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Performance Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Oklo

Fuel Performance Engineer

Santa Clara, CA

$120K - $165K/yr

We are searching for a Fuel Performance Engineer to join our team. Position Description Fuel Performance Engineers at Oklo are responsible for the fuel performance analyses and verification of ...

Oklo

Fuel Performance Engineer

Santa Clara, CA · On-site +1

$120K - $165K/yr

We are searching for a Fuel Performance Engineer to join our team. Position Description Fuel Performance Engineers at Oklo are responsible for the fuel performance analyses and verification of ...

Anthropic

Performance Engineer, GPU

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$280K - $850K/yr

As a GPU Performance Engineer, you'll architect and implement the foundational systems that power Claude and push the frontiers of what's possible with large language models. You'll be responsible ...

OpenAI

Training Performance Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$250K - $445K/yr

About the Role As a Training Performance Engineer, you'll drive efficiency improvements across our distributed training stack. You'll analyze large-scale training runs, identify utilization gaps, and ...

Genmo

GPU Performance Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

We're seeking a GPU Performance Engineer to squeeze every last FLOP from our H100 infrastructure and optimize our model serving stack to its absolute limits. The Role You'll be our performance ...

AFL

System Performance Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

The System Performance Engineer is responsible for wireless carrier system performance. This position supports technical activities for the ongoing maintenance and monitoring of wireless systems.

Genmo

GPU Performance Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

We're seeking a GPU Performance Engineer to squeeze every last FLOP from our H100 infrastructure and optimize our model serving stack to its absolute limits. The Role You'll be our performance ...

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All JobsPerformance Engineer JobsPerformance Engineer Jobs in California

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.

Algorithm Performance Engineer

Luneau Technology USA Inc & Subsidiary

San Jose, CA

$95K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Description:

Full-time Algorithm Performance Engineer needed in San Jose CA to ensure the efficiency, accuracy, and validation of algorithms in product software by working closely with algorithm scientists, software engineers, and clinical scientists.

Requirements:

Responsibilities include performance verification, debugging, prototype development, and supporting clinical validation, all while adhering to SOP and GCP standards.


Requires: Bachelors degree in Health Information & Data Science, Biomedical Engineering, or related field.


Salary: $95,139/year.


Send CV to: HR, Visionix USA Inc., 160 Eisenhower Lane N, Lombard IL 60148 (Ref:AlgoPerEngr).