Senior/Lead Java Developer (Krakow, onsite)

Akvelon is a software engineering company helping enterprise teams turn AI adoption into measurable engineering results. The company supports large-scale software organizations, Fortune 500 companies, and leading technology platforms including Microsoft, T-Mobile, Google, Reddit, and GitHub. The role is part of the Managed Kafka Connectors initiative focused on building and improving a managed Kafka connectors ecosystem for cloud data platforms.

• Strong Java / JVM engineering experience including performance-sensitive backend or platform development
• Strong understanding of distributed systems and reliability principles
• Practical experience with Kafka / Kafka Connect ecosystem, connector-based systems, or data integration platforms
• Strong debugging and troubleshooting skills across infrastructure, networking, authentication, and runtime behavior
• Experience with build systems, dependency management, and large codebases
• Experience working with cloud infrastructure, preferably GCP or similar cloud environments
• Strong engineering ownership: ability to drive delivery, quality, launch readiness, and operational improvements

Nice to have:

• Practical Go backend/service development experience for API-facing changes and service integration
• Experience with Apache Iceberg, Debezium, CDC systems, or source/sink connector integrations
• Experience with cloud data systems such as BigQuery, Spanner, Bigtable, Iceberg, or Debezium-based workflows
• Experience with SRE / operational readiness including monitoring, probers, load testing, playbooks, and launch reviews
• Experience with OSS or large-scale platform engineering
• Strong GCP infrastructure experience

• Accelerate onboarding of new first-party managed Kafka connectors
• Improve connector quality, reliability, and operational readiness
• Investigate and resolve connector behavior issues related to performance, stability, authentication, networking, and platform compatibility
• Implement Java-based changes in connector workers and connector logic
• Implement Go-based API/service integration changes where needed
• Translate connector behavior and technical limitations into implementation details, UI requirements, and documentation inputs
• Support launch gates, including probers, load testing, operational playbooks, launch reviews, and readiness checks
• Work with platform, infrastructure, and product stakeholders to prepare connectors for production launch

• Priority location: Krakow, Poland (or relocation to Krakow from another city)
• Candidate should be ready to relocate to Krakow if not already based there
• Office presence expected several times per week, potentially up to 5 days per week
• Required overlap until 10 AM PST