Senior Forward-Deployed API & AI Engineer

Kong

Sacramento (CA)

On-site

USD 192,000 - 274,000

Full time

2 hours ago

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Job summary

Kong is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to join our Professional Services team. You will work directly with enterprise customers to implement Kong-based solutions across cloud, hybrid, and on‑prem environments, building automation and migration tooling to accelerate adoption.

The role requires strong hands‑on software engineering, experience with API gateways and distributed systems, and collaboration with product and engineering to shape roadmap based on field learnings.

Qualifications

Extensive hands-on engineering experience with API gateways and distributed systems.
Strong Kubernetes and cloud-native infrastructure expertise.
Proven ability to design and deliver production-grade solutions for enterprise customers.

Responsibilities

Partner with enterprise customers to design and implement Kong-based solutions across cloud, hybrid, and on-prem environments.
Lead hands-on implementation for API gateways, AI gateways, service mesh, and related connectivity tech.
Build automation, migration tooling, and reusable accelerators to speed adoption.
Drive migrations from legacy API management to Kong.
Collaborate with customer developers, architects, and executives to solve complex challenges.
Develop production-grade code, scripts, CI/CD integrations, and Kubernetes automation.
Influence roadmap with field feedback and best practices.
Create reusable references and design patterns to scale delivery excellence.