Data Engineer | LA International | London (Hybrid / WFH)

Position Summary LA International is actively seeking an experienced, high-caliber, and technical Data Engineer with solid professional experience in distributed data pipelines, streaming architectures, and backend software development to join our client’s technology team on an initial 6-month contract basis with long-term extension potential in London, UK (Hybrid model: London office twice per week, remaining days remote/WFH; SC clearance preferred). In this critical data engineering role, you will be responsible for designing, building, and optimizing high-performance data pipelines, real-time event streaming systems, and scalable backend applications. You will leverage your deep specialist expertise in Apache Kafka, Kubernetes orchestration, Python, and Java to deliver uncompromised data integrity, low-latency processing, and operational excellence. This opportunity offers competitive Inside IR35 negotiable contracting rates, executive technical visibility, and exceptional career growth prospects within a premier global IT recruitment and digital consulting enterprise. Detailed Job Description As a Data Engineer supporting LA International in London, UK, you will take full operational, tactical, and technical ownership of real-time data ingestion pipelines, streaming architectures, containerized deployments, and backend data processing systems. Your day-to-day responsibilities include designing and implementing scalable data pipelines utilizing Apache Kafka for event-driven streaming, deploying and managing containerized workloads across Kubernetes clusters, writing clean, high-performance code in Python and Java for data transformation and backend services, collaborating with cross-functional analytics, data science, and software engineering squads, troubleshooting complex data synchronization bottlenecks, ensuring adherence to enterprise data governance standards, and operating under a flexible hybrid work model (London office attendance twice per week). Given the nature of the engagement, active or eligible SC (Security Check) clearance is strongly preferred. You will utilize your proactive troubleshooting and analytical problem-solving skills to resolve complex data anomalies under strict project delivery schedules. Key Responsibilities Design, build, test, and maintain robust, scalable data ingestion and streaming pipelines utilizing Apache Kafka. Deploy, manage, and scale containerized data processing applications and microservices across Kubernetes clusters. Write clean, optimized, and maintainable code in Python and Java for data ETL workflows and backend system integration. Architect resilient event-driven architectures to support real-time analytics, reporting, and enterprise data distribution. Troubleshoot, debug, and resolve complex pipeline failures, latency bottlenecks, and consumer lag issues in Kafka. Collaborate seamlessly with cross-functional software engineers, data scientists, and business stakeholders. Maintain comprehensive technical documentation of data models, pipeline topologies, and deployment runbooks. Adhere strictly to enterprise security policies, data privacy protocols, and secure coding practices. Required Qualifications