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Director Performance Engineering Jobs in Minnesota

Director of Engineering

Hills, MN · On-site

$187K - $265K/yr

Promote a high-performance culture that is innovative, accountable, and collaborative. Essential ... Engineering Leadership & Execution * Manage a large, global engineering organization through ...

Director of Engineering

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$187K - $265K/yr

Promote a high-performance culture that is innovative, accountable, and collaborative. Essential ... Engineering Leadership & Execution * Manage a large, global engineering organization through ...

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Director Performance Engineering information

How does a Director of Performance Engineering typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive system optimization?

A Director of Performance Engineering frequently works closely with software development, operations, and product teams to identify performance bottlenecks and implement solutions. They lead performance reviews, set benchmarks, and coordinate testing strategies to ensure systems meet business requirements. Regular communication and joint troubleshooting sessions are common, as the role requires balancing technical needs with business priorities. This collaborative approach helps ensure that performance goals are aligned across the organization and that issues are resolved efficiently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Performance Engineering, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Performance Engineering, you need deep expertise in software performance optimization, systems architecture, and a strong background in computer science or a related field, often with advanced degrees or equivalent experience. Familiarity with performance testing tools (such as JMeter, LoadRunner), monitoring platforms (like New Relic, Dynatrace), and cloud infrastructure is typically required, along with certifications in relevant technologies. Exceptional leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and strategic problem-solving abilities make candidates stand out in this role. These skills are crucial for driving high-performing teams, ensuring system reliability, and delivering scalable solutions that support business objectives.

What does a Director of Performance Engineering do?

A Director of Performance Engineering leads teams responsible for ensuring that software, systems, or applications perform optimally and efficiently at scale. They set performance goals, develop testing strategies, and oversee the identification and resolution of bottlenecks. This role involves collaborating with engineering, operations, and product teams to build robust, high-performing solutions. Additionally, they provide technical leadership, mentor team members, and define best practices for performance testing and monitoring.

What is the difference between Director Performance Engineering vs Performance Engineer?

AspectDirector Performance EngineeringPerformance Engineer
ResponsibilitiesOversees performance testing strategies, manages teams, and aligns performance goals with business objectives.Conducts performance testing, analyzes system performance, and reports findings to improve application efficiency.
Required SkillsLeadership, project management, advanced performance testing expertise, and strategic planning.Technical performance testing skills, scripting, and performance analysis.
Work EnvironmentSenior management, cross-functional teams, strategic planning sessions.Technical teams, testing labs, development environments.

The main difference is that the Director Performance Engineering leads and strategizes performance initiatives at an organizational level, while the Performance Engineer focuses on executing performance tests and analyzing system performance. The director role involves leadership and planning, whereas the performance engineer role is more technical and hands-on.

What job categories do people searching Director Performance Engineering jobs in Minnesota look for? The top searched job categories for Director Performance Engineering jobs in Minnesota are:
What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Director Performance Engineering jobs? Cities in Minnesota with the most Director Performance Engineering job openings:
Infographic showing various Director Performance Engineering job openings in Minnesota as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution.

Director of Engineering

Nordson Corporation

Hills, MN • On-site

$187K - $265K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Nordson Medical rating

6.9

Company rating: 6.9 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Job Summary
  • Lead global engineering across all OSM sites, driving accelerated innovation to meet market demands, particularly in semiconductor and optical domains.
  • Oversee R&D across Optical, Sensors & Acoustic, and AI/ML, ensuring rapid, high-quality product development and delivery.
  • Align engineering strategy with business priorities, applying strong business acumen to balance speed, cost, and impact.
  • Define long term technical, customer and industrial trends, and align engineering efforts accordingly.
  • Build, mentor, and retain top engineering talent through structured development, training, and career progression.
  • Promote a high-performance culture that is innovative, accountable, and collaborative.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
  • Accelerate Innovation & Execution
    • Drive faster development cycles from concept to launch, ensuring on-time, on-budget, and on-spec delivery.
    • Align roadmaps with market trends and customer needs, enabling rapid response to industry changes.
  • Engineering Leadership & Execution
    • Manage a large, global engineering organization through managers and supervisors, ensuring strong alignment, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
    • Oversee complex, multi-disciplinary development programs, ensuring delivery on schedule, within budget, and to performance targets.
  • Technical Strategy & Roadmaps
    • Develop and execute integrated technology roadmaps across semiconductor, optical, and acoustic sensing domains aligned with market trends and customer requirements.
    • Ensure alignment between R&D investments and business priorities, driving ROI-focused innovation.
  • Domain Expertise (Acoustic & Optical)
    • Leverage deep experience in acoustic and optical systems to guide architecture decisions, technology selection, and product differentiation.
    • Ensure engineering solutions meet the precision, reliability, and scalability demands of advanced inspection and test applications.
  • Talent Development
    • Build and develop high-performing teams through coaching, training, and career progression.
    • Foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and continuous learning.
  • Process Excellence
    • Establish and continuously improve engineering processes from concept through commercial launch, aligned with the NBS Next Product Innovation Playbook.
    • Implement best-in-class tools, methodologies, and governance to improve development efficiency, quality, and scalability.

Education and Experience Requirements
  • Extensive experience leading large, multidisciplinary engineering teams
  • Advanced degree (MS/PhD preferred) in physics, engineering, or a related field with minimum 8 years of experience managing engineering teams
  • Proven track record delivering complex system development programs at scale
  • Strong understanding of business and management principles, including strategic planning, resource allocation, organizational design, leadership, and operational execution
  • Industry experience in electronics manufacturing equipment
  • Experience with optics or acoustic imaging systems
  • Familiarity with phase-gate engineering project management methodologies

Preferred Skills and Abilities
  • Strong strategic leadership with the ability to think creatively, solve complex problems, and align engineering execution with business goals

Working Conditions and Physical Demands
  • Office environment

Travel Required
None
Compensation
Base Salary Range for this position is: $187,000 to $265,000 annually, and bonus target is 20%. Benefits include Medical, Rx, Vision, Dental, and Health Savings Account (HSA), Retirement and Security benefits including 401k and Life Insurance. In addition to Paid Time Off and paid Holidays, each employee receives 16 hours paid time each calendar year to perform volunteer services for Nordson-sponsored events. Ample opportunities for giving exist at Nordson including our Matching Gifts Program.
The base pay range for this job level is a general guideline and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to internal equity, business considerations, and local market conditions, as well as candidate qualifications, such as education, experience, and skills.
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