Experienced Staff Engineer – PaaS (Messaging) Kafka Remote - Driving Innovation in Cloud-Based Technologies

Introduction to GEICO and Our Mission

At GEICO, we're not just an insurance company; we're a team of innovators, thinkers, and problem solvers passionate about using technology to transform the insurance industry. With over 75 years of experience and a reputation as one of the nation's largest and fastest-growing auto insurers, we're committed to providing low rates, outstanding service, and clever marketing. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, we offer our associates a financially stable and rewarding workplace with opportunities for training and career advancement.

About the Role: Staff Engineer – PaaS (Messaging) Kafka Remote

We're seeking an exceptional Staff Engineer with a deep passion for building high-performance, low-maintenance, zero-downtime platforms and applications. This role is crucial in driving our insurance business transformation as we evolve from a traditional IT model to a tech organization with engineering excellence at its core. The ideal candidate will co-create a culture of psychological safety and continuous improvement, working closely with our Distinguished Engineer and Sr. Engineers to innovate, build new systems, improve existing ones, and identify novel opportunities to apply their knowledge in solving critical problems.

Key Responsibilities

• Focus on multiple areas, providing technical and thought leadership to the enterprise, and collaborating with product managers, team members, customers, and other engineering teams to solve complex problems.
• Develop and execute a technical software development strategy for the Platform Engineering domain, ensuring the quality, usability, and performance of solutions.
• Serve as a role model and mentor, coaching and strengthening the technical expertise and know-how of our engineering and product community, and influencing and educating executives.
• Consistently share best practices and improve processes within and across teams, analyzing costs and forecasts, and incorporating them into business plans.
• Determine and support resource requirements, evaluate operational processes, measure outcomes to ensure desired results, demonstrate adaptability, and sponsor continuous learning.
• Participate in on-call and operation support, ensuring the smooth operation of our systems and platforms.

Essential Qualifications

To excel in this role, you should have:

• Deep hands-on experience in complex system design, data pipeline architectures, scale, and performance tuning, with a good understanding of Docker and Kubernetes.
• Fluency in at least two object-oriented programming languages, such as Java, Go, Python, C++, etc.
• Good knowledge of two of the following languages: Java, C, C#, or other object-oriented languages, PHP, Perl, Ruby, JavaScript, shell script, etc.
• Understanding of open-source messaging and event streaming products like RabbitMQ and Kafka.
• Exemplary ability to design, perform experiments, and influence engineering direction and product roadmap.
• Experience partnering with engineering teams and transferring research to production, with a track record of publications in credible conferences and journals.
• Experience with continuous delivery and infrastructure as code, in-depth knowledge of CS data structures and algorithms, and the ability to solve analytical problems with quantitative approaches.

Preferred Qualifications

While not required, the following qualifications are highly desirable:

• Knowledge of developer tooling across the software development life cycle, including task management, source code, building, deployment, test automation, and related tools.
• Experience with open-source messaging and event streaming platforms, emphasizing building enterprise-scale platforms.
• Knowledge of big data and streaming data architecture (Lambda/Kappa), K8 cluster, and ETL pipeline.
• Familiarity with ML and AI technologies, CI/CD pipeline, and related open-source tools like GIT/Jenkin/CircleCI/SonarQube, as well as knowledge of Terraform/Ansible.
• Experience with open-source monitoring software like Grafana and Prometheus, and familiarity with other messaging and event solutions like Azure Service Bus and Azure Event Hub.

Experience and Education

The ideal candidate will have:

• 6+ years of professional PaaS and IaaS experience.
• 4+ years of experience in open-source frameworks.
• 3+ years of experience with architecture and design.
• 3+ years of experience with AWS, GCP, Azure, or another cloud service.
• A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent education or work experience.

Career Growth Opportunities and Learning Benefits

At GEICO, we're committed to the growth and development of our associates. As a Staff Engineer, you'll have access to:

• Opportunities for career advancement and professional growth.
• Comprehensive training programs to enhance your skills and knowledge.
• A culture of continuous learning and innovation, with a focus on staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends.
• A collaborative and dynamic work environment that encourages creativity, experimentation, and calculated risk-taking.

Work Environment and Company Culture

Our work environment is built on the principles of psychological safety, continuous improvement, and mutual respect. We believe in:

• Fostering a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and belonging, where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute.
• Encouraging open communication, transparency, and feedback, to ensure that every associate has a voice and can make a meaningful impact.
• Providing a healthy work-life balance, with flexible working arrangements and a range of benefits to support your well-being.
• Recognizing and rewarding outstanding performance, with a focus on meritocracy and fairness.

Compensation, Perks, and Benefits

We offer a competitive compensation package, with an annual salary range of $90,000.00 - $230,000.00, depending on experience and qualifications. Our benefits include:

• Premier Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with no waiting period.
• Paid Vacation, Sick, and Parental Leave.
• 401(k) Plan and Tuition Reimbursement.
• Paid Training and Licensures.
• A range of other perks and benefits, including flexible working arrangements and a dynamic work environment.

Conclusion

If you're a motivated and talented engineer looking for a new challenge, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. As a Staff Engineer – PaaS (Messaging) Kafka Remote, you'll have the chance to make a real impact on our business, working with a talented team of professionals who share your passion for innovation and excellence. Don't miss out on this opportunity to join our team and take your career to the next level. Apply now and start building something amazing with us!