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Kong Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kong sits at the intersection of API management and AI connectivity, and you'll be the person who makes that story real for customers. What you'll be doing: * Support field sales in helping customers ...

Kong sits at the intersection of API management and AI connectivity, and you'll be the person who makes that story real for customers. What you'll be doing: * Support field sales in helping customers ...

Senior Practice Manager

Trenton, NJ · Remote

$146K - $209K/yr

We are looking for a Senior Practice Manager to join the growing Professional Services team at Kong. As a Sr. Practice Manager, you will have the opportunity to work across the entire customer ...

Talent Brand Manager

Sacramento, CA · Remote

$113K - $150K/yr

Remote United States At Kong, we're the AI Connectivity Company -- building the backbone that connects modern software, systems, and teams in an increasingly intelligent world. To fuel that vision ...

Staff Solutions Architect

Sacramento, CA · Remote

$120K - $173K/yr

We are seeking a Staff Solutions Architect to join the growing Professional Services team at Kong, maker of the world's most popular API gateway. As a Staff Solutions Architect, you will be ...

Forward Deployed Engineer

Trenton, NJ · Remote

$133K - $190K/yr

As organizations modernize for AI-driven connectivity, Kong is uniquely positioned at the center of enterprise transformation. We are seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to join Kong's growing ...

Kong API Data Architect

Chicago, IL · On-site

$65.75 - $84.50/hr

Kong API Gateway Nice to Have Skills: ? PI Management Detailed ? Kong Data Architect designs and governs the data models, analytics pipelines, and observability frameworks that support Kong API ...

Forward Deployed Engineer

Sacramento, CA · Remote

$120K - $172K/yr

As organizations modernize for AI-driven connectivity, Kong is uniquely positioned at the center of enterprise transformation. About the Role: We are seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) to join ...

Kong AI Gateway Engineer

Fort Mill, SC · On-site +1

$101K - $169K/yr

Design and develop Kong plugins for authentication, rate limiting (including token-based throttling), logging, and request/response transformation * Develop internal tools and solutions that improve ...

At Kong, we offer UNCAPPED COMMISSIONS with MASSIVE UPSIDE , competitive benefits, and equity in a company with huge growth potential. What You'll Be Doing: * Develop and execute sales strategies to ...

New

Your First 90 Days By the end of month 1, you will: • Have met your new team and had fun playing with some new tools • Become a part of the wider Kong family • Have had a successful sales boot ...

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Kong information

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How much do kong jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for kong in the United States is $20.11, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.51 and $21.39 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Kong vs API Gateway Developer?

AspectKongAPI Gateway Developer
CredentialsCertifications in API management, cloud platforms, or Kong-specific trainingKnowledge of API management, scripting, and cloud certifications
Work EnvironmentCloud-based, API management platforms, DevOps teamsDevelopment teams, API design, and integration projects
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, SaaS providers, API-centric organizationsSoftware development firms, API-focused roles in various industries

While Kong is a specific API management platform used to deploy, secure, and manage APIs, an API Gateway Developer is a role focused on designing, implementing, and maintaining API gateways, which may include Kong or other platforms. Both roles require API knowledge, but Kong specialists focus on the platform's features, whereas API Gateway Developers have broader responsibilities across different tools and environments.

What are some typical challenges faced by engineers working with Kong API Gateway, and how can they be addressed?

Engineers working with Kong API Gateway often encounter challenges related to scaling, plugin customization, and integration with diverse backend systems. Managing high traffic loads requires careful configuration and monitoring to ensure optimal performance and reliability. Customizing plugins may involve working with Lua or Go, which can present a learning curve. Collaborating closely with DevOps, security, and backend teams is crucial to ensure seamless implementation and to address security and compliance requirements. Regularly participating in knowledge-sharing sessions and leveraging community resources can also help overcome these challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Kong API Gateway Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Kong API Gateway Engineer, you need expertise in API management, networking concepts, and proficiency in programming languages like Lua or Go, often supported by a degree in computer science or related field. Familiarity with Kong Gateway, RESTful APIs, Docker, Kubernetes, and relevant certifications such as Kong Associate Developer are typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial for collaborating with cross-functional teams and troubleshooting complex integrations. These skills are essential for ensuring secure, scalable, and high-performing API infrastructure within modern applications.

