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 Software Engineer, Linux Kernel
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System Development Engineer, Amazon Fulfillment Technologies Support (AFTS)
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$95K - $115K *
Lead the design and execution of performance testing strategies to ensure software applications meet scalability and usability standards. Collaborate with development teams to identify bottlenecks and...
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Senior Program Operations Engineer
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Lead strategic planning and operations initiatives, collaborating with cross-functional teams to align program goals with company objectives, ensuring successful scaling and execution of business plan...
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Drive innovation as you tackle complex challenges in financial data management. Collaborate with a dynamic team to build cutting-edge solutions that enhance insurance workflows and ensure real-world i...
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Senior Principal Engineer, Solutions Architecture
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Partner with us to deliver integrated IT solutions that align with customer goals. Leverage your technical expertise to navigate complex requirements and enhance customer satisfaction through innovati...
Reposted yesterday
Senior Principal Engineer, Solutions Architecture
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Drive innovative IT solutions by consulting with customers to deliver tailored systems and services that align with their strategic goals, ensuring successful implementation and engagement to propel b...
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Lead Engine Performance Engineer
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Join a global engineering team to enhance gas engine performance and emissions. Lead innovative projects, drive development, and mentor engineers while setting strategic direction in a dynamic, collab...
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Senior DevOps / Release Engineer
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Take ownership of the CI/CD pipeline and infrastructure for a network security appliance, ensuring robust automation and release integrity while modernizing legacy systems and integrating AI-assisted...
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Principal Software Engineer, Collaborative Web Platform
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Elevate engineering excellence by guiding technical strategy and best practices across teams. Lead architectural vision, ensure reliability and security, and foster collaboration to build a cutting-ed...
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Software Engineer, Infrastructure Services
$130K - $155K *
Develop robust software solutions for Edge Infrastructure, enabling seamless content distribution across Apple's global services. Collaborate with a dynamic team to enhance systems, architecture, and...
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$118K *
Join us to enhance the reliability of our cardiovascular data platform. You'll ensure data integrity, manage incident responses, and automate processes, driving continuous improvements in operational...
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Lead the development and integration of cutting-edge unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), defining technical architecture, and driving multidisciplinary collaboration to ensure success from concept to pro...
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Senior Product Security Engineer
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Empower progress in product security by embedding advanced safeguards within every development phase. Collaborate with engineering teams to build AI-enhanced security tooling and enhance proactive ris...
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Sr. System Development Engineer, AWS Mainstream Compute
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Engage as a technical leader in systems development, spearheading innovative automation software solutions for scalable, bare metal network infrastructures across interdisciplinary teams to enhance AW...
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Sr Site Reliability Engineer, Platform
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Transform the infrastructure landscape by architecting and scaling a Kubernetes-based platform that enables rapid deployment of innovative robotics solutions while mentoring engineers across teams to...
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$180K - $250K *
Lead full-stack development of a customer-focused portal, transforming complex security data into intuitive AI-driven interfaces. Collaborate with teams to enhance user experience and optimize perform...
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3 weeks ago
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Systems Architect for High-Performance Systems
$150K - $200K *
Advance the future of high-performance computing by architecting innovative hardware systems for AI workloads. Drive collaboration, mentor teams, and optimize designs for exceptional performance in a...
3 weeks ago
Systems Architect for High-Performance Systems
$150K - $200K *
Drive innovation in high-performance computing systems by architecting cutting-edge hardware tailored for AI workloads. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design scalable solutions ensuring pe...
3 weeks ago
$96K - $166K *
Engineer and optimize critical systems in a data center to ensure peak performance and safety. Lead a team, oversee maintenance, and innovate practices while providing expert technical guidance in a f...
Reposted 2 weeks ago
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.