Systems Performance Engineers help organizations make software and infrastructure faster, more reliable, and more efficient. They measure performance, identify bottlenecks, and partner with engineering teams to improve systems across applications, operating systems, networks, and cloud environments. Explore vetted Systems Performance Engineer opportunities on Ladders, including roles with salaries of $100,000 or more.
These engineers investigate how systems behave under real-world and peak workloads. Their work may include designing benchmarks, analyzing metrics and traces, profiling applications, conducting load and stress tests, and recommending improvements. Depending on the organization, they may focus on distributed services, databases, compute platforms, embedded systems, or large-scale infrastructure.
Employers often seek experience with performance analysis, benchmarking, observability, and troubleshooting complex systems. Useful technical skills may include programming in languages such as C++, Java, Go, or Python; knowledge of Linux and operating systems; distributed systems and networking fundamentals; and familiarity with cloud platforms and monitoring tools. Strong analytical thinking and the ability to communicate findings across teams are also valuable.
Systems Performance Engineers work in industries where speed, scale, and uptime matter, including technology, cloud computing, finance, telecommunications, and enterprise software. Career paths may lead to senior or staff engineering positions, performance architecture, site reliability engineering, infrastructure leadership, or specialized systems research. Responsibilities and qualifications vary by employer and role.
Search Ladders for Systems Performance Engineer jobs and discover vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more. Compare roles by employer, location, and experience level to find openings aligned with your skills and career goals.
Senior Staff Software Engineer
$150K - $180K *
Join a team that's innovating robust applications by leveraging your expertise in React and Python/Django. You'll drive technical initiatives, enhance user experiences, and lead high-impact projects t...
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Senior Power Systems Engineer - ERCOT Interconnection
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Drive project success by managing multidisciplinary teams and delivering integrated plans. Oversee project lifecycles, ensuring quality and client satisfaction while navigating challenges and coordina...
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Champion the Agentic AI platform by owning its end-to-end operations, ensuring secure, reliable, and scalable delivery through advanced CI/CD practices, AWS infrastructure, and Kubernetes management...
1 week ago
Power Systems Software Engineer
$110K - $130K *
Innovate the future of power systems by designing automated tools for transmission planning. Collaborate with engineers to enhance workflows, ensuring reliable results that utilities and developers tr...
Yesterday
$108K - $149K *
Shape the future of technical marketing by crafting compelling narratives that engage practitioners and influencers, driving curiosity and interest in cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions across our i...
5 days ago
$110K - $130K *
Engage in transformative DevOps practices by implementing AWS technologies and tooling. Collaborate with product teams to enhance cloud infrastructure, security, and CI/CD pipelines, contributing to a...
3 weeks ago
$112K - $150K *
Shape the future of communication technology by providing expert technical support and training to diverse clients. Collaborate with sales and engineering teams to deliver innovative solutions while m...
2 days ago
$140K - $155K *
Pioneer innovative software solutions by architecting backend services and frontend features. Collaborate with a diverse team to enhance product functionality and drive experimentation while advancing...
4 weeks ago
$114K - $252K *
Shape the future of national security by ensuring high performance and reliability of AI and data analytics platforms. Leverage your SRE expertise to optimize mission-critical systems within secure Az...
3 weeks ago
Sr. DevOps Engineer - Federal Customer
$125K - $150K *
Take ownership of next-generation IT infrastructure innovation. Collaborate with a diverse team to design, deploy, and secure tools that enhance operational capabilities using leading technologies in...
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Principal Product Manager, AI Software Factory
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Transform the software development landscape by defining a cohesive end-to-end experience, integrating planning to verification workflows across teams. Lead product strategy and execution, influencing...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
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Empower your career by leading cross-functional initiatives that define and execute product strategies. Cultivate senior talent while driving clarity in vision and achieving impactful results across d...
3 weeks ago
Senior Software Engineer | AI Security Engineering
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Engineer scalable AI platforms to identify and address vulnerabilities in production code. Collaborate closely with security and product teams to enhance application security through automated workflo...
3 weeks ago
Senior Applied AI Product Manager
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Shape the future of AI products by leading strategy, vision, and execution. Drive innovation through collaboration and influence, ensuring exceptional value and responsible practices across diverse bu...
1 week ago
Senior Applied AI Product Manager
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Drive the end-to-end lifecycle of innovative AI-powered products, shaping strategy and vision while collaborating cross-functionally to deliver exceptional business and customer value through effectiv...
1 week ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead the end-to-end delivery of enterprise SaaS implementations, managing budgets, timelines, and stakeholder relationships to ensure successful project outcomes and high client satisfaction...
1 week ago
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Lead the design and management of robust and scalable network infrastructure for hyperscale data centers. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure high performance and reliability in support...
2 weeks ago
$96K - $143K *
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2 weeks ago
$120K - $200K *
Transform backend services and REST APIs in a collaborative environment. Leverage your software engineering skills to support cyber training initiatives, utilizing modern technologies and cloud infras...
1 week ago
Cloud Security Software Engineer
$115K *
Take ownership of innovative cloud security solutions by engineering autonomous AI tools that meet complex requirements, ensuring robust security and efficiency in high-velocity environments. Drive pr...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
$80K - $95K *
Transform identity and access management by executing daily operations, supporting AI tooling, and managing SaaS vendor administration. This role offers hands-on experience and a clear growth path tow...
1 week ago
Senior Systems Software Engineer - Accelerated Spark Applications
$184K - $287K *
Join a team that's redefining data processing by designing and operating a hosted Spark service on Kubernetes, enhancing GPU acceleration for enterprise applications, and driving production excellence...
Yesterday
What is a Systems Performance Engineer?
A Systems Performance Engineer measures and improves the speed, capacity, and efficiency of software and infrastructure. The role typically involves benchmarking, profiling, workload analysis, and working with engineering teams to resolve performance bottlenecks.
What skills are important for Systems Performance Engineer jobs?
Commonly valued skills include performance testing and profiling, programming, Linux and operating systems knowledge, distributed systems, networking, cloud platforms, and observability tools. Requirements differ by employer and specialization.
Where do Systems Performance Engineers work?
They work across sectors that depend on responsive, reliable technology, including software, cloud services, finance, telecommunications, and enterprise technology.
How can I find Systems Performance Engineer jobs paying $100,000 or more?
Browse Systems Performance Engineer openings on Ladders, which features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more. Review each listing for its compensation details, location, and qualifications.