Performance engineers help software, applications, and digital systems run quickly, reliably, and efficiently. They identify bottlenecks, test performance under real-world conditions, and work with engineering teams to improve speed, scalability, and resilience. Explore vetted Performance Engineer opportunities paying $100,000 or more on Ladders.
Performance engineers plan and execute load, stress, and scalability tests; analyze system behavior; and turn findings into practical improvements. Depending on the role, they may focus on application response times, infrastructure capacity, database performance, or end-to-end user experience. They often partner with software developers, site reliability engineers, architects, and product teams.
Employers commonly seek experience with performance testing tools, scripting or programming, distributed systems, and cloud platforms. Knowledge of observability, profiling, networking, databases, and CI/CD can also be valuable. Strong analytical skills and the ability to communicate technical findings help engineers prioritize and deliver measurable improvements. Requirements vary by employer and seniority.
Performance engineering roles are found across technology, financial services, healthcare, e-commerce, and other industries that depend on reliable digital products. Professionals may advance into senior or lead engineering positions, performance architecture, site reliability engineering, or engineering management. Career paths depend on experience, technical specialization, and organizational needs.
Search Ladders for vetted Performance Engineer openings with salaries of $100,000 or more. Review each listing for responsibilities, required qualifications, compensation details, and work arrangements, then find opportunities that align with your skills and career goals.
Project Planner - Environmental
$112K - $196K *
Lead a dynamic team in urban/environmental planning, ensuring technical excellence and regulatory compliance on large-scale projects while managing budgets and timelines effectively...
1 week ago
$135K - $160K *
Join a team that's transforming established businesses by leading software engineering efforts. Drive modernization, coach teams, and implement innovative solutions while delivering high-quality softw...
1 week ago
$135K - $160K *
Take ownership of software engineering initiatives within established companies. Lead teams, modernize development processes, and enhance code quality while delivering impactful software solutions. Co...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in managing complex public safety projects, ensuring timely delivery and high customer satisfaction. Oversee a diverse portfolio while collaborating with cross-functional teams to driv...
3 weeks ago
Staff Software Engineer , Observability
$217K - $303K *
Drive the evolution of observability tools that enhance insights at scale, as you tackle unique challenges in software and infrastructure development. Engage in collaborative projects that impact mill...
Reposted 2 days ago
$125K - $150K *
Empower customer success by designing impactful journeys that drive retention and revenue. Lead cross-functional teams to create and optimize service blueprints, ensuring seamless customer experiences...
5 days ago
Senior People Business Partner, Engineering
$115K - $194K *
Unlock your potential as a strategic partner to senior Engineering leaders, driving organizational change and fostering a high-performance culture across global teams in a fast-paced tech environment...
3 weeks ago
$132K - $174K *
Empower your career with hands-on technical leadership, driving innovation and excellence in healthcare systems. Lead a talented team, mentoring engineers while architecting scalable, secure solutions...
Reposted 2 days ago
$120K - $145K *
Join a dynamic team as you lead engineers in delivering high-quality technology. Drive performance, resource planning, and best practices across the SDLC while fostering a culture of collaboration and...
2 weeks ago
$120K - $150K *
Champion data innovation by leading a skilled engineering team to enhance our enterprise data platform. Drive architectural excellence and streamline processes across Azure and Microsoft Fabric, ensur...
1 week ago
$150K - $180K *
Lead the charge in enhancing engineering security for our SaaS platform. Collaborate with teams to identify risks, improve practices, and implement automation, ensuring secure development and robust v...
1 week ago
Consulting Engineer, Ingestion
$150K - $180K *
Elevate your career by leading technical authority in aerospace engine ingestion, driving design excellence, mentoring future leaders, and engaging with industry experts to shape innovative solutions...
5 days ago
Software Engineer (Contractor)
$110K - $130K *
Build innovative technology solutions for Equity Portfolio Management. Collaborate with stakeholders to enhance functionality and maintain high software quality, while leveraging modern practices and...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, AI Automation
$134K - $199K *
Drive innovation by leading the design and delivery of AI agents and workflows that enhance operational efficiency. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to transform complex challenges into scalabl...
2 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, AI Automation
$130K - $195K *
Join a dynamic AI Automation team to design and deliver production-grade AI agents and workflows, enhancing operational efficiency across the organization while solving complex business challenges wit...
2 weeks ago
Senior Manager, Engineering Continuous Improvement
$110K - $130K *
Reimagine solutions engineering by leading a team focused on enhancing operational efficiency across OmniChannel Retail and Ecommerce. Drive effective implementation strategies and continuous improvem...
Reposted 1 week ago
Technical Manager- Virtual Platform Team
$195K - $315K *
Drive innovation by architecting next-gen virtual-platform solutions for AI SOCs. Lead a technical team to deliver high-quality simulation models, enabling early software development and ensuring firs...
3 weeks ago
Senior AI Engineer (CCC Auto / Agentic)
$180K - $225K *
Elevate the future of AI systems by architecting LLM-powered workflows that enhance customer interactions, ensuring security and performance while guiding teams through complex challenges and deliveri...
4 days ago
Lead Scientific EngineerProgrammer
$110K - $130K *
Champion the development of innovative modeling capabilities to enhance our advanced simulation framework, collaborating with engineers to integrate numerical methods and apply machine learning for mo...
2 weeks ago
Community Engineer (SWE3), Brilliant Black Minds (United States)
$157K - $180K *
Join a team that's driving innovation by building AI-powered tools for a vibrant community of diverse software engineers. You'll blend hands-on engineering with community management to enhance technic...
3 weeks ago
Principal Systems Engineer - AV Sensor Design
$238K - $365K *
Join a team that's redefining lidar technology for autonomy products. Lead the technical strategy, collaborate with experts, and drive innovations from concept to production, ensuring performance and...
3 weeks ago
Staff Product Operations Manager, Platform
$126K - $225K *
Unlock your potential by driving enterprise-ready solutions that enhance revenue growth. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to analyze data, build impactful tools, and deliver insights that shape...
2 days ago
$108K - $125K *
Champion innovative solutions as a Full Stack Engineer, delivering impactful features and enhancing systems across projects. Collaborate, design, and optimize applications with a focus on performance...
Reposted 4 days ago
$185K - $260K *
Champion security excellence by designing and implementing robust software solutions. Collaborate with teams to enhance security practices, conduct code reviews, and respond to incidents, ensuring a s...
3 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer, Solutions Engineering
$179K - $224K *
Unlock innovative solutions as you guide software engineering teams to navigate complexities and enhance integrations while mentoring diverse talents in a collaborative environment...
Reposted 2 days ago
What is a Performance Engineer?
A Performance Engineer evaluates and improves the speed, capacity, stability, and efficiency of software and systems. The work often includes performance testing, identifying bottlenecks, analyzing results, and collaborating on fixes.
What does a Performance Engineer do day to day?
Typical responsibilities include designing load and stress tests, monitoring application and infrastructure behavior, investigating slowdowns, profiling code or services, and sharing recommendations with engineering teams. Duties vary by company and specialization.
What skills are useful for Performance Engineer jobs?
Useful skills may include performance testing, programming or scripting, systems and distributed architecture, cloud platforms, databases, observability, and data analysis. Employers may also value experience with CI/CD and clear technical communication.
Where do Performance Engineers work?
Performance Engineers work in industries that rely on digital services, including technology, financial services, healthcare, retail, and e-commerce. They may focus on applications, platforms, infrastructure, or end-to-end user experience.
How can I find Performance Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?
Browse Performance Engineer listings on Ladders and review each posting for salary, responsibilities, qualifications, and work arrangements. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more.