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Performance Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Qualitest Group

Performance Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · Hybrid

Overview We are seeking a highly skilled Performance Test Engineer with 7-12 years of experience to independently lead and execute complex end-to-end performance testing engagements across large ...

Anthropic

Performance Engineer

San Francisco, CA

As a Performance Engineer, you'll be responsible for identifying these problems, and then developing systems that optimize the throughput and robustness of our largest distributed systems. Strong ...

Hippocratic AI

Performance Engineer

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

About the Role We're hiring a Performance Engineer to own performance across our entire stack. You'll build the automated harnesses that keep us honest, continuously measuring every model ...

RadixArk

Performance Engineer

Palo Alto, CA · On-site

About the Role RadixArk is hiring a Performance Engineer in Palo Alto, CA - someone who can push LLM inference and training systems to the limit across real production workloads. You'll work on the ...

Brillius

Performance Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Job Title Performance Engineer Estimated Start Date 5/6/2026 Location San Francisco, CA Duration(Months) 6 Months Remote Possibility Onsites 8+ years of experience working within SDLC/TDLC • 6+ ...

Hermeus

Performance Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

In your role as a Performance Engineer, you will be responsible for analyzing, modeling, and optimizing aircraft and propulsion system performance across the full flight envelope. This position ...

RadixArk

Performance Engineer

Palo Alto, CA

About the Role RadixArk is hiring a Performance Engineer in Palo Alto, CA - someone who can push LLM inference and training systems to the limit across real production workloads. You'll work on the ...

Brillius

Performance Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Job Title Performance Engineer Estimated Start Date 5/6/2026 Location San Francisco, CA Duration(Months) 6 Months Remote Possibility Onsite Required Qualifications • 8+ years of experience working ...

Hermeus

Performance Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$91K - $187K/yr

In your role as a Performance Engineer, you will be responsible for analyzing, modeling, and optimizing aircraft and propulsion system performance across the full flight envelope. This position ...

Hermeus

Performance Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$91K - $187K/yr

In your role as a Performance Engineer, you will be responsible for analyzing, modeling, and optimizing aircraft and propulsion system performance across the full flight envelope. This position ...

Mach Industries

Performance Engineer

San Luis Obispo, CA · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

Work with aerodynamic, structural and mechanical engineers to develop the ultimate components. * Develop test procedures for determining performance of components. * Analyze test data with simulation ...

Anthropic

Performance Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$280K - $850K/yr

As a Performance Engineer, you'll be responsible for identifying these problems, and then developing systems that optimize the throughput and robustness of our largest distributed systems. Strong ...

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Performance Engineer information

See California salary details

$10

$59

$96

How much do performance engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for performance engineer in California is $59.32, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48.65 and $67.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Performance Engineer vs Software Test Engineer?

AspectPerformance EngineerSoftware Test Engineer
Primary FocusOptimizing system performance, load testing, scalabilityFunctional testing, bug identification, feature validation
Required SkillsPerformance testing tools, scripting, system analysisTest case design, automation, defect tracking
Work EnvironmentDevelopment teams, QA, DevOpsQA teams, development teams
CertificationsPerformance testing certifications (e.g., JMeter, LoadRunner)ISTQB, software testing certifications

Performance Engineers focus on system performance, scalability, and load testing, ensuring applications run efficiently under stress. Software Test Engineers primarily verify functionality and identify bugs. While both roles require testing skills, Performance Engineers specialize in performance metrics and optimization, making their roles complementary but distinct.

What jobs make $1,000,000 per year?

Performance engineers typically do not earn $1,000,000 annually; such high salaries are more common in executive roles, successful entrepreneurs, or highly specialized positions in finance, technology, or consulting. Top-tier executives, founders, and certain investment professionals can reach or exceed this income level, often through bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing. Performance engineering roles generally offer competitive salaries but rarely reach the million-dollar mark without additional compensation components or equity.

