Forward Deployed Engineer

About this role

Kong seeks a Forward Deployed Engineer to work directly with enterprise customers on implementing API and AI connectivity solutions. You'll combine hands-on engineering with customer collaboration to drive migrations, build automation, and deliver production-grade implementations across cloud-native environments.

What you'll do

• Design and implement Kong-based API gateway and AI connectivity solutions for enterprise customers
• Lead migrations from legacy API management platforms to Kong infrastructure
• Build automation frameworks, migration tooling, and custom integrations for customer adoption
• Develop production-grade code, scripts, plugins, and Kubernetes automation
• Collaborate with customer teams (developers, architects, security) to solve complex technical challenges
• Create reusable best practices, reference architectures, and technical assets to scale delivery

What they're looking for

• Software engineering and hands-on coding
• API gateway architecture and implementation
• Cloud-native and Kubernetes technologies
• CI/CD integration and automation frameworks
• Platform engineering and infrastructure tooling
• Enterprise architecture and system design
• Customer-facing technical communication
• API governance and modernization

Benefits

• Opportunity to work with Fortune 50/500 companies on mission-critical systems
• Exposure to cutting-edge cloud-native technologies and distributed systems
• Professional growth through large-scale enterprise architecture experience
• Direct influence on Kong's product roadmap through customer feedback
• Part of rapidly growing Professional Services organization