Infrastructure Specialist

## Infrastructure Specialist - Kafka Streaming Platform: A Strategic Opportunity for Growth This Infrastructure Specialist role presents a compelling opportunity for experienced professionals looking to make a significant impact on a newly formed, global team. At its core, this position is about **designing, implementing, and maintaining a managed Kafka streaming platform** that will serve as a cornerstone for the entire bank's operations. If you're passionate about building robust, scalable, and secure infrastructure in a complex enterprise environment, this role offers substantial advantages and key considerations for your career trajectory. ### Advantages for Aspiring Candidates: This is more than just a job; it's a chance to be at the forefront of a **strategic initiative** with far-reaching implications. You'll be instrumental in expanding beyond existing, smaller platforms and influencing operations across multiple regions, including the UK and India. * **Pioneering New Technology:** You will have the unique opportunity to architect and build a brand-new platform from the ground up. This involves evaluating technology options, which allows for direct contribution to strategic decisions and the selection of cutting-edge solutions. * **Leadership and Mentorship:** The role involves guiding junior teams and overseeing rollout and ongoing maintenance. This provides a valuable platform for developing leadership skills and sharing your expertise, fostering growth within the team. * **Deep Kafka Expertise Amplification:** For those with a strong foundation in Kafka, this role offers the chance to deepen that expertise by applying it to a large-scale, critical banking environment. You'll tackle complex challenges related to cluster design, performance tuning, and security at an enterprise level. * **Cross-Functional Collaboration:** You will work closely with technical Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), product managers, architects, and other engineers. This collaborative environment fosters learning and exposes you to diverse perspectives, crucial for holistic system design. * **Exposure to Modern Infrastructure:** Experience with container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes) and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure), along with hybrid deployments, is central to this role. This aligns with current industry demands and will enhance your marketability. * **Financial Services Acumen:** While experience in financial services is preferred, this role offers a significant advantage to candidates looking to break into or further their careers within this highly regulated and dynamic sector. Understanding enterprise middleware integration patterns (e.g., IBM MQ) further strengthens this aspect. * **Commitment to Learning and Innovation:** The role actively encourages staying informed of industry technology trends and contributing to technology communities. This fosters a culture of continuous learning and technical excellence, essential for career progression. * **Impactful Role:** The purpose of the role is clear: to build and maintain infrastructure platforms that are reliable, scalable, and secure. Your contributions will directly impact the bank's ability to operate efficiently and securely. ### Key Considerations for Your Career Path: To thrive in this Infrastructure Specialist position, consider the following to align your aspirations with the role's demands: * **Deep Kafka Mastery is Crucial:** A foundational requirement is **deep expertise in Kafka architecture**, encompassing cluster design, performance tuning, and security. If your Kafka knowledge is more foundational, investing time in advanced concepts and practical application will be highly beneficial. * **Cloud and Containerization Proficiency:** Strong experience with **container orchestration and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure)** is non-negotiable. Familiarity with hybrid deployments is also a significant plus. Candidates lacking this experience should prioritize acquiring these skills. * **Security-First Mindset:** The role emphasizes **security best practices and frameworks** (NIST, CIS, MITRE ATT&CK). Experience with endpoint security solutions like EDR/XDR is highly valued. A proactive and security-conscious approach will be key to success. * **Agile and Event-Driven Understanding:** Familiarity with **Agile development methodologies** and an understanding of **event-driven architectures and real-time analytics** will be advantageous. These concepts are increasingly important in modern enterprise systems. * **Enterprise Scale Experience:** The opportunity to work in a "large-scale enterprise environment," particularly within financial services or other regulated industries, is a significant career step. Be prepared for the complexities and stringent requirements that come with such an environment. * **Automation Focus:** The role heavily emphasizes **automation** for efficiency and reduced manual intervention. Candidates with strong scripting and coding skills will find this aspect particularly rewarding and an excellent area for development. * **Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving:** The expectation is for you to contribute to strategy, drive requirements, and make recommendations for change. This requires **sophisticated analytical thought** and the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. * **Alignment with Barclays Values:** As with any role at Barclays, demonstrating the **Barclays Values (Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Stewardship)** and the **Barclays Mindset (Empower, Challenge, Drive)** will be fundamental to your success and integration within the company culture. This Infrastructure Specialist role offers a unique blend of technical challenge, strategic influence, and career advancement opportunities. By understanding these advantages and key considerations, potential candidates can assess their fit and prepare to contribute meaningfully to this exciting new venture.