Kong Architect

Job Summary The Kong Architect will serve in a hands-on engineering role focused on API platform migration, automation, and large-scale API onboarding. This position requires deep expertise in Kong, strong understanding of API architectures, cloud networking, automation, and infrastructure-as-code. The role involves supporting application teams as they migrate to the Kong platform, building end-to-end automation for API onboarding, and troubleshooting issues across the full SDLC. Experience with AWS landing zones, transit gateways, and API traffic flows is essential. This is a fully technical, execution-focused role rather than a design-only architecture position. Key Responsibilities Support intake requests and guide application teams onboarding to the Kong platform. Review architecture submissions and advise teams on API migration approaches. Build and maintain self-service Terraform modules to automate API creation, repository setup, and migration through environments across the SDLC. Troubleshoot migration issues across QA and production environments. Analyze existing DataPower integrations and provide guidance on transitioning them to AWS landing zones and routing through Kong. Support application teams with issues once the platform is fully opened and high-volume intake begins. Work hands-on to ensure smooth platform adoption, high availability, and efficient API flow across cloud environments. Required Qualifications Approximately 4+ years of hands-on experience with Kong. Strong knowledge of OpenAPI specifications and API design principles. Experience with cloud networking and load balancing, including traffic routing across cloud environments, transit gateways, and multi-data-center designs for low latency. Understanding of inbound and outbound API flows and implementations. Experience with AWS landing zones and transit gateway architecture. Proficiency with Terraform and CI/CD pipelines. Experience with DevOps automation, preferably using GitHub Actions. Experience building self-service automation, including Terraform modules for automating API creation, repository creation, and API migration workflows. Preferred Qualifications Experience with DataPower, especially useful for analyzing existing integrations during migration. Experience with API management platforms such as Apigee or IBM API Connect. Experience with Cloudflare or F5 edge/CDN platforms.