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

To thrive as a Performance Engineer, you need strong analytical abilities, a solid understanding of software architecture, and experience with load testing and profiling, often supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as JMeter, LoadRunner, New Relic, and monitoring systems, as well as scripting languages, is typically required. Excellent problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for identifying system bottlenecks, optimizing performance, and ensuring a seamless user experience.

What engineers make $500,000 a year?

Performance engineers, especially those in senior or specialized roles with extensive experience, advanced skills in testing and optimization, and certifications, can earn salaries approaching or exceeding $500,000 annually. Such compensation often includes bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing, particularly in high-demand industries like technology and finance. Achieving this level typically requires a combination of technical expertise, leadership, and a track record of delivering significant performance improvements.

What engineers make 200,000 a year?

Performance engineers, along with software engineers, data engineers, and certain specialized roles in technology companies, can earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with experience, advanced skills, and certifications. High salaries are often associated with senior positions, leadership roles, or those working in competitive tech markets and industries requiring expertise in performance optimization, cloud infrastructure, or large-scale systems.

What do performance engineers do?

Performance engineers analyze and optimize the speed, scalability, and reliability of software systems. They use tools like load testing and monitoring to identify bottlenecks and ensure applications meet performance requirements, often working closely with development and QA teams. Strong knowledge of scripting, performance testing tools, and system architecture is essential for this role.

What is a Performance Engineer?

A Performance Engineer is a professional who ensures that software applications and systems run efficiently and meet performance requirements. They analyze, test, and optimize system performance by identifying bottlenecks, conducting load and stress testing, and recommending improvements. Performance Engineers work closely with development and operations teams to ensure that applications can handle expected user loads and deliver a smooth user experience. Their work is crucial in preventing slowdowns, crashes, and other performance-related issues in production environments.

What Is Performance Engineering?

Performance engineering is the development of software solutions for specific business problems. As a performance engineer, your responsibilities are to identify issues, whether for a particular company or an industry, and develop software that directly addresses them. To become a performance engineer, you need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering, two to five years of information technology (IT) work experience, and excellent problem solving skills. Organizations like HyPerformix offer professional certifications, like their Enterprise Performance Engineering program, which can significantly boost your qualifications. Your additional job duties include performing routine maintenance and service, experimenting with possible solutions in the test environment, and monitoring system performance.

What are some common challenges Performance Engineers face when optimizing complex systems?

Performance Engineers often encounter challenges such as identifying bottlenecks in multi-tiered or distributed systems, balancing trade-offs between speed and resource consumption, and ensuring that performance improvements do not compromise system reliability. They frequently work with cross-functional teams, requiring strong communication skills to translate technical findings into actionable recommendations. Staying up-to-date with evolving tools and best practices is also essential, as technology stacks and performance benchmarks continually change.
More about Performance Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Performance Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Performance Engineer jobs in California are:
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What job categories do people searching Performance Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Performance Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Performance Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Performance Engineer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Performance Engineer jobs in CA? For Performance Engineer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Performance Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Performance Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Temporary. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,381 per year, or $59.3 per hour.
Performance Engineer

Performance Engineer

Avani Technology Solutions, Inc.

Glendale, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Position - QA Load Testing Engineer / Performance Engineer
Duration - 6 months
Location - Glendale, CA 91201
Interview - Hire off skype/phone
Job Description
The role of the QA Load Testing Engineer / Performance Engineer is to support revamping the Disney Moving Club (DMC) application and migrating that web application to the AWS Public Cloud. The QA Load Testing Engineer / Performance Engineer would be responsible for implementation of performance test standards for the web application as it migrates to AWS. The goal is to complete the migration project by January 2019.
Must have a minimum of 3 years' experience in the below areas:
  • Experience with Load Testing Tools Apache JMeter and Blazemeter
  • Web Application Testing (Cloud experience preferred)
  • Experience supporting an Ecommerce environment or a high traffic public web site

Interview Process
• 30 minute Phone Interview with Off-Shore test team
• Phone or Video Conference interview with the Program Manager and the Systems Engineering Team

Apply