grade data streaming platform for any BYOI environment, from local developer setups to private cloud. The team’s Hybrid Observability and Management pillar builds Confluent Control Center (C3) and Unified Stream Manager (USM) for air-gapped and hybrid monitoring, management, and security. This role is the lead Staff Engineer for the Hybrid Observability pillar, driving architecture, code and design review, hands-on implementation of complex components, customer escalation diagnosis, and roadmap direction across the Confluent Platform stack.
What you will do
- Collaborate with engineers and architects to advance Confluent Platform’s hybrid observability products, C3 and USM.
- Partner with product management, engineering leadership, and key stakeholders across Confluent and Confluent Cloud to shape and drive the roadmap, while serving as a strong technical voice for CP across the company.
- ChampionC3/USM healthand operational excellence by influencing technical direction and reviewing code, designs, and proposed improvements.
- Architect and design hybrid USM solutions, applying strongexpertisein building andoperatingdistributed systems across cloud and on-premises environments.
- Mentor high-performing engineers and technical leads, helping them grow their skills through hands-on guidance and experience.
Skills used in this role
What the employer is looking for
- At least 13+years of hands-on software development experience, with a proven ability toanticipatefuture product needs, create technical plans, and deliver ideas into production.
- Experience building andoperatinglarge-scale systems, with a strong understanding of core infrastructure—including storage, networking, and operating systems and running production services in the cloud.
- Strong foundations in distributed systems design and development, concurrent programming, and multithreading.
- A proactive, collaborative self-starter who canidentifysigns of technical issues,determinetheir causes, and implement lasting fixes.
- A track recordof delivering on time while balancing short-term technical choices with long-term goals.
- Able to move quickly, build incrementally, iterate, prioritize effectively, andmaintaina strong results-oriented sense of urgency.
- Ability to influence technical decisions across the team, peers, and senior leadership through clear communication and effective collaboration.
- A degree in computer science or engineering, or equivalent experience, with knowledge of diverse technologies, programming paradigms, and frameworks.
- The ability to evaluate trade-offs and apply them pragmatically in production is essential.
- Ability to handle critical production issues while on call by methodically analyzing logs and metrics,identifyingroot causes, and implementing effective mitigations.
- Architecture and designexpertisealone is insufficient for success on the CP team. Because this role involves building a platform product, candidates must have a strong engineering foundation, enthusiasm for technology, and the ability to implement solutions hands-on.
- Candidates must collaborate effectively and prioritize Confluent Platform’s goals over individual interests. We value a mindset that measures personal success by the success of CP and Confluent.
- Ability to help shape the team’s vision and strategy, clearly communicate the path forward, and build support for its evolution.
- Delivering assigned features is a baseline expectation, not the ultimate goal.
- Candidates whose experience is limited to using LLM-based tools, such as Claude, Codex, or equivalents, to analyze code and relay generated output will not be considered.This role requires demonstrated hands-on engineering expertise beyond AI-assisted analysisand implementation.
Benefits and support
- Flexible working hours (no rigid 9-to-6 schedule)
About IBM
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is a global technology and consulting company that provides hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and enterprise infrastructure solutions. Operating in over 175 countries, IBM helps businesses across industries modernize operations, secure data, and drive digital transformation through platforms like watsonx and Red Hat OpenShift. Founded over a century ago, the company remains a pioneer in high-performance computing, enterprise automation, and quantum technology.
- Industry
- Information Technology
- Company size
- 260,000+ employees
- Founded
- June 16, 1911
- Location
- Armonk, New York, USA
- Funding stage
- Public Company
Funding
Public Company · $3.5B raised
- ·Post Ipo Debt$150M
Leadership
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Senior Vice President, Software and Chief Commercial Officer
Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications
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