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Performance Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Info-Ways

System Performance Engineer

Waltham, MA · On-site

System Performance Engineer Location: Waltham, MA Duration: 6+ Months BGV will be done for the selected candidates. Must have 7+ years real-world experience in automated load/performance engineering ...

Stem Xpert

Sr. Performance Engineer

Westborough, MA

Job Title: Sr. Performance Engineer (with Retail Domain and Rational Performance Testing experience) Location: Westborough, MA Duration: 6+Months The individual will be responsible for performance ...

Nexamp

Electrical Performance Engineer

Boston, MA · On-site

Nexamp is seeking an Electrical Performance Engineer who will be a deep technical independent contributor responsible for improving the reliability, availability, and performance of Nexamp ...

Nexamp

Electrical Performance Engineer

Boston, MA · Hybrid

Nexamp is seeking an Electrical Performance Engineer who will be a deep technical independent contributor responsible for improving the reliability, availability, and performance of Nexamp ...

Zoox

Senior Software Engineer - Performance

Boston, MA

$217K - $307K/yr

As a performance software engineer within the Software Core Performance team, you will instrument, monitor, analyze, and optimize performance-critical algorithms. Your broad experience in developing ...

Zoox

Software Engineer - C++ GPU Performance

Boston, MA

$168K - $239K/yr

As a GPU performance software engineer within the Software Performance team, you will instrument, monitor, analyze and optimize GPU-based algorithms that are performance-critical for our solution.

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Performance Engineer information

See Boston, MA salary details

$12

$65

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How much do performance engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for performance engineer in Boston, MA is $65.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53.56 and $73.89 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.
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Performance Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Performance Engineer job openings in Boston, MA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 71% Full Time, and 29% Contract. Highlights an 86% In-person, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,820 per year, or $65.3 per hour.
Performance Engineer

Performance Engineer

Donato Technologies, Inc

Boston, MA • On-site

$56/hr

Contractor

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

  • Performance Engineer
  • W2 Contract
  • Boston, MA

Performance Strategic Advisors Technology (SAT) is seeking a Software Engineer with strong expertise in Java and hands-on experience building enterprise-scale, cloud-ready distributed systems. We are looking for engineer with expertise in Performance testing. We are looking for engineers who strive for engineering excellence, deliver high-quality solutions, and are passionate about advancing modern technology practices.

The Expertise We’re Looking For

  • 6–8 years of full stack development experience with a strong focus on Java and backend engineering
  • Proficiency with Java EE, Spring Boot, Spring MVC, and RESTful API development
  • Experience building scalable microservices and distributed systems
  • Solid understanding of domain driven design utilizing object-oriented programming principles, secure coding, and best engineering practices
  • Hands-on experience designing, developing, and operating event-driven systems using Apache Kafka.
  • Design & execute performance tests (load, stress, soak, spike, capacity) using Apache JMeter; build reusable test plans and data strategies.
  • Instrument and analyze end-to-end system performance with Dynatrace (or similar APM)—trace hotspots across services, JVM/CLR, DB, caches, and external dependencies.
  • Engineer for scalability & resiliency—profile bottlenecks, optimize code paths, tune JVM/GC, threads, DB queries, connection pools, caches, and message brokers.
  • Automate performance pipelines—integrate tests into CI/CD (e.g., GitHub Actions, Jenkins, GitLab CI) with pass/fail gates based on thresholds.
  • Exposure to Docker/Kubernetes and cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure
  • Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins, uDeploy or equivalent)
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills in Agile environments (Scrum/Kanban)
  • Self-driven, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating independently in a fast-paced environment

The Purpose of Your Role

You will play a hands-on role in designing, developing, and enhancing backend services using Java, while also supporting front-end development in Angular as needed. You will collaborate across engineering, product, and architecture teams to build solutions that align with business priorities and technical strategies. Critical thinking, problem solving, and translating requirements into working software are central to this role.

The Value You Deliver

  • Designing and implementing backend services, microservices, and APIs using Java
  • Supporting and enhancing user experiences through Angular-based front-end development
  • Building solutions that meet functional and non-functional requirements, including performance, scalability, and security
  • Participating in design reviews, code reviews, and quality initiatives
  • Contributing to CI/CD improvements, cloud readiness, and engineering best practices
  • Engaging in automated testing and ensuring high-quality, maintainable code
  • Collaborating with global teams to drive modern engineering standards

How Your Work Impacts the Organization

Your work enables Fidelity Asset Management Technology to deliver robust, scalable, and innovative tools that support Portfolio Management, Research, Trading, and Investment Operations globally. By building secure and reliable systems, you help the business gain strategic advantage through technology that powers decision-making and operational excellence.

Donato Technologies Inc. is a trusted IT staffing, consulting, and software development partner headquartered in Dallas, Texas. We support clients across industries by understanding their unique business needs and delivering tailored technology and workforce solutions. Our focus is on connecting the right talent with the right opportunity-ensuring clients receive dependable, skilled professionals and candidates receive meaningful career growth and support. We work closely with small to mid-sized organizations to provide flexible, high-quality services that drive performance, innovation, and long-term success.