Senior API Gateway Engineer (Kong)

Job PurposeThe Senior API Gateway Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, administering, and supporting enterprise API Gateway solutions using Kong Gateway. The role ensures the delivery of secure, scalable, highly available, and high-performance API services while supporting API governance, integration, automation, and digital transformation initiatives across the organization.Key AccountabilitiesDesign, configure, deploy, and administer Kong Gateway environments across development, testing, and production platforms.Develop and implement API routing, transformations, rate limiting, throttling, security policies, and traffic management controls.Support API onboarding, publishing, versioning, lifecycle management, and governance processes.Implement API security mechanisms including OAuth 2.0, JWT, SSL/TLS, API Keys, authentication, authorization, and access management controls.Design and support integrations between microservices, enterprise applications, backend services, and cloud-based platforms.Troubleshoot gateway-related issues, perform root cause analysis, and implement performance optimization initiatives.Monitor gateway availability, performance, capacity utilization, and operational health.Automate API Gateway deployments, configuration management, and operational tasks using CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.Collaborate with architecture, development, infrastructure, security, and DevOps teams to ensure alignment with enterprise standards.Participate in API governance activities and enforce API management best practices.Develop and maintain technical documentation, operational procedures, standards, and knowledge repositories.Support platform upgrades, release management, disaster recovery planning, and production support activities.Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on scalability, reliability, security, and automation.Minimum QualificationsBachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related discipline.Relevant certifications in API Management, Kubernetes, Cloud Platforms, or Integration Technologies are preferred.Kong Gateway-related certifications are considered an advantage.Minimum Experience+5 years of experience in API Management, Middleware, Integration Platforms, or Enterprise Integration technologies.Strong hands-on experience with Kong Gateway administration and implementation.Proven experience supporting enterprise API management and microservices environments.Experience working in production-critical environments requiring high availability and scalability.Experience with DevOps, CI/CD automation, and containerized environments.Job-Specific SkillsKong GatewayAPI Gateway AdministrationAPI Lifecycle ManagementAPI GovernanceRESTful API DesignAPI Routing & TransformationAPI Publishing & VersioningMicroservices ArchitectureEnterprise Integration PatternsOAuth 2.0JWT AuthenticationSSL/TLSAPI Security Best PracticesAuthentication & AuthorizationAccess ManagementRate Limiting & ThrottlingAPI Threat ProtectionLinux AdministrationDockerKubernetesCloud-Native ArchitecturesAWS, Azure, or GCP (Preferred)CI/CD PipelinesDeployment AutomationConfiguration ManagementGit and Version ControlInfrastructure AutomationPerformance MonitoringCapacity PlanningRoot Cause AnalysisIncident ManagementPlatform TroubleshootingLogging & Observability ToolsBash ScriptingPythonGroovyAPI Testing ToolsAnalytical ThinkingProblem SolvingTechnical TroubleshootingStakeholder CollaborationCommunication SkillsDocumentation & Knowledge ManagementContinuous ImprovementAgile Delivery PracticesOperational Excellence