Kong API Gateway Engineer

Title: Kong API Gateway Engineer • Client: lululemon Athletica, Inc • Location: Seattle, WA(hybrid) • Duration: 6+ months contract This is a specialized, high-priority role focusing exclusively on Kong API Gateway within AWS + Kubernetes infrastructure. Key Responsibilities • Kong API Gateway Mgmt: Implement, configure, optimize, and maintain Kong solutions for performance, scalability, and reliability. • Security: Apply & enforce policies – OAuth, JWT, rate limiting, IP filtering. • Custom Plugins: Build custom Kong plugins in Lua for authentication, logging, rate limiting, and data transformations. • Observability: Use OTEL with Splunk (logging), Datadog (metrics), and Jaeger (tracing). • Infra Support: Manage Kong on Kubernetes (EKS) within AWS, plus Redis caching & infra patching. • Collaboration: Partner with app teams to define API standards and onboarding in SaaS environment. • Migration: Contribute to API Gateway migrations (e.g., Apigee Edge → Kong). • Documentation & Support: Create best-practice guides, documentation, and enablement material for teams. Required Skills • Experience: 5–8 years in API management, with deep specialization in Kong. • Technical Stack: • Kong API Gateway (advanced configuration & troubleshooting) • Kubernetes (preferably AWS EKS) • AWS Cloud (integration & infra optimization) • Lua (custom Kong plugin development) • Observability: Splunk + Datadog + Jaeger • Redis cache • API Principles: Versioning, documentation, rate limiting, load balancing, security. • Migration Expertise: Hands-on with APIM platform migrations. Nice-to-Have • Direct Apigee Edge experience. • Experience with proxy migration (Apigee → Kong). Soft Skills • Strong communication & cross-functional collaboration. • Ability to work in agile teams. • Analytical, proactive problem solver.