Forward Deployed Engineer

About this role

Kong is hiring a Forward Deployed Engineer to work directly with enterprise customers on implementing and optimizing Kong's API and AI gateway platform. You'll combine hands-on software engineering with customer delivery, building automation, leading migrations, and solving complex technical challenges across cloud-native environments.

What you'll do

• Design and implement Kong-based solutions for enterprise customers across cloud and on-premise environments
• Build automation frameworks, migration tooling, and custom integrations to accelerate customer adoption
• Lead API gateway and AI gateway implementation projects with cross-functional customer teams
• Develop production-grade code, plugins, CI/CD integrations, and Kubernetes automation
• Collaborate with Kong product teams to influence roadmap based on customer feedback
• Create reusable best practices, reference architectures, and technical documentation

What they're looking for

• Software engineering and coding
• API gateway and API management platforms
• Kubernetes and cloud-native infrastructure
• Distributed systems and platform engineering
• CI/CD and infrastructure automation
• Customer-facing technical communication
• Cloud architecture (multi-cloud, hybrid, on-premise)
• Migration planning and execution

Benefits

• Work directly with Fortune 50/500 enterprises on mission-critical modernization
• Exposure to cutting-edge cloud-native and AI connectivity technologies
• Opportunity to influence product direction through field experience
• Growth within a rapidly expanding Professional Services organization
• Impact on global enterprise digital transformation initiatives