We’re currently hiring for a Freelance Senior Backend / Platform Engineer (Python, Kafka) on a 6 month contract

The role

We’re hiring a senior backend / platform engineer to work on a mission-critical, data-intensive platform.
This is a hands-on role focused on event-driven systems, data modelling, and reliability at scale.

Must-have experience

• 5–8+ years of software engineering experience
• Python as primary language for 5+ years
• Proven experience building mission-critical production systems
• 2+ years Kafka experience, including system design & integration
• Strong experience with FastAPI
• Proven experience in data modelling, data engineering, or data science
• Solid knowledge of microservices, containerisation, distributed systems
• Hands-on experience with Kubernetes
• Strong PostgreSQL experience
• Fluent English
• Netherlands-based and able to work onsite in Rotterdam 2 days per week

Nice to have

• Background in energy, trading, or optimisation
• Experience with mathematical optimisation (e.g. Gurobi)
• Familiarity with .NET / C#
• Experience with Azure DevOps
• Dutch language skills
• Experience mentoring or leading engineers

Contract details & application

• Contract length: 6 months (extension possible)
• Working model: 32-40 hour week / Hybrid – 2 days per week onsite in Rotterdam
• Start: ASAP / short notice preferred

If you’re interested, then please email me your updated CV, minimum required rate and your availability to interview/start.