Enterprise Account Executive - Public Sector at Kong (Washington, DC)
Kong· Washington, DC·
Role details
Kong at a glance
Kong runs the unified API and AI platform that connects, secures, governs, and monetizes APIs, events, and AI traffic.
Kong provides a unified API and AI platform. Its open-source Kong Gateway handles API traffic at the edge, while Kong Konnect adds a managed control plane to design, secure, observe, and monetize APIs, events, and AI requests across any cloud. The AI Gateway extends the same governance model to LLMs, MCP servers, and agents.
$345M raised · latest: Series E · $175M · 2024 (at $2B valuation) · backed by Tiger Global, Balderton, Andreessen Horowitz, Index Ventures
Job description
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: We’re looking for a Federal AE to drive growth across key Civilian agencies - specifically DOE, DOJ, VA, and Department of Commerce. This role is focused on landing new logos, expanding existing relationships, and helping agencies modernize digital services using Kong’s API and AI Gateway. Ideal for someone who understands Civilian priorities like citizen experience (CX), data sharing, Zero Trust, and cloud/AI adoption, and knows how to navigate complex, partner-driven Federal sales cycles.
What You’ll Do:
- Own and grow a portfolio across DOE, DOJ, VA, Commerce.
- Drive new business + expansion aligned to agency modernization priorities.
- Run full sales cycle (pipeline → capture → close).
- Work closely with SIs + partners (Booz, Accenture Federal, SAIC, Leidos, etc.).
- Build relationships with CIOs, CTOs, program + digital leaders.
- Align Kong to initiatives like CX, interoperability, AI enablement, Zero Trust.
- Develop account plans tied to budget + funding (TMF, FITARA, etc.).
- Maintain clean pipeline + forecasting in Salesforce.
- Represent Kong at agency + industry events.
What You Bring:
- 7+ years selling into Federal Civilian agencies (ideally DOE, DOJ, VA, Commerce).
- Track record closing complex, multi-stakeholder deals.
- Strong understanding of:
- CX + digital services
- Data sharing / interoperability
- Zero Trust + security
- Cloud + AI adoption
- Experience with Federal procurement + contract vehicles (GSA, SEWP, CIO-SP3/4, Polaris).
- Comfortable in partner-led motions with major SIs.
- Strong executive presence (CIO/CTO/program level).
- Solid pipeline discipline (Salesforce).
- Background in API, infra, security, or AI is a plus.
#LI-TM2
About Kong: Kong Inc., the AI Connectivity Company, is building the connectivity layer of AI. Trusted by the Fortune 500® and AI-native startups alike, Kong’s unified API and AI platform enables organizations to secure, manage, accelerate, govern, and monetize the flow of intelligence across APIs and AI traffic — on any model, any cloud. For more information, visit www.konghq.com.
Why work at Kong
- Remote‑first culture – 600+ employees across 25+ countries; strong emphasis on global collaboration.
- Perks & benefits (from careers page):
- Stock options for most employees
- 4‑week paid sabbatical every 5 years
- Flexible time off
- Home office stipend
- Regular “unplug days” (company‑wide long weekends)
- Virtual events (Donut chats, trivia, fitness challenges)
- Engineering culture – values “owners, explorers, real, unstoppable” and encourages individual innovation. Focus on shipping fast and high trust.
- Growth trajectory – company is scaling (+23.5% headcount YoY) and is a unicorn with clear product‑market fit in a hot market (AI + API management).
- Open roles – 93 open positions across engineering, sales, solutions, customer success, and marketing.