Site Reliability Engineer III- Kafka Platform Engineering

Location: Jersey City, NJ, United States

Job Family: Software Engineering

About the Role

At JP Morgan Chase, we are at the forefront of transforming the financial services industry through cutting-edge technology. As a Site Reliability Engineer III in our Kafka Platform Engineering team, you will play a pivotal role in building and scaling next-generation streaming platforms that power real-time data processing for global banking, trading, and risk management operations. Based in Jersey City, NJ, this position offers the opportunity to work on cloud-native architectures leveraging Apache Kafka to handle massive volumes of transactional data securely and efficiently, ensuring our systems remain resilient amid the demands of a 24/7 financial market. Your responsibilities will include designing highly available Kafka clusters, optimizing for low-latency streaming in high-stakes environments, and integrating with modern tools like Kubernetes and AWS services to support innovative use cases such as fraud detection and algorithmic trading. You will collaborate with software engineers, data scientists, and compliance teams to deliver reliable platforms that adhere to stringent regulatory requirements, including data privacy laws and financial audits. This role demands a proactive approach to monitoring, automation, and incident response, contributing to the stability of systems that process trillions in assets daily. We seek engineers who thrive in dynamic, collaborative settings and are passionate about reliability engineering in finance. With opportunities for mentorship, professional growth, and exposure to advanced technologies, this position at JP Morgan Chase will allow you to make a tangible impact on the future of financial services while enjoying a supportive culture that values innovation, diversity, and work-life balance.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain next-generation Kafka streaming platforms using modern cloud-native architectures to support JP Morgan Chase's global financial operations
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate Kafka solutions into mission-critical applications for real-time transaction processing and risk management
• Optimize Kafka clusters for high availability, scalability, and low-latency performance in handling petabyte-scale financial data streams
• Implement monitoring, alerting, and automation to ensure platform reliability and proactive issue resolution in a 24/7 financial services environment
• Drive innovation in streaming technologies, leveraging tools like Kafka Streams to enable advanced analytics and machine learning models for fraud detection
• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards such as GDPR, SOX, and FINRA through secure platform configurations and audit-ready practices
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the evolution of engineering best practices within JP Morgan Chase's technology organization
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex production issues, minimizing downtime for core banking and trading systems
• Participate in on-call rotations to support platform stability during peak trading hours and global market events

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• 5+ years of experience in software engineering with a focus on distributed systems and platform engineering
• Strong proficiency in Java or Scala for building scalable streaming applications
• Hands-on experience with Apache Kafka, including administration, tuning, and optimization in production environments
• Deep knowledge of cloud-native architectures, particularly AWS or similar cloud platforms
• Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration with Kubernetes
• Proven track record in financial services or high-stakes environments handling sensitive data and regulatory compliance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Kafka Streams or Kafka Connect for real-time data processing
• Familiarity with monitoring tools like Prometheus, Grafana, or ELK stack for observability
• Background in CI/CD pipelines using Jenkins, GitLab CI, or similar for automated deployments
• Knowledge of security best practices in financial systems, including encryption and access controls
• Contributions to open-source projects or publications in streaming technologies

Required Skills

• Apache Kafka expertise including topics, partitions, producers, consumers, and brokers
• Java/Scala programming for distributed systems development
• Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) with focus on managed services like MSK
• Containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
• CI/CD automation and DevOps practices
• Monitoring and observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk)
• Linux/Unix systems administration and scripting (Bash, Python)
• Database integration (SQL/NoSQL) for streaming data pipelines
• Security protocols and compliance in financial environments
• Problem-solving and debugging in high-pressure scenarios
• Agile methodologies and collaborative teamwork
• Communication skills for technical documentation and stakeholder engagement
• Analytical thinking for performance tuning and capacity planning
• Innovation in streaming architectures for real-time financial applications

Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance-based annual bonuses tied to firm and individual contributions
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans with employer contributions
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with generous company matching up to 6% of eligible compensation
• Paid time off including vacation, sick days, and parental leave for work-life balance
• Professional development opportunities through internal training, certifications, and tuition reimbursement
• Employee stock purchase plan and access to financial wellness programs
• On-site fitness centers, wellness programs, and mental health support resources
• Relocation assistance for eligible roles and hybrid work flexibility in Jersey City

JP Morgan Chase is an equal opportunity employer.