Staff Solutions Engineer: API & AI Connectivity

Kong; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Kong Inc., the AI Connectivity Company, seeks a Staff Solutions Engineer to act as a trusted technical advisor for enterprises navigating API ecosystems and agentic AI. You will drive complex deals, mentor junior SEs, and shape governance across Kong’s API and AI platforms.

This role combines sales influence with deep technical leadership in a fast-paced environment. Based in Oregon, you’ll collaborate with product, engineering, and support teams to ensure customer success from discovery through

Qualifications

• Proven track record owning complex, enterprise-grade deals with multiple stakeholders.
• Mentor and coach junior SEs on technical skills and discovery methods.
• Strong understanding of cloud-native platforms and API/AI ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Support field sales by communicating Kong's API and AI connectivity value.
• Conduct discovery conversations to map requirements to Kong solutions.
• Own technical validation during POCs and ensure stakeholder alignment.
• Collaborate with support, product, and engineering to advocate customer needs.
• Create technical docs for DevOps, implementations, and services engagements.
• Lead API Management and AI governance evaluations for modern architectures.
• Deliver demonstrations of Kong's governance and agentic connectivity capabilities.
• Run Technical Feasibility Workshops to validate Kong’s fit for AI architectures.
• Own technical strategy for complex enterprise deals from qualification to close.
• Mentor junior SEs and drive thought leadership via blogs and webinars.

Skills

Enterprise deals

Mentoring

Stakeholder communication

Cloud platforms

APIs & AI

Technical discovery

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

REST APIs

GraphQL

CI/CD

OAuth2/OIDC

Job description

Kong Inc., the AI Connectivity Company, seeks a Staff Solutions Engineer to act as a trusted technical advisor for enterprises navigating API ecosystems and agentic AI. You will drive complex deals, mentor junior SEs, and shape governance across Kong’s API and AI platforms.

This role combines sales influence with deep technical leadership in a fast-paced environment. Based in Oregon, you’ll collaborate with product, engineering, and support teams to ensure customer success from discovery through