ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Application Performance Engineer Jobs in California

Qualcomm

Windows Performance Engineer, Staff

San Diego, CA · On-site

$134.80 - $202.20/hr

The senior developer will own and drive analysis of complex system level performance aspects and ... If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring ...

Apple

Sr. WebKit Performance Engineer

San Diego, CA

$175K - $308K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

The WebKit Performance team is looking for an engineer with a passion for software optimization to ... Preferred Qualifications At least 4 years of prior hands-on iOS or macOS application development.

Apple Inc.

Sr. WebKit Performance Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$175 - $308.50/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Description As a WebKit Performance Engineer, you will seek opportunities to improve WebKit ... At least 4 years of prior hands‑on iOS or macOS application development. * Experience with ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

All JobsApplication Performance Engineer JobsApplication Performance Engineer Jobs in California

Application Performance Engineer information

See California salary details

$77.5K

$131.1K

$171.7K

How much do application performance engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for application performance engineer in California is $131,141.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $105,600.00 and $155,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an application performance engineer?

Application Performance Engineers are IT professionals responsible for ensuring that software applications run smoothly, efficiently, and reliably. They monitor application performance, identify bottlenecks, and collaborate with development and operations teams to optimize system performance. Their work often includes analyzing system metrics, conducting performance tests, and recommending improvements to meet user expectations and business requirements.

What are some typical challenges application performance engineers face when optimizing complex enterprise applications?

Application Performance Engineers often encounter challenges such as diagnosing performance bottlenecks in distributed systems, analyzing intricate traces and logs, and collaborating across development and operations teams to implement effective solutions. They must balance immediate fixes with long-term architectural improvements, all while ensuring minimal disruption to users. The role also involves staying current with evolving monitoring tools and adapting strategies to support both legacy and cloud-native environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an application performance engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Application Performance Engineer, you need strong analytical skills, a solid understanding of software development and architecture, and typically a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with performance monitoring tools (like AppDynamics, Dynatrace, or New Relic), load testing platforms (such as JMeter or LoadRunner), and scripting languages is essential. Exceptional problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are key soft skills for diagnosing and explaining complex performance issues. These skills ensure optimal application reliability and user experience by proactively identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks.

What is the difference between Application Performance Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectApplication Performance EngineerSoftware Developer
Primary FocusOptimizing application performance, monitoring, and troubleshootingDesigning, coding, and testing software applications
Skills & CertificationsPerformance testing, monitoring tools, scripting, certifications like AWS or AzureProgramming languages, software design, development frameworks
Work EnvironmentIT teams, DevOps, performance testing labsDevelopment teams, coding environments, project management

While both roles work closely within software projects, Application Performance Engineers focus on ensuring applications run efficiently and reliably, whereas Software Developers create the applications themselves. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job focus.

What are popular job titles related to Application Performance Engineer jobs in CA?

For Application Performance Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Application Performance Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Application Performance Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $131,141 per year, or $63 per hour.

Windows Performance Engineer, Staff

Qualcomm

San Diego, CA • On-site

$134.80 - $202.20/hr

Other

Re-posted 24 days ago

Qualcomm rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

49th of 244 rated software companies

Job description

General Summary

Qualcomm is looking for an experienced Windows Power/Performance Developer with passion for analyzing and optimizing software running on Windows on Snapdragon. The senior developer will own and drive analysis of complex system level performance aspects and propose solutions to optimize performance without impacting power consumption to deliver best‑in‑class software performance for next‑generation Windows on Snapdragon desktop devices using Qualcomm SoC’s. Work closely with software architects, OS and kernel developers, CPU architects and SOC architects to define performance optimization strategies.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 4+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
  • Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 3+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
  • PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
  • 2+ years of work experience with programming language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
Responsibilities
  • In‑depth analysis of key software benchmarks and applications to identify optimization opportunities.
  • Implement software optimizations to ensure performance criteria are met.
  • Develop and enhance analysis tools and instrumentation to assist in analysis, identifying performance gaps and optimization options.
  • Collaborate with internal teams and external partners for analysis and optimizations.
  • Identify risks associated with designs, approaches, and other work efforts.
  • Solve complex technical problems that affect significant areas of products.
  • Make decisions based on incomplete, contradictory, and ambiguous requirements and information that affect policies and multiple teams in the software development process.
  • Act as a tech lead on projects and own the outcome of the project.
  • Lead others with technical credibility.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's Degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or related field.
  • 5+ years of Software Engineering with focus in Power/Performance or related work experience.
  • Experience in C/C++, ARM assembly.
  • Familiarity with C#, Java, Javascript, Python is a plus.
  • Strong familiarity with ARM architecture.
  • Good understanding of CPU Architecture, Memory and Bus architecture and how that impacts software performance; experience in performance characterization and software optimization techniques.
  • Ability to debug complex problems across multiple layers of Hardware, OS, compiler, and drivers.
  • Experience with Windows OS, Visual Studio/LLVM compiler, and Windows Performance Analyzer (WPA) tools; experience in Compiler and JIT technologies is a plus.
  • Experience optimizing for popular CPU software benchmarks is a plus.
Compensation and Benefits

Pay range: $134,800.00 – $202,200.00. Additional compensation includes a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants. Qualcomm also offers a highly competitive benefits package to support your success at work, at home, and at play.

Equal Opportunity and Accessibility

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. Please contact disability‑accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm’s toll‑free number for reasonable accommodations to support your participation in the hiring process.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

What Qualcomm employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Qualcomm logo

About Qualcomm

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. You interact with products and technologies made possible by Qualcomm every day, including 5G-enabled smartphones that double as pro-level cameras and gaming devices, smarter vehicles and cities, and the technology behind the smart, connected factories that manufactured your latest purchase. Our powerful connectivity solutions keep you connected—even in remote areas. Qualcomm 5G and AI innovations are the power behind the connected intelligent edge. You’ll find our technologies behind and inside the innovations that deliver significant value across multiple industries and to billions of people every day.

Industry

Technology, communication and media

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Diego, CA, US

Year founded

1985

View All Qualcomm Jobs

Apply