Kong API Gateway Specialist

eTelligent Group • Columbia, WA

1d • Remote

About The Position

We are seeking a Kong API Gateway Specialist to support the federal government in modernizing and securing enterprise APIs across mission-critical tax systems. The candidate will design, implement, and maintain Kong solutions that align with federal compliance mandates, enable developer experience, and support high-volume API traffic during filing season.

Requirements

• 5+ years in API management, integration, or middleware, with 2+ years in Kong Gateway administration.
• Active security clearance (Mandatory). Candidates without an active security clearance will not be considered.
• Citizenship: US Citizen (MUST)
• Hands-on expertise with Kong Enterprise, decK, hybrid and DB-less modes.
• Knowledge of containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift).
• Strong scripting skills (Python, Lua, Shell).
• Familiarity with federal-scale observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk).
• Proven experience in secure API deployments and Zero Trust architecture.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in federal environments (IRS, Treasury, DHS, etc.) strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Design, configure, and maintain Kong API Gateway (Enterprise and OSS) for enterprise services.
• Implement plugins for authentication, authorization, rate limiting, caching, logging, and transformation.
• Integrate Kong with IAM and Zero Trust initiatives, including support for OAuth2, OpenID Connect, and mutual TLS.
• Develop automation for Kong configurations using decK, Terraform, or Ansible.
• Ensure compliance with federal security standards, FISMA, FedRAMP, and NIST 800-53 controls.
• Monitor and optimize API performance using Prometheus, Grafana, and Splunk dashboards.
• Support DevOps pipelines for API deployment across test, staging, and production environments.
• Collaborate with developers, system integrators, and operations staff to ensure seamless API delivery and support code freeze requirements.
• Develop documentation, standard operating procedures, and training materials for the staff.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees