It sounds like you're seeking a DevOps consultant with specialized expertise in Kafka, Akka, and cloud-based infrastructure on AWS. Here's a breakdown of the key qualifications you're looking for:

    Strong Scala Programming Skills: The consultant should have expertise in Scala programming, including experience with Scala frameworks such as Akka.

    REST API Development: Proficiency in designing and developing REST APIs is essential for building scalable and efficient communication between services.

    Experience with Databases: Familiarity with both SQL and NoSQL databases is important for data storage and retrieval in your infrastructure.

    Software Design Patterns and Principles: Knowledge of software design patterns and principles is crucial for developing robust and maintainable code.

    Version Control Tools: Experience with version control tools like Git is necessary for managing code changes and collaboration within the development team.

    Agile Methodologies: Understanding of Agile methodologies and a collaborative mindset is important for efficient project management and delivery.

    Problem-Solving Skills: Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills are essential for troubleshooting issues and optimizing system performance.

    Unit Testing: Experience in unit testing frameworks like JUnit or Mockito is important for ensuring code quality and reliability.

    Cloud-Based Environments: Experience with cloud platforms like AWS or Azure is necessary for deploying and managing infrastructure in a scalable and cost-effective manner.

    Experience with Kafka and Elasticsearch: Specific experience with Kafka and Elasticsearch is required for implementing messaging and data indexing capabilities in your infrastructure.

When evaluating potential candidates, make sure to assess their experience and expertise in each of these areas to ensure they're well-suited for the role. Conducting technical interviews or asking for code samples can help you gauge their proficiency and problem-solving abilities.