About the Company

First Citizens Bank provides banking and financial services to individuals and businesses. The Enterprise Architecture team supports the bank’s technology direction by developing integration solutions that align with enterprise architecture standards and business objectives.

About the Role

First Citizens Bank is seeking a Lead Software Engineer with experience in Kafka-based, event-driven integrations to join its Enterprise Architecture team. This technical leadership role focuses on designing and implementing scalable enterprise integration solutions across multi-data-center and cloud environments. The role combines hands-on software development with technical guidance, consultation, and mentoring. You will work on Confluent Kafka infrastructure, real-time data pipelines, security, and schema governance while advising project teams on technology decisions that support long-term business needs. This is a remote position available across several U.S. markets, with priority given to candidates located in North Carolina, Arizona, and Texas.

Key Responsibilities

Design, configure, and maintain Confluent Kafka clusters across multi-data-center and cloud environments. Implement authentication, authorization, and schema governance for enterprise integrations. Build real-time data pipelines using Kafka Connect, Kafka Streams, and KSQL/FlinkSQL. Monitor system metrics, troubleshoot performance issues, and support high availability. Stay informed about technology trends and their potential impact on the bank’s infrastructure, providing relevant technical guidance. Train and mentor colleagues on new technologies and development practices. Provide technical advice and direction to associates, management, and development project teams. Apply technical expertise to develop software solutions for complex technical problems. Advise on strategies that align development projects with long-term business requirements and the organization’s technology direction. Assist management with implementing technology initiatives and strategies across the division. Manage technical risks, dependencies, and escalations, ensuring proactive communication and resolution.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and six years of experience, or a high school diploma or GED/equivalent and ten years of experience in software application development and maintenance.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience designing, configuring, and maintaining Confluent Kafka clusters in multi-data-center and cloud environments. Hands-on experience establishing and enforcing best practices for Kafka topic design, schema evolution, and DevOps automation. Experience with Kafka Connect, Kafka Streams, and Schema Registry. Proficiency in Java, Python, or Go. Experience integrating legacy systems and modernizing monolithic applications. Hands-on experience with cloud-native architecture. Experience managing technical risks, dependencies, and escalations. Experience with DevOps tools, CI/CD pipelines, and container orchestration technologies, including Docker, Kubernetes, and OpenShift. Location and Work Arrangement Work arrangement: Remote. Eligible markets: Multiple locations across the United States. Priority locations: North Carolina, Arizona, and Texas. Salary & Benefits For positions hired in North Carolina, Arizona, and Texas, the base salary generally ranges from $130,109 to $170,000. Actual starting pay depends on skills, experience, location, and other non-discriminatory factors permitted by law. Depending on the role, total compensation may include variable incentives, bonuses, benefits, and other awards as outlined in the employment offer. First Citizens Bank considers benefits an important part of its total rewards program and offers a benefits package designed to meet the needs of its associates. Further details are provided through the bank’s benefits information.