Staff Solutions Engineer

About the role

Join the sales team at Kong where you become a pivotal member focused on guiding clients through the technical dimensions of the sales journey. You will collaborate closely with account executives to provide critical support for both enterprise and strategic accounts, with a specific emphasis on the French market. This position is integral to propelling new business initiatives and demonstrating the cutting edge technology that defines Kong. You will own the technical narrative during complex sales discussions, translating intricate product capabilities into clear business value. Your work will ensure that technical stakeholders feel confident in the scalability and reliability of the solutions presented. By bridging the gap between technical teams and executive decision-makers, you directly influence the customer's perception of Kong's expertise. You will be expected to rapidly assimporate product knowledge and apply it to real-world client scenarios. Ultimately, you will help drive the adoption of Kong's platform by removing technical barriers to purchase.

Key facts

What you'll do

Provide technical guidance to enterprise and strategic accounts in the French market during the sales cycle.

Collaborate with account executives to shape solution demonstrations that highlight the innovative technology of Kong.

Analyze complex client requirements and map them to the appropriate API Management and integration capabilities.

Lead discussions with C-level executives, directors, product managers, and engineering teams to uncover technical needs.

Evaluate existing open-source technologies within the client environment and advise on the benefits of Kong's solutions.

Present the value proposition of cloud computing trends and how they align with the client's business objectives.

Support the creation of technical artifacts that de-risk the sales process for the customer and internal stakeholders.

Communicate complex topics clearly, ensuring that both technical and non-technical audiences understand the proposed architecture.

Act as a technical advocate within the sales funnel, ensuring the customer's technical concerns are addressed proactively.

Assist in the development of sales methodologies specific to solution engineering in a SaaS environment.

Contribute insights back to marketing and product organizations to refine the sales approach and improve iteration.

Ensure adherence to the ramp plan by delivering against predefined technical milestones during the first months on the job.

Maintain a deep understanding of open-source business models to explain licensing and support options to clients.

Leverage knowledge of containerization and orchestration to advise on deployment scenarios involving Docker and Kubernetes.

Demonstrate a passion for thriving in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment while managing multiple sales engagements.

Requirements

A minimum of 7 years of experience in pre-sales Solution Engineering or a comparable role within a SaaS, open-source, or enterprise software environment.

Proven experience working with open-source technologies, demonstrating a strong understanding of their applications and benefits.

A solid grasp of API Management, Integration, cloud computing trends, and the dynamics of open-source business models.

Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to confidently present and engage in discussions with C-level executives, directors, product managers, and engineering teams.

A proactive attitude and a desire to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced startup environment.

The ability to translate technical complexity into compelling business arguments for strategic accounts.

Willingness to travel internationally as required to support key clients in the French market and other regions.

Commitment to mastering Kong's product suite and staying current with industry trends in API management and cloud computing.

Capability to work independently and within cross-functional teams to achieve shared sales objectives.

Nice to have

Previous experience with API Gateway or Service Mesh technologies, enhancing your ability to support clients effectively.

Familiarity with containerization tools such as Docker and orchestration platforms like Kubernetes.

In-depth knowledge of technologies including NGINX, HTTP, AWS, Postgres, or Cassandra, which can be beneficial for client interactions.

Proficiency in Linux operating systems, enabling you to assist clients with technical challenges effectively.

Understanding of DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines, contributing to smoother project implementations.

Awareness of DCOS/Mesos and Docker Swarm, which can provide additional insights into client needs.

Practical notes

This role is based in London, England, and is a full-time position. While the compensation details are not specified, candidates can expect a competitive salary reflective of their experience and the industry standards. The ideal candidate will be someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and is eager to contribute to the growth and success of Kong's innovative solutions. If you are passionate about technology and have a strong background in solution engineering, we encourage you to apply and become part of our dynamic team.

Know our sales funnel inside and out, and feel confident to add value to our sales org.

Show clear delivery of our sales methodologies.

Provide insights to both our Account Development and marketing organizations to help us to continue to iterate and improve.

Delivered against your ramp quota.