What are Kong engineers?

Kong engineers are professionals who specialize in the deployment, management, and optimization of the Kong API gateway and related technologies. They are responsible for setting up Kong to manage, secure, and monitor APIs for organizations of all sizes. Their tasks often include configuring plugins, troubleshooting issues, integrating Kong with other services, and ensuring high performance and security of API traffic. These engineers typically possess skills in cloud infrastructure, networking, and API management, and may work with both open-source Kong and Kong Enterprise solutions.
More about Kong jobs
What cities are hiring for Kong jobs? Cities with the most Kong job openings:
What states have the most Kong jobs? States with the most job openings for Kong jobs include:
Infographic showing various Kong job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 9% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,833 per year, or $20.1 per hour.
Staff Solutions Engineer - Northeast

Staff Solutions Engineer - Northeast

Kong

Boston, MA • Remote

$220K - $260K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago


Job description

Are you ready to unlock intelligence?

If you don’t think you meet all of the criteria below but are still interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box - we’re looking for candidates that are particularly strong in a few areas, and have some interest and capabilities in others.

About the Role:

Are you ready to sit at the epicenter of the API and AI connectivity revolution? As a Staff Solutions Engineer at Kong, you won’t just be selling a platform — you’ll be a trusted technical advisor helping the world’s most innovative enterprises architect secure, scalable API ecosystems while navigating the transition into the agentic AI era. Kong sits at the intersection of API management and AI connectivity, and you’ll be the person who makes that story real for customers.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Support field sales in helping customers understand the value of the Kong API and AI connectivity platform.

  • Conduct discovery conversations to understand customer requirements and map them to Kong solutions, from initial product reviews through to production.

  • Support POCs throughout the entire evaluation process, owning technical validation and stakeholder alignment.

  • Ensure customer satisfaction across your assigned set of accounts.

  • Collaborate with support, product, and engineering teams to advocate for customer needs.

  • Create technical documentation for DevOps, implementations, and services engagements.

  • Lead and support API Management and AI Goverance evaluations, including scoping API/AI use cases, LLM traffic management, and governance requirements.

  • Deliver demonstrations of Kong’s API & AI governance and agentic connectivity capabilities, including Model Context Protocol (MCP) governance, semantic caching, prompt guardrails, and shadow AI detection.

  • Run API & AI-focused Technical Feasibility Workshops (TFWs) to validate Kong’s fit for modern and/or AI/agentic architectures.

  • Own the technical strategy for complex, multi-stakeholder enterprise deals from qualification through close.

  • Mentor and coach junior SEs on technical skills, discovery methods, and deal strategy.

  • Drive thought leadership by authoring technical blogs, hosting webinars, speaking at industry events and conferences such as AWS re:Invent, Google Next, API & AI summit, and regional events

  • Influence product direction by synthesizing customer feedback and market signals into actionable input for the product team.

  • And any additional tasks required by manager.

What you’ll bring:

  • 7+ years of software engineering and/or solutions engineering experience at a SaaS, open source, or enterprise software company.

  • Proven track record owning complex, enterprise-level deals with multiple technical and executive stakeholders.

  • Experience mentoring or coaching other SEs or technical team members.

  • Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud-native platforms.

  • Experience with REST and GraphQL APIs, CI/CD pipelines, and API security patterns (OAuth2, OIDC, mTLS).

  • Hands-on experience with AI-assisted development tooling — Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex, or equivalent is required.

  • Working knowledge of AI/LLM architectures, including model routing, rate limiting, semantic caching, and prompt governance.

  • Familiarity with Model Context Protocol (MCP) and agentic AI patterns.

  • Solid understanding of cloud computing trends and open source business models.

  • Strong listener and communicator — you can confidently lead discussions with engineers, architects, and executives.

  • Enthusiasm for working in a high-profile, fast-paced environment at the intersection of API and AI connectivity.

 

#LI-TS1

About Kong:

Kong Inc., a leading developer of API and AI connectivity technologies, is building the infrastructure that powers the agentic era. Trusted by the Fortune 500 and startups alike, Kong's unified API and AI platform, Kong Konnect, enables organizations to secure, manage, accelerate, govern, and monetize the flow of intelligence across APIs and AI models. For more information, visit www.konghq.com.

Compensation Range: $220K - $260K