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.
Production Engineer (Job ID:4627)
$95K - $115K *
Engineer compliance and quality assurance for missile defense systems. Oversee design, fabrication, and testing processes, ensuring adherence to aerospace standards and mission assurance criteria whil...
2 weeks ago
$85K - $100K *
Join a team that's dedicated to optimizing industrial pump applications and troubleshooting. Leverage your engineering expertise to support customers and enhance project teams in a dynamic environment...
3 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Transform your career by optimizing processes and troubleshooting production issues in a dynamic plastic extrusion environment. Collaborate with teams to enhance efficiency and drive continuous improv...
3 weeks ago
Manager, 80/20 Process Improvement - Global (Engineer IV, Quality)
$120K - $135K *
Join us to drive process excellence by identifying high-impact opportunities, simplifying workflows, and empowering teams. Your leadership will enhance profitability and productivity, ensuring we achi...
2 days ago
Electrical Engineer, Data Center - Design Engineering and Construction - Ops Eng
$120K - $145K *
Join a team that's driving innovation in data center operations by leading complex electrical engineering projects. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance system performance and reliability while s...
3 weeks ago
Senior / Principal UX Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Deliver exceptional UX leadership for a complex, cloud-native platform. Oversee the design of scalable interfaces while mentoring teams and ensuring high standards for user-centered design in support...
Reposted 1 week ago
$95K - $115K *
Drive innovative structural analyses for propulsion components, collaborating with engineers to enhance designs and testing procedures. Utilize advanced modeling techniques to ensure product integrity...
1 week ago
$150K - $180K *
Elevate finance technology by owning end-to-end solutions in a dynamic team. Collaborate directly with finance professionals to innovate and streamline accounting processes, leveraging AI and backend...
1 week ago
$85K - $110K *
Join a team that's shaping the future of data integration by leading a skilled group of engineers. Drive successful implementations across partner campuses while fostering a culture of excellence and...
Reposted 2 days ago
Battery Test Engineer - Aeromechanical
$135K - $155K *
Join a team that's redefining battery testing by designing and executing rigorous performance evaluations. You'll translate system risks into actionable tests, ensuring safety and reliability in cutti...
6 days ago
Senior Performance Engineer - Loadrunner, Dynatrace, JMeter
$116K - $194K *
Elevate your career by leading enterprise performance testing solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure application scalability and reliability while mentoring engineers and driving...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a team that's pioneering advanced thermal management solutions for military and commercial applications. Lead projects from concept to production, utilizing innovative technologies to solve compl...
2 weeks ago
$125K - $150K *
Elevate our product by architecting and scaling a high-demand application. Drive quick iterations while ensuring quality, and gain deep insights into customer needs to support millions of daily reques...
1 week ago
$108K - $130K *
Deliver impactful engineering solutions by leading a specialized team in the design and construction of electric transmission lines and substations, ensuring safety, quality, and compliance while fost...
1 week ago
$100K - $120K *
Execute comprehensive test and evaluation strategies to assess system performance and operational effectiveness, ensuring alignment with acquisition plans and government standards. Collaborate across...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$77K - $107K *
Lead quality assurance initiatives to ensure compliance with industry standards. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, mentor junior staff, and interface with customers to uphold product integrity...
3 weeks ago
$180K - $310K *
Develop and enhance a real-time collaborative web application, integrating AI features and optimizing performance. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver seamless user experiences that emp...
3 weeks ago
Engineering Manager, Merchant Knowledge Platform
$193K - $285K *
Take ownership of a global merchant data platform, guiding a team of engineers in architecture, design, and technical direction while enhancing platform reliability and efficiency across multiple busi...
Reposted 1 week ago
$105K - $135K *
Lead the charge in delivering innovative nuclear project solutions, providing technical oversight for diverse projects while fostering strong stakeholder relationships and ensuring adherence to qualit...
Reposted 3 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Transform engineering leadership by driving product optimization, cost reduction, and continuous improvement. Collaborate cross-functionally to enhance manufacturability and ensure compliance with ind...
Today
$120K - $170K *
Join a dynamic team to enhance IT services for federal law enforcement, ensuring optimal performance and reliability of critical systems. Drive operational improvements and support mission-critical te...
3 days ago
$120K - $170K *
Join a team that's enhancing IT services for federal law enforcement. As a Systems Engineer, you'll support mission-critical operations, ensuring optimal performance and reliability of advanced techno...
3 days ago
$83K - $137K *
Unlock potential by joining a dynamic AI engineering team to develop and productionalize innovative AI systems. Collaborate across functions to enhance workflows and drive impactful solutions in a fas...
1 week ago
$83K - $137K *
Join a team that's pioneering AI-driven solutions, transforming prototypes into reliable production systems. Collaborate across functions to innovate and enhance engineering workflows, while developin...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Join a dynamic team to design and support data pipelines and integration services, enhancing operational and business data reliability across environments. Contribute to insights that elevate safety a...
Reposted 4 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.