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.
$112K - $170K *
Explore the impact of innovative solutions by leading enhancements for legacy products, overseeing technical designs, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive performance improvement and...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$86K - $126K *
Lead the charge in verification and validation for cutting-edge embedded systems, driving innovation in circuit breaker technology while mentoring global teams and enhancing testing methodologies for...
5 days ago
Senior Battery Engineering Technician
$74K - $104K *
Advance your career as a Battery Engineering Technician, collaborating with engineers to build, test, and validate battery modules in a dynamic eVTOL startup. Embrace a hands-on role focused on safety...
6 days ago
$71K - $105K *
Lead the charge in digital transformation by designing and implementing connected manufacturing systems, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving data-driven decision-making across plant operatio...
1 week ago
$71K - $105K *
Empower your career by leading system-level testing and validation of cutting-edge power management solutions. Collaborate across teams to enhance product reliability and drive improvements in testing...
5 days ago
Internal Acceleration, Engineer (Hardware)
$150K - $400K *
Elevate your career by partnering with our team to build innovative AI-driven solutions. You'll tackle critical challenges, collaborate with founders, and drive impactful projects that transform hardw...
3 weeks ago
$93K - $104K *
Unlock potential by optimizing manufacturing operations through hands-on troubleshooting and enhancement of electromechanical systems. Collaborate with teams to drive continuous improvement and ensure...
1 week ago
$130K - $180K *
Join a team that's advancing space hardware systems through innovative mechanical design. Collaborate across disciplines to take flight hardware from concept to delivery, solving complex challenges in...
3 weeks ago
$160K - $200K *
Lead and empower a team of software engineers to innovate and deliver impactful solutions, driving technical excellence and fostering a culture of growth and collaboration to enhance user experiences...
3 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Engage in leading safety initiatives and audits while designing complex mechanical systems. Collaborate with teams to ensure compliance with specifications and enhance product development through inno...
3 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Lead the charge in elevating quality standards across Business Unit plants, driving excellence from pre-production through launch. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance quality processes...
Reposted 4 weeks ago
Senior Capital Project Engineer
$85K - $100K *
Lead the charge in executing capital projects from design to startup, overseeing construction management and documentation. Collaborate on scope, schedule, and budget while ensuring project deliverabl...
3 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Champion customer success by leading the migration to our next-gen platform. Drive adoption, ensure seamless onboarding, and collaborate cross-functionally to enhance product value and performance for...
Reposted yesterday
Production Engineer, HPC Reliability & Automation L1
$100K - $200K *
Transform complex HPC environments by troubleshooting and automating solutions for multi-cloud AI infrastructures. Leverage your expertise in reliability engineering to enhance performance and observa...
Yesterday
$89K - $134K *
Unlock your potential by leading cross-functional engineering projects, ensuring timely delivery and quality standards. Collaborate with diverse teams to drive new product development and enhance cust...
1 month ago
Machine Performance & Controls Engineering specialist
$128K - $192K *
Unlock your potential by collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance control systems for construction equipment, driving innovation in performance and user experience while supporting new pro...
4 days ago
$130K - $140K *
Elevate your career by joining a dynamic team to design and implement innovative cloud solutions in a multi-cloud environment, ensuring scalability, security, and alignment with business objectives wh...
1 week ago
Software Engineer (Travel Heavy)
$130K - $250K *
Join a team that's redefining financial infrastructure. Collaborate across the stack to create solutions that simplify complex systems, while influencing product direction and customer interactions in...
3 weeks ago
Principal Engineer - Vehicle Engineering (MS/PhD)
$212K - $280K *
Lead advanced engineering analyses and investigations in vehicle safety, fostering client relationships and driving business growth while managing multidisciplinary teams and projects...
3 days ago
Principal Engineer, Automotive Innovation & Advanced Technologies
$125K - $150K *
Join a dynamic team to drive innovation in automotive technologies, evaluating and industrializing cutting-edge solutions. Leverage your expertise to shape the future of vehicle systems and enhance cu...
3 weeks ago
$90K - $110K *
Join a team that's dedicated to innovating product design and development. You'll enhance performance and efficiency while collaborating on technical solutions and supporting project documentation to...
3 days ago
$90K - $110K *
Unlock potential by supporting product development and design improvements, enhancing performance and efficiency. Collaborate with teams to deliver innovative solutions and ensure technical feasibilit...
3 days ago
$68K - $131K *
Unlock potential by leading engineering teams to analyze technical data, define workscopes, and ensure compliance in aerospace manufacturing processes, driving continuous improvement and operational e...
Reposted 1 week ago
$120K - $200K *
Contribute to a dynamic fintech team by owning backend features from design to production, enhancing cash flow management tools and building reliable financial products for consumers...
2 days ago
$180K - $250K *
Drive product innovation as the first product engineer, collaborating with the CTO to transform customer insights into AI-powered solutions, while building full-stack features and enhancing user exper...
4 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.