Kong API Gateway Engineer

Kong API Gateway Engineer
ROLE
We need an experienced Kong API Gateway Engineer at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This position supports the IRS Enterprise API Gateway Modernization and Operations (EAGMO) effort, providing surge capacity during accelerated migration work packages. In this role, you will deliver product specific configuration support for Kong including plugins, routing, certificates, and developer portal setup, support migration wave preparation, testing, defect resolution, and rollback validation, support CI/CD and observability integration touchpoints, and provide knowledge transfer and completion evidence for Government acceptance. This is a full-time opportunity. We can offer a competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package. Appy today!
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Delivers product-specific engineering support for Kong (or Government-selected product) configuration — plugins/policies, routing, certificates, runtime groups, developer portal configuration, environment promotion patterns — within Government-approved boundaries.
• Supports accelerated API migration wave preparation, test execution, defect resolution, and rollback validation during authorized surge work packages.
• Supports EAG/API-gateway-specific CI/CD integration touchpoints, GitOps/configuration-as-code artifacts, and observability/monitoring integration for the approved product, within Government-owned DevSecOps/CI/CD environments.
• Provides knowledge transfer, technical office hours, configuration documentation, and completion evidence sufficient for Government acceptance of each surge Work Package Plan and Completion Package.

• 7 years of experience performing similar duties to this role
• Experience implementing, configuring, integrating, validating, troubleshooting, and documenting Kong enterprise API Gateway products, including plugins/policies, developer portal configuration, EAG-side CI/CD/GitOps integration touchpoints, observability integration, migration support, and knowledge transfer.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field
• MBI is preferred

• Remote – Preferred to be based in National Capital Region

• U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident is required
• Ability to obtain IRS Minimum Background Investigation security clearance

• IRS, Enterprise API Gateway Modernization and Operations (EAGMO)

• 40 hours per week
• 8 hours per day

• Employment Classification Eligibility — W2 

• Not eligible for relocation benefits

• Salary range: $150,000 – $170,000
• Benefits: Benefits package includes options for health, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401k contribution options

West 4th Strategy is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, age, marital status, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, pregnancy, political affiliation, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal or state law.
Other Considerations: applicants will be subject to a background investigation. Individual’s primary workstation is located in an office area. The noise level in this environment is low to moderate. Regularly required to sit for extended periods up to 80% of the time; frequently required to move about to access file cabinets and use office equipment such as PC, copier, fax, telephone, cell phone, etc. Occasionally required to reach overhead, bend, and lift objects of up to 10 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the use of computer monitor screens up to 80% of the time.