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.
Senior Software Engineer, AI Developer Experience
$135K - $160K *
Lead the charge in building AI-powered engineering systems that enhance developer workflows, ensuring reliability and ease of adoption for engineers. Collaborate with teams to create innovative soluti...
2 weeks ago
$230K *
Unlock the future of AI power systems by leading high-density power delivery solutions for critical maritime and airborne applications, ensuring unparalleled performance in extreme environments while...
Reposted 2 days ago
$150K - $190K *
Transform healthcare by leading the development of scalable clinical programs. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance patient outcomes and streamline onboarding processes while ensuring co...
3 weeks ago
Lead Mobile QA Automation Engineer
$130K - $140K *
Lead QA efforts to enhance mobile application quality through automation, performance testing, and strategic oversight. Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure robust testing practices and mentor a h...
3 days ago
$272K - $344K *
Shape your career by leading a dynamic engineering team, driving collaboration across disciplines, and fostering a culture of growth and inclusion while managing critical production services in a full...
3 days ago
$206K - $257K *
Lead the charge in developing and mentoring a high-performing engineering team, driving collaboration across product and design to enhance our software solutions while fostering a culture of inclusion...
4 days ago
Staff Engineer - Product Development (Contact Systems)
$110K - $130K *
Lead innovative product development in power connectors and cable assemblies, driving technical excellence and cross-functional collaboration to deliver high-quality solutions that meet market demands...
6 days ago
Engineering Manager, Federal & Regulated Infrastructure
$215K - $315K *
Lead the charge in building secure, compliant infrastructure for our DaaS platform. Drive engineering excellence while collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet the needs of regulated customer...
2 weeks ago
$150K - $200K *
Champion the resolution of complex technical issues for clients, leveraging expertise in Linux, networking, and cloud environments. Collaborate with teams to enhance service delivery and operational c...
1 week ago
Sr. Staff Physical Design Engineer
$150K - $180K *
Engineer complex physical designs for next-gen AI data center chips, driving multi-million-gate blocks to meet performance, power, and area targets. Collaborate with RTL teams, enhance methodologies...
2 weeks ago
DIRECTOR OF SECURITY ENGINEERING
$180K - $200K *
Reimagine security engineering leadership by guiding strategic initiatives across cloud and infrastructure security, enhancing detection engineering, and fostering collaboration to protect a multi-clo...
Reposted 1 week ago
$140K - $173K *
Transform the Digital Credit Application by architecting a scalable API ecosystem, decoupling legacy systems, and enabling AI-driven solutions. Lead high-impact migrations while ensuring operational e...
4 days ago
Power Engineer, Physical Electrical
$140K - $160K *
Join a dynamic team to execute complex physical electrical designs for medium- and high-voltage substations and utility-scale projects, ensuring quality and compliance from concept through constructio...
Reposted 6 days ago
$160K - $190K *
Join a team that's transforming data into powerful insights for AI across sports. As part of our data engineering team, you'll build and maintain vital data pipelines to ensure high-quality, scalable...
Reposted 3 days ago
$68K - $102K *
Manage and optimize cloud infrastructure across Azure and AWS, ensuring system health, performing routine maintenance, and supporting compliance efforts while collaborating with project teams to enhan...
2 days ago
Senior Software Engineer II - Agentic SDLC
$170K - $185K *
Champion innovative software solutions by leading complex projects, mentoring engineers, and driving technical excellence across teams. Collaborate on strategic initiatives to enhance reliability and...
2 weeks ago
Principal Product Manager, Buyer Products
$150K - $180K *
Join a team that's redefining the buyer experience in B2B software. As a Principal Product Manager, you'll lead strategy, drive product delivery, and enhance buyer trust across multiple platforms, ens...
2 weeks ago
Staff / Senior Data Center Security Engineer
$320K - $405K *
Lead the charge in shaping security engineering across multiple domains, designing and implementing controls, and ensuring compliance. Collaborate with teams to automate processes and enhance security...
1 week ago
Practice Lead, Payments & Financial Infrastructure
$140K - $160K *
Drive the growth of our payments practice by leading executive workshops, shaping business cases, and collaborating with sales teams to enhance client engagements and deliver innovative payment soluti...
1 week ago
Customer Quality Engineer - Integration
$88K - $105K *
Lead the charge in ensuring quality and compliance for mechanical and electrical systems. Collaborate across teams to uphold standards, conduct inspections, and drive continuous improvement in mission...
2 weeks ago
Senior Director, Operational Assessment
$150K - $180K *
Take ownership of operational assessments to enhance effectiveness, identify risks, and drive performance improvements across functions. Collaborate with leaders to align practices with strategic goal...
5 days ago
$90K - $110K *
Shape the future of product quality by designing automated tests and performance evaluations, ensuring reliability and scalability in complex systems. Collaborate across teams to drive innovation and...
Reposted today
$112K - $196K *
Champion a proactive safety culture by leading safety, health, and environmental activities for a major industrial infrastructure project. Oversee contractor performance, conduct inspections, and ensu...
2 weeks ago
Electrical Engineer 3 - Nuclear
$74K - $113K *
Champion the advancement of nuclear electrical systems by designing and optimizing power distribution solutions. Collaborate with engineers to enhance plant operations and ensure safety while gaining...
3 days ago
Senior Logistics Process Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Drive logistics innovation by optimizing end-to-end processes for large-scale data centers. Leverage engineering expertise to enhance efficiency, safety, and scalability in warehouse operations and ma...
2 weeks 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.