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Performance Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Zoox

Software Engineer - C++ GPU Performance

Boston, MA · On-site

$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.

Stem Xpert

Performance tester

Boston, MA

Automation testing with Performance Testing Location: Bostan,MA Duration: 6+ months Expert ... developers to define and execute tests Develops a test strategy and test cases Has Agile ...

The Nagler Group

Software Engineer

Wilmington, MA · On-site

The Nagler Group is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join a high-performance engineering team building scalable, resilient, and low-latency systems. This role will contribute across multiple ...

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Performance Engineer information

See Boston, MA salary details

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How much do performance engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for performance engineer in Boston, MA is $65.29, 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 is the work of performance engineer?

A performance engineer is responsible for analyzing, testing, and optimizing software or system performance to ensure reliability and efficiency. They use tools like load testing and monitoring software to identify bottlenecks and improve system scalability, often working closely with development and operations teams.

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 do performance engineers do?

Performance engineers analyze and optimize software systems to ensure they meet performance requirements, such as speed, scalability, and stability. They use tools like load testing and monitoring software to identify bottlenecks and improve system efficiency, 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 Boston, MA? The most popular types of Performance Engineer jobs in Boston, MA are:
What are popular job titles related to Performance Engineer jobs in Boston, MA? For Performance Engineer jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Performance Engineer jobs in Boston, MA look for? The top searched job categories for Performance Engineer jobs in Boston, MA are:
Performance Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Performance Engineer job openings in Boston, MA as of August 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 $135,813 per year, or $65.3 per hour.

Software Engineer - C++ GPU Performance

Zoox

Boston, MA • On-site

$168K - $239K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

Zoox is building the world's most advanced self-driving hardware and software solution. The efficiency demands of such a system require an expert fine tuning of both the compute hardware architecture as well as the algorithms and middleware that runs on it to achieve maximum throughput at the most optimal power levels.
The Software Performance team's mission is to analyze, optimize and provide guidance to the software and hardware teams in order to meet the required specifications.
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. The scope for GPU usage ranges from traditional computer vision and deep learning architectures to complex geometric reasoning and multi-agent decision making. Your work will strongly influence design decisions of future compute platforms & resource allocation.
In this role, you will:
  • Build real-time instrumentation for performance monitoring (CPU, GPU, latency, memory) and develop offline benchmarking frameworks, tools, and scripts to evaluate & analyze performance at scale in CI/vehicle, and establish budgets for next-gen architectures.
  • Analyze performance metrics to identify GPU hotspots and root causes, and propose and co-implement actionable solutions with component teams.
  • Support teams on bringing serial algorithms to the GPU to maximize compute utilization and improve overall latency.
  • Work as part of the Core team to design a middleware framework that promotes by default efficient and performant code development by maximizing CPU and GPU.

Qualifications
  • BS in computer science or related field and 3+ years of experience.
  • Strong knowledge of CUDA as applied to recent GPU microarchitectures (e.g., Ampere, Blackwell) and experience debugging/optimizing GPU kernels using tools like Nsight.
  • Strong knowledge of C++ and experience in large code bases, comfortable in Linux development environments.
  • Experience in development, debugging, and profiling of complex multiprocess systems (e.g., robotic systems, game engines).

Bonus Qualifications
  • Experience with GPU kernel development in a real-time environment, including PTX-level programming, CPU SIMD instructions (e.g., AVX intrinsics), and custom CUDA layers with frameworks like TensorRT & XLA.
  • Hands-on work with ML model optimization (post-training quantization, layer pruning, etc) or hand-tuning GPU kernels (in OpenGL, CUDA, RocM or similar).
  • Proficiency with SQL, DataBricks, Looker, or other business intelligence tools.

$168,000 - $239,000 a year
Base Salary Range
There are three major components to compensation for this position: salary, Amazon Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights. A sign-on bonus may be offered as part of the compensation package. The listed range applies only to the base salary. Compensation will vary based on geographic location and level. Leveling, as well as positioning within a level, is determined by a range of factors, including, but not limited to, a candidate's relevant years of experience, domain knowledge, and interview performance. The salary range listed in this posting is representative of the range of levels Zoox is considering for this position.
Zoox also offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including paid time off (e.g. sick leave, vacation, bereavement), unpaid time off, Zoox Stock Appreciation Rights, Amazon RSUs, health insurance, long-term care insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
About Zoox
Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We're looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.
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Accommodations
If you need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process please reach out to [email protected] or your assigned recruiter.
A Final Note:
You do not need to match every listed expectation to apply for this position. Here at Zoox, we know that diverse perspectives foster the innovation we need to be successful, and we are committed to building a team that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

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