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Performance Science Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

GDIT

Cognitive Performance Specialist

Coronado, CA · On-site

Master's degree (Doctoral degree preferred) in Human Performance, Kinesiology, or Exercise Science, and/or Sport Sciences with a specialization in Sport Psychology. LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: * Must ...

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 ... Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field * 5+ ...

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 ... Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field * 5+ ...

Apply Early

Etched

Performance Modeling Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Our ASIC systems deliver orders of magnitude higher performance than conventional AI chips. Etched ... Master's or PhD degree Computer Science, or a related technical field. * Experience in computer ...

Etched

Performance Modeling Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Our ASIC systems deliver orders of magnitude higher performance than conventional AI chips. Etched ... Master's or PhD degree Computer Science, or a related technical field. * Experience in computer ...

Etched

Performance Modeling Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

Our ASIC systems deliver orders of magnitude higher performance than conventional AI chips. Etched ... Master's or PhD degree Computer Science, or a related technical field. * Experience in computer ...

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All JobsPerformance Science JobsPerformance Science Jobs in California

Performance Science information

See California salary details

$39.5K

$98.2K

$151.5K

How much do performance science jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for performance science in California is $98,224.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $64,600.00 and $124,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Performance Science vs Sports Scientist?

AspectPerformance ScienceSports Scientist
Required CredentialsDegree in exercise science, sports science, or related fields; certifications in performance or strength coachingDegree in sports science, exercise physiology, or related fields; certifications in sports performance
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, athletic training facilities, performance centersSports teams, athletic clubs, research institutions
Employer & Industry UsageUsed by sports organizations, research institutions, and performance centersCommonly employed by sports teams, universities, and sports medicine clinics

Performance Science and Sports Scientist roles overlap in credentials and work environments, but Performance Science often emphasizes research and data analysis to optimize athletic performance, while Sports Scientists focus more on direct athlete testing and training programs. Both roles are vital in sports performance but differ slightly in scope and application.

What is the highest paid job in sports science?

The highest paid jobs in sports science are often senior roles such as Director of Sports Science or Head of Performance, which can earn six-figure salaries. These positions typically require advanced degrees, extensive experience, and leadership skills, often working with professional or elite athletes and teams.

What is performance science?

Performance science is an interdisciplinary field that studies the factors influencing high-level performance in areas such as sports, the arts, business, and other domains. It combines insights from psychology, physiology, neuroscience, and other disciplines to understand and improve how individuals and teams perform under various conditions. Performance scientists often work to enhance training methods, optimize mental and physical preparation, and develop strategies for achieving peak performance. Their work can involve research, coaching, and collaboration with professionals to implement evidence-based practices.

What does a performance scientist do?

A performance scientist studies and applies scientific principles to improve human performance, often working with athletes, military personnel, or corporate clients. They analyze data, develop training protocols, and use tools like biomechanics, physiology, and psychology to optimize physical and mental capabilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Performance Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Performance Scientist, you typically need a strong background in exercise science, physiology, data analysis, and often a related degree such as sports science or kinesiology. Familiarity with performance monitoring tools, data collection software, and certifications like CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) are commonly required. Excellent communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills help you translate data into actionable insights for athletes and coaches. These skills are crucial for optimizing athletic performance, preventing injuries, and supporting evidence-based training decisions.

What is the highest paying job in exercise science?

In exercise science, the highest paying roles are often sports medicine physicians, exercise physiologists with advanced certifications, or performance directors in professional sports organizations, with salaries exceeding $100,000 annually. These positions typically require advanced degrees, specialized certifications, and extensive experience in clinical or high-performance settings.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals working in Performance Science, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Performance Science often encounter challenges such as translating complex data into actionable insights for athletes or teams, managing the expectations of coaches and stakeholders, and staying current with evolving technologies and research. Addressing these challenges requires strong communication skills, continuous professional development, and the ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. Building trust with athletes and staff and presenting data in a clear, practical manner are also key to ensuring that scientific recommendations are successfully implemented.

What is the highest paying job in sports?

In sports, the highest paying roles are often executive positions such as team owners, general managers, or high-level sports executives, with some earning millions annually. Top athletes, especially in sports like basketball, football, and golf, also earn substantial salaries and endorsement deals, but executive and management roles typically have the highest overall compensation in the industry.
What are popular job titles related to Performance Science jobs in California? For Performance Science jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Performance Science jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Performance Science jobs in California are:
Performance Science jobs near you
Infographic showing various Performance Science job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 76% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 3% Temporary. Highlights an 84% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,224 per year, or $47.2 per hour.
Performance Engineer (Cloud Data Plane Engineering)

Performance Engineer (Cloud Data Plane Engineering)

NetApp

San Jose, CA

Other

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

Job Summary

Design, develop, analyze, and optimize cloud software and performance capabilities for cloud storage services and distributed systems. In this role you will collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to model, measure, analyze, and improve the performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency of cloud platforms-ensuring customer and market requirements are met while balancing quality, cost, and time-to-market. The ideal candidate is systems-focused, analytical and creative, and driven to deliver measurable performance improvements at cloud scale.

Responsibilities
  • Design and execute performance benchmarks/workloads; measure, analyze, interpret, and socialize results to identify improvement opportunities.
  • Apply AI-assisted performance engineering techniques and develop tools (e.g., performance analysis, automated regression triage, and ML-based capacity planning) to accelerate bottleneck analysis and guide optimization priorities.
  • Evaluate design alternatives and prototype performance enhancements across cloud services and distributed components.
  • Collect and analyze customer experience signals and usage patterns; prepare findings and recommendations for engineering and management. 
Job Requirements
  • A minimum of 4 years of experience is required.
  • Knowledge of performance analysis, modeling techniques, benchmarking, and workload characterization.
  • Understanding of performance tradeoffs when designing for multi-tenant, elastic cloud environments (latency, throughput, cost, and reliability).
  • Hands-on experience applying AI/ML techniques to performance engineeringUnderstanding of AI/ML workloads and their impact on cloud storage performance.
  • Strong foundations in operating systems, data structures, and standard programming practices; systems programming in C is highly desirable.
  • Proficiency with scripting and automation (Python, shell; Perl acceptable) and comfort working with notebooks (e.g., Jupyter). 
Education
  • A Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, or PhD Degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Science; or equivalent experience is required. 

Compensation:
The target salary range for this position is 147,900 - 220,000 USD. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off, various Leave options, Performance-Based Incentives, employee stock purchase plan, and/or restricted stocks (RSU's), with all offerings subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. Benefits may vary by country and region, and further details will be provided as part of the recruitment process. 

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