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Performance Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Ability to develop a test plan as required Ability to review other engineer's code and test results ... performance and scalability issues and associated risks Ability to gather requirements for ...

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.

Performance SDET Location - Seattle, WA - Prefer Local candidates only Strong Performance engineering concepts, strong aptitude for Performance test planning, identifying performance requirements ...

Applied AI Engineer, Inference

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$158K/yr

The Inference team is responsible for delivering high-performance model serving capabilities that ... We are looking for an Applied AI Engineer to help us understand, measure, and improve the real ...

Showing results 21-40

Performance Engineer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$12

$68

$111

How much do performance engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for performance engineer in Seattle, WA is $68.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56.11 and $77.45 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Performance Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA?

The most popular types of Performance Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:

What are popular job titles related to Performance Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA?

For Performance Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Performance Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA look for?

The top searched job categories for Performance Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:

Infographic showing various Performance Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 7% Contract, and 7% Nights. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,355 per year, or $68.4 per hour.

Apple Intelligence Senior Cloud Performance Engineer

Apple

Seattle, WA

$175K - $263K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Re-posted 3 days ago


Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

Join the Apple Service Engineering (ASE) team and drive innovation that matters! The ASE team builds and provides systems and infrastructure that fuel Apple’s services. As part of this team, you will be responsible for building and integrating technologies that enhance people’s lives. We are also tasked with enabling Apple Intelligence and Private Cloud Compute in the cloud. We are seeking a System Performance Engineer with a proven track record of developing technology that has made a significant impact.
Description
Collaborate cross-functionally with architecture, platform design, SOC architects, and software teams to deliver exceptional end-to-end performance that delights our customers. In this role, you’ll be responsible for the performance of one or more products. Specifically, you’ll be tasked with ensuring the performance of Private Cloud Compute running Apple Intelligence in the cloud. This position demands technical expertise and depth to work on various elements of the stack, from SOC to the platform along with the software stack. You’ll collaborate with architecture and software teams to define the product and set its power and performance targets and develop automation and infrastructure tools to evaluate the performance of our Apple Intelligence products. Strong problem-solving skills and effective communication are crucial for success in this role.
Preferred Qualifications
Previous experience in Performance modeling and Debugging of Transformer models, LLM inference and training.
Ability to implement and coordinate telemetry using monitoring and observability tools such as Splunk, Grafana, and Prometheus
Proficiency in SQL and experience with at least one major data analytics platform, such as Hadoop, Spark, or Snowflake.
Minimum Qualifications
10+ years of experience as a Performance Engineer
Strong experience in data and AI-related fields such as software architecture or AI engineering, software development, data science, data analysis, or data lead roles, with experience across both traditional ML systems and GenAI LLMs.
In-depth professional experience with cloud operations
Strong understanding of hardware components and hardware/software interaction
Proven understanding of network technologies, protocols and procedures for iOS and macOS
Proven track record to own a complete functional area of an application or product
Able to work independently and should be dedicated
Excellent communication & interpersonal skills
Comfortable with troubleshooting/debugging/reproducing issues
Scripting and programming skills in C/C++, Python, Swift, SQL, Shell
M.S., or Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $175,000 and $263,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976