Are you ready to unlock intelligence? If you don’t think you meet all of the criteria below but are still interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box - we’re looking for candidates that are particularly strong in a few areas, and have some interest and capabilities in others. About the Role: Kong is The AI Connectivity Company. Our platform sits at the centre of how enterprises manage APIs, AI agents, and the infrastructure connecting them and we’re scaling fast. The ADR role is the front line of that growth. The accounts you open today are the expansion stories of tomorrow. As a Solutions Engineering - Specialist at Kong Inc., you will be a pivotal technical leader, leveraging your deep expertise in combining DevOps with AiOPS and FinOps, management, sales skills and system integration to guide customers and partners through complex architectural challenges. You will act as a trusted advisor, demonstrating the value of Kong's platform through tailored solutions and technical excellence. What you’ll do: * Lead technical discussions and presentations with enterprise clients, understanding their architectural requirements and business needs. * Experience in AI and closely following AI trends and applications, preference is for those who already embarked or started on their AI journey with orchestration tools, Agentic AI and agents building. * Solid understanding of Kafka . * Solid understanding of APIs and software development * Develop and implement proof-of-concept projects and custom demonstrations that showcase Kong's capabilities in System Integration, Continuous Integrations, and Continuous Delivery environments. * Provide expert guidance on SRE Observability strategies, helping customers monitor and optimize their API infrastructure. * Utilize your proficiency in Linux, Docker, and Git to troubleshoot complex technical issues and provide advanced support. * Drive the adoption of Automation Technology within customer environments, enabling efficient API lifecycle management. * Collaborate with sales, product, and engineering teams to provide market feedback and contribute to product development. * Mentor junior solutions engineers and contribute to the team's technical knowledge base. * Manage multiple projects concurrently, demonstrating strong Project Management skills and delivering results within deadlines. * Effectively communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences through exceptional Technical Communication. What you’ll bring: * Solid AIOps experience and/or Solid Kafka experience. * 5+ years of experience in a solutions engineering, technical architect, or similar customer-facing technical role. * Demonstrated expertise in API Design and API Management principles and best practices. * Strong understanding of Authentication mechanisms (OAuth, OIDC, JWT, etc.) and Cybersecurity best practices. * Proficiency with Linux operating systems and containerization technologies like Docker. * Extensive experience with Git for version control and collaborative software development. * Deep knowledge of Continuous Integrations and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines and tools. * Proven experience with SRE Observability tools and methodologies. * Strong understanding of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and its various phases. * Experience with Automation Technology and scripting for infrastructure and application deployment. * Exceptional Technical Communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. * Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and prioritize tasks effectively. * Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience. * WHY KONG? * Be part of the company defining the future of AI connectivity. APIs and agents run on Kong * Real career development * Hybrid from our Paris office, 2-3 days a week in the office. A beautiful location to work from in Summer * Competitive comp, benefits, and a team that shows up with integrity, energy, and purpose Every day, we raise the bar of what great looks like. Ready to help set it? #LI-TR1   About Kong: Kong Inc., a leading developer of API and AI connectivity technologies, is building the infrastructure that powers the agentic era. Trusted by the Fortune 500 and startups alike, Kong's unified API and AI platform, Kong Konnect, enables organizations to secure, manage, accelerate, govern, and monetize the flow of intelligence across APIs and AI models. For more information, visit www.konghq.com.