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Performance Optimization Engineer Jobs in Austin, TX

Senior Software Engineer Job Type: Contractor (~15 hours/week) Location: Remote Job Summary We are ... Design tasks involving bug fixing, feature development, refactoring, and performance optimization

... and optimization of SQL queries - Experience with Application Performance Management (APM) tools such as Dynatrace, AppDynamics (AppD), and Splunk - Expertise in SAP HANA performance engineering ...

AI Engineer - Remote

Austin, TX · Remote

$80 - $120/hr

Senior Software Engineer Job Type: Contractor (~15 hours/week) Location: Remote Job Summary We are ... Design tasks involving bug fixing, feature development, refactoring, and performance optimization

Showing results 21-40

Performance Optimization Engineer information

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$10

$59

$97

How much do performance optimization engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for performance optimization engineer in Austin, TX is $59.58, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48.85 and $67.45 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a performance optimization engineer?

A Performance Optimization Engineer is a professional who focuses on improving the speed, efficiency, and scalability of software systems, applications, or hardware. Their main responsibilities include analyzing system performance, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing solutions to optimize resource usage and response times. They often work closely with development and operations teams to monitor system metrics, conduct performance testing, and ensure applications meet performance requirements. This role is critical in maintaining high-performing, reliable systems, especially for organizations with large-scale or mission-critical applications.

What are some typical challenges a performance optimization engineer faces when working with legacy systems?

Performance Optimization Engineers often encounter challenges such as outdated codebases, lack of documentation, and hardware limitations when working with legacy systems. These factors can make it difficult to identify bottlenecks and implement modern performance improvements. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams—including developers, testers, and system administrators—is crucial to fully understand system behavior and safely apply optimizations without introducing regressions. Patience and creative problem-solving are key, as each legacy system may require unique strategies to achieve measurable performance gains.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a performance optimization engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Performance Optimization Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science, programming, and system architecture, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with profiling tools, performance monitoring systems, and languages such as C++, Java, or Python is typically required. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are standout soft skills for diagnosing bottlenecks and collaborating with teams. These abilities are essential for ensuring systems operate efficiently, reliably, and at scale.

What is the difference between Performance Optimization Engineer vs Software Developer?

AspectPerformance Optimization EngineerSoftware Developer
Primary FocusImproving system and application performance, optimizing code and infrastructureDesigning, coding, and testing software applications
Skills & CertificationsKnowledge of performance profiling, debugging, scripting, certifications like AWS or LinuxProficiency in programming languages, software development methodologies
Work EnvironmentOften in performance labs, cloud environments, or data centersDevelopment teams, office or remote software development settings
Industry UsageTech, gaming, finance, and enterprise sectors focusing on system efficiency

Performance Optimization Engineers focus on enhancing system and application efficiency, while Software Developers create and maintain software applications. Both roles require technical skills, but their core responsibilities differ significantly, making each essential in different stages of software and system lifecycle.

Graphics Power Analysis & Optimization Engineer

Austin, TX • On-site

Apple
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing • 10K+ employees

$138K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago


Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 684 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Do you love creating elegant solutions to highly complex challenges? As part of our Silicon Technologies group, you'll help design and manufacture our next-generation, high-performance, power-efficient processor, system-on-chip (SoC)! You'll ensure Apple products and services can seamlessly handle the tasks that make them beloved by millions. Joining this group means you'll be crafting and building the technology that fuels Apple's devices. Together, we enable our customers to do all the things they love with their devices! We are looking for a talented and creative engineer to support the power activity of Apple best-in-class GPU development.
Description
For this role, the candidate must have strong analytical skills and background in power, micro-architecture and scripting to support the following activities on GPU designs:
- Create early power estimation, power targets and perform what-if analysis at architectural evaluation stage.
- Support RTL and gate-level power rollup and analysis.
- Analyze various GPU workloads to identify power reduction opportunities.
- Evaluate and implement power optimizations in both RTL and gates.
- Identify the best power sign-off tests to improve power analysis coverage.
- Develop flows & heuristics to accelerate power triage on large power data sets.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience with Verilog and SystemVerilog.
Experience with scripting in Python.
Minimum requirement of BS degree.
Preferred Qualifications
Knowledge of digital logic design principles including power and timing implications.
Experience with VLSI power fundamentals: dynamic & leakage.
Experience with low power design: clock gating, data-gating.
Excellent communication skills, self-motivated and organized.

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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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