Senior Java Engineer (Outside IR35) – Kafka & Spring Boot
Senior Java Engineer (Outside IR35) – Kafka & Spring Boot

Senior Java Engineer (Outside IR35) – Kafka & Spring Boot

Full-Time 43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Design and build secure, real-time backend systems using Java, Kafka, and Spring Boot.
  • Company: Join an innovative team creating impactful communication and data platforms.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible office attendance, competitive salary, and equity options.
  • Why this job: Make a real-world impact in a supportive, mission-driven engineering culture.
  • Qualifications: 10+ years in backend engineering with expertise in Java, Kafka, and Spring Boot required.
  • Other info: Opportunity for UK SC clearance support and fast-tracking.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.

About the Client

We’re working with an innovative team building the next generation of secure, real-time communication and data platforms. Their flagship product is a fresh reimagining of an existing system, crafted to provide robust, distributed coordination for a wide range of uses – from emergency response and humanitarian logistics to private collaboration and secure deployments in highly regulated or sensitive contexts.

Location & Flexibility

Office attendance is flexible. Come in as much or as little as you like. They have a well-equipped London office if you’d like a change of scene, but in-person attendance is only occasionally required for team meetups or workshops – always with advance notice.

The Role

We’re looking for a Senior Java Engineer who thrives in the world of Kafka and Spring Boot. You’ll play a key role in crafting a secure, distributed backend system designed for real-time operations and maximum resilience. You’ll team up with infrastructure, AI, and frontend specialists to create reliable backend services that keep people and teams connected when it matters most.

Your Day-to-Day

  • Architect and build event-driven microservices using Java, Spring Boot, and Kafka
  • Be responsible for the backend engineering for secure, distributed real-time systems
  • Design and deliver rock-solid APIs in collaboration with frontend and AI colleagues
  • Seamlessly integrate with identity and access management tools (like Keycloak)
  • Champion observability best practices through effective logging, metrics, and tracing
  • Pitch in on architecture decisions and mentor your peers to keep code quality top-notch
  • Define secure development practices fit for sensitive, regulated environments

What You’ll Bring

  • 10+ years of experience as a backend or systems engineer working with Java
  • Proven track record of designing and running Kafka-based systems at scale
  • Mastery of the Spring Boot ecosystem, including modules for Security, Web, and Data
  • Expertise in building event-driven systems that deliver high reliability and performance
  • Familiarity with message schemas (Avro, Protobuf) and strategies for evolving events
  • Experience integrating with identity systems like Keycloak
  • Strong grasp of system-level concerns like observability, availability, and resilience
  • Background working in secure, regulated, or mission-critical environments
  • Comfortable working with CI/CD pipelines, IaC tools, and containerised deployments

Security Clearance

This role requires the ability to gain UK SC clearance. If you’re eligible, they’ll support and fast-track your clearance. If you already have it then even better.

Bonus Points If You’ve Worked With:

  • Graph-based, messaging, or synchronisation systems
  • Zero-trust or encrypted transport architectures
  • Tools like Vault, WireGuard, or advanced key management
  • Distributed coordination, stateful services, or geo-redundant deployments

Why Join?

  • Contribute to a mission-driven product that makes a real-world impact
  • Work in a high-trust, supportive engineering culture
  • Enjoy flexibility and autonomy – your work, your way
  • Competitive salary and equity
  • Direct access to decision-makers and a say in shaping the future of the platform

Ready to build something that matters? Please apply.

At Pixelated People, we don’t just do inclusion and diversity. We embrace people that have different opinions, perspectives and personalities. Because we believe that by seeing the world from all sorts of angles, we can make life better for all the people who live in it. So we want you to know that the things that make you, you — like your age, ability, background and identity — are things that we celebrate and support.

Senior Java Engineer (Outside IR35) – Kafka & Spring Boot employer: Pixelated People

Join an innovative team at the forefront of secure, real-time communication and data platforms, where your contributions will directly impact critical areas such as emergency response and humanitarian logistics. Enjoy a flexible work environment with the option to work from a well-equipped London office, alongside a supportive engineering culture that values autonomy and collaboration. With opportunities for professional growth and direct access to decision-makers, this is a place where your expertise in Java, Kafka, and Spring Boot will thrive while making a meaningful difference.
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Contact Detail:

Pixelated People Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Java Engineer (Outside IR35) – Kafka & Spring Boot

Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and best practices in Kafka and Spring Boot. Join relevant online communities or forums where you can engage with other professionals, share insights, and ask questions. This will not only enhance your knowledge but also help you network with potential colleagues.

Tip Number 2

Showcase your experience with event-driven microservices by discussing specific projects you've worked on. Be prepared to explain the challenges you faced and how you overcame them, as this demonstrates your problem-solving skills and expertise in real-time systems.

Tip Number 3

Highlight your familiarity with secure development practices, especially in regulated environments. Prepare examples of how you've implemented security measures in past projects, as this is crucial for the role and will set you apart from other candidates.

Tip Number 4

If you have experience with CI/CD pipelines and containerised deployments, be ready to discuss how these tools have improved your workflow. Understanding these processes is essential for the role, and demonstrating your proficiency can make a strong impression.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Java Engineer (Outside IR35) – Kafka & Spring Boot

Java Programming
Spring Boot Framework
Kafka Messaging System
Microservices Architecture
API Design and Development
Event-Driven Systems
Identity and Access Management Integration
Observability Best Practices
Secure Development Practices
CI/CD Pipelines
Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Containerisation
Message Schema Design (Avro, Protobuf)
System Resilience and Availability
Mentoring and Leadership Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with Java, Kafka, and Spring Boot. Include specific projects or roles where you designed and implemented event-driven microservices, as this is crucial for the role.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for building secure, real-time systems. Mention how your background aligns with the company's mission and the specific technologies they use, such as Keycloak and CI/CD pipelines.

Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your work history, focus on your 10+ years of backend engineering experience. Highlight any roles where you worked in secure or regulated environments, as this will resonate with the company's needs.

Prepare for Technical Questions: Anticipate technical questions related to Kafka, Spring Boot, and system-level concerns like observability and resilience. Be ready to discuss your approach to architecture decisions and mentoring peers, as these are key aspects of the role.

How to prepare for a job interview at Pixelated People

Showcase Your Java Mastery

Be prepared to discuss your extensive experience with Java, especially in the context of building secure, distributed systems. Highlight specific projects where you've successfully implemented Java solutions, particularly using Spring Boot and Kafka.

Demonstrate Your Understanding of Event-Driven Architecture

Since the role focuses on event-driven microservices, be ready to explain your approach to designing and implementing such systems. Discuss your familiarity with message schemas like Avro or Protobuf and how you've evolved events in past projects.

Emphasise Collaboration Skills

This position requires working closely with infrastructure, AI, and frontend teams. Share examples of how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams in the past, particularly in delivering APIs and integrating with identity management tools like Keycloak.

Prepare for Technical Challenges

Expect technical questions that assess your problem-solving skills and knowledge of observability best practices. Be ready to discuss how you ensure system resilience and availability, and share any experiences with CI/CD pipelines and containerised deployments.

Senior Java Engineer (Outside IR35) – Kafka & Spring Boot
Pixelated People
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