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.
System Engineer (Token Factory)
$125K - $150K *
Grow your career with a leading AI inference platform, optimizing GPU performance and collaborating with teams to enhance execution. Drive innovation in low-level coding and hardware integration for c...
2 weeks ago
$197K - $257K *
Shape the future of monetization by leading a pivotal product strategy. Drive cross-functional collaboration, influence executive decisions, and enhance customer experiences while navigating complex c...
1 week ago
$85K - $95K *
Join a team that's dedicated to enhancing product learning experiences for credit unions and MAP employees. You'll design, develop, and deliver engaging training that empowers users to confidently ado...
3 weeks ago
Staff Engineer (Enterprise Systems)
$130K - $155K *
Elevate your career by leading technical direction for critical enterprise systems. Drive architectural decisions, collaborate across teams, and ensure reliability and scalability while actively contr...
1 week ago
Senior Project Manager - Data Centers Development
$130K - $165K *
Empower data center development by leading complex projects from site acquisition to construction. Drive client relationships, manage multidisciplinary teams, and ensure successful project delivery wh...
5 days ago
$150K - $160K *
Champion cloud and application security by enhancing AWS practices, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving continuous improvement to ensure secure and compliant environments...
Reposted 1 week ago
$130K - $160K *
Lead the end-to-end customer onboarding process, managing cross-functional teams to ensure timely delivery and value realization. Collaborate with customers to provide expert guidance and drive succes...
4 weeks ago
$120K - $160K *
Innovate technical architecture for retail planning solutions, leading design and implementation. Collaborate with teams to ensure scalable, secure integrations and optimize customer deployments while...
1 week ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Elevate your career by leading innovative Ultra Pure Water treatment solutions. As a key technical contact, you'll manage bids, collaborate with engineering teams, and drive project success in a dynam...
3 days ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Transform the future of water treatment by leading innovative Ultra Pure Water solutions. Leverage your engineering expertise and customer relations skills to drive project success and deliver tailore...
3 days ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Empower your career by leading innovative Ultra Pure Water treatment solutions. As a key technical contact, you'll manage bids and collaborate with global teams to deliver tailored engineering solutio...
3 days ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Lead the charge in designing innovative Ultra Pure Water treatment solutions. Leverage your engineering expertise and customer relationship skills to manage the bid lifecycle and deliver tailored solu...
3 days ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Lead the design and implementation of innovative Ultra Pure Water solutions, managing client relationships and project lifecycles. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver tailored engineeri...
1 week ago
Senior Application Engineer - Ultrapure Water & Microelectronics
$109K - $154K *
Shape the future of water treatment by leading innovative solutions in ultrapure water systems. Collaborate with global teams to manage proposals and engage clients, ensuring technical excellence and...
1 week ago
Senior Database Reliability Engineer
$150K - $190K *
Unlock potential by joining our dynamic Engineering team to enhance database performance and reliability. Collaborate cross-functionally, tackle production issues, and leverage cloud technologies to d...
1 week ago
Senior Database Reliability Engineer
$150K - $190K *
Join a team that's transforming database reliability through innovative architecture and cloud technologies. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance performance, tackle production issues, and ensure...
1 week ago
$120K - $145K *
Explore the opportunity to manage and evolve complex multi-prem platform architecture. Collaborate with engineering teams, ensuring operational excellence across diverse environments while leveraging...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
Manager of Data Engineering & Delivery (Data Science Production Engineering)
$127K - $159K *
Lead a dynamic Data Engineering team to develop innovative data solutions, supporting essential healthcare operations. Drive operational effectiveness, compliance, and collaboration while enhancing da...
Reposted 1 week ago
Software Engineer 4/5 - Model Serving Systems, AI Platform
$466K - $500K+*
Unlock potential by developing scalable AI/ML model serving infrastructure. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance performance and availability of high-traffic systems, driving innovation in a dyna...
1 week ago
$80K - $95K *
Innovate client support solutions by diagnosing and resolving technical issues, managing platform migrations, and enhancing customer satisfaction through proactive service and continuous improvement...
6 days ago
Principal Software Test Engineer - (Quality Assurance)
$108K - $159K *
Empower innovation by leading QA strategies for a cutting-edge music discovery platform. Drive quality assurance across mobile and backend systems, mentor talent, and collaborate with cross-functional...
Today
Advanced Product Specialist - Milwaukee\Chicago
$108K - $162K *
Grow your career with a dynamic role supporting MR product sales, enhancing client relationships, and delivering clinical expertise. Collaborate with teams to drive success in a fast-paced healthcare...
2 days ago
Senior Director, Dedicated Infrastructure & Platforms
$279K - $349K *
Drive the strategy and execution of dedicated infrastructure engineering, leading a high-performing team to enhance enterprise SaaS offerings, ensure compliance, and deliver exceptional customer exper...
2 weeks ago
$187K - $243K *
Engage in building and scaling systems that serve millions. As a seasoned engineer, influence technical decisions, foster AI adoption, and lead projects from concept to deployment while collaborating...
Reposted 2 days ago
Electrical Engineering Consultant 2 - Mission Critical
$145K - $222K *
Join a dynamic team to lead electrical engineering projects for nuclear systems, ensuring compliance and innovation in design. Collaborate with engineers and designers to tackle complex challenges in...
3 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.