Technical Service Manager Apache Kafka

We are looking for a technically strong and strategic Technical Service Manager to take full ownership of our Event Streaming Service , built on Apache Kafka .The role sits within the Integration Domain , responsible for enabling secure, reliable, and scalable integrations across the enterprise and with third-party organizations.The Event Streaming platform is a core enterprise capability, enabling real-time data exchange, microservices communication, and modern event-driven architecture across multiple business domains. As Technical Service Manager, you will: Own the complete service lifecycle of the Kafka platform Define the long-term service vision and roadmap Ensure the platform meets evolving business and technical needs Drive operational excellence, governance, and continuous improvement Enable self-service capabilities for development teams You are accountable for ensuring the service remains robust, scalable, compliant, and future-ready. Key Responsibilities 1️⃣ Service Ownership & Strategy Define and maintain the long-term direction and vision of the Kafka service Establish tactical roadmaps aligned with enterprise integration strategy Ensure platform scalability, reliability, and modernization 2️⃣ Service Lifecycle Management Own end-to-end lifecycle (design → onboarding → operations → improvement) Oversee operational performance (SLA, SLO, KPIs) Manage service financials and budget tracking 3️⃣ Architecture & Platform Governance Collaborate with architects to ensure sound Kafka platform architecture Ensure best practices for event-driven design and integration patterns Drive standards for security, compliance, and enterprise alignment 4️⃣ Supplier & Delivery Management Work closely with suppliers and internal technical teams Ensure delivery quality, stability, and roadmap execution Govern critical production environments and platform upgrades 5️⃣ Stakeholder Management Act as primary point of contact for internal product teams Align service capabilities with business needs Support teams in adopting Kafka and event-driven best practices 6️⃣ Operational Excellence Ensure monitoring, logging, and observability frameworks are in place Drive automation of lifecycle management and self-service capabilities Support incident, change, and problem management processes 🔹 Required Qualifications 5+ years experience in a leading technical service role (Service Owner, Service Manager, Platform Owner, or similar) Strong knowledge of Apache Kafka and event-driven architecture Experience working in enterprise integration or middleware domains Experience operating platforms in cloud-native environments (AWS/Azure/Kubernetes) Strong understanding of DevOps and SRE principles Experience working with distributed teams and global stakeholders Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills Fluent in English (written and spoken) 🔹 Meritorious Experience with Kafka ecosystem tools (Kafka Connect, Schema Registry, MirrorMaker, Strimzi) Experience in automotive or large enterprise environments ITIL knowledge Experience managing suppliers or external vendors Experience managing platform financials You combine technical depth with leadership maturity and understand how to operate mission-critical platforms at enterprise scale.ription here!