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Principal Performance Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Airbnb

Principal Software Engineer, Performance

$138K - $185K/yr

We treat performance as a first-class engineering property - measurable, continuously improving, and enforced across the software lifecycle. This is the most senior performance engineering role at ...

Qualcomm

GPU Compiler Performance

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

$133K - $200K/yr

... Engineering, or related work experience. Principal Duties and Responsibilities: • Applies GPU ... performance and power of GPU cores. • Assists in building functional model simulations ...

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$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal performance engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal performance engineer in the United States is $147,220.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $118,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Principal Performance Engineer?

A Principal Performance Engineer is a senior technical expert responsible for ensuring that software systems and applications operate at optimal performance levels. They lead efforts in designing, analyzing, and improving system architectures to prevent performance bottlenecks and scalability issues. Their work often includes conducting performance testing, identifying system limitations, and collaborating with development teams to implement solutions. Principal Performance Engineers also mentor other engineers and set best practices for performance optimization across the organization.

How does a Principal Performance Engineer typically collaborate with development and operations teams to optimize application performance?

A Principal Performance Engineer plays a pivotal role in bridging development and operations by working closely with both teams to identify, analyze, and resolve performance bottlenecks. They often participate in design reviews, consult on architectural decisions, and guide the implementation of best practices for scalability and reliability. Regularly, they lead performance testing efforts, share insights from monitoring tools, and mentor team members on performance tuning. This collaborative approach ensures that performance considerations are integrated throughout the software development lifecycle, resulting in robust and efficient applications.

What is the difference between Principal Performance Engineer vs Performance Engineer?

AspectPrincipal Performance EngineerPerformance Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Computer Science or related, often with certifications in performance testingBachelor's in Computer Science or related, with similar certifications
Work EnvironmentLeads performance testing teams, designs strategies, and mentorsExecutes performance tests, analyzes results, and reports findings
Industry UsageUsed across large enterprises, tech companies, and software firmsCommon in software development, QA teams, and IT departments

The Principal Performance Engineer typically holds a leadership role, overseeing performance testing strategies and mentoring teams, while the Performance Engineer focuses on executing tests and analyzing results. Both roles require similar technical skills and certifications, but differ in scope and responsibility.

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

To thrive as a Principal Performance Engineer, you need deep expertise in system architecture, performance analysis, and optimization, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field. Mastery of performance profiling tools (like JMeter, LoadRunner, or Dynatrace), scripting languages, and cloud platforms is essential, along with relevant industry certifications. Strong problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills help you collaborate across teams and drive system improvements. These skills ensure scalable, efficient, and reliable systems that meet business and user requirements in complex technical environments.
More about Principal Performance Engineer jobs
What job categories do people searching Principal Performance Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Principal Performance Engineer jobs are:
Principal Performance Engineer jobs near you
W2 Only Senior Performance Engineer - Final Onsite Interview Required

W2 Only Senior Performance Engineer - Final Onsite Interview Required

Yoh, A Day & Zimmermann Company

Jersey City, NJ • Hybrid

$80/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Please send current resumes directly to bhagyashree.yewle@yoh.com
Bhagyashree Yewle, Principal Lead Recruiter - YOH SPG
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhagyashreeyewle/
W2 Only Senior Performance Engineer -  Final Onsite Interview Required 
NOTE: **This is a senior performance engineer with solid hands-on experience in the development of performance test and not just solely testing strategy**
LOCATION: Hybrid Onsite in the office Monday through Friday every alternate week is MUST in Jersey City NJ
W2 Only - 1099 or CTC candidates will not be considered. Candidates requiring visa sponsorship are welcome to apply!
1.) Strong Performance Testing experience (load, stress, endurance, spike, soak, volume, capacity)
2.) Have conducted this testing on services with low latency, high throughput, high volume requirements (trading services would be ideal)
3.) Strong understanding of JVM (services are Java Spring boot - solid Java Basics)
4). Strong familiarity with any cloud infrastructure – AWS
5.) Accustom to distributed cloud environments, containerized apps and container orchestration and collaborating with devops, cloudops, BE engineers to optimize performance and reliability of systems
6) Experience with profiling and instrumentation tools – Dynatrace/Datadog/AppDynamics
Estimated Min Rate: $65.00
Estimated Max Rate: $80.00
What’s In It for You?
We welcome you to be a part of the largest and legendary global staffing companies to meet your career aspirations. Yoh’s network of client companies has been employing professionals like you for over 65 years in the U.S., UK and Canada. Join Yoh’s extensive talent community that will provide you with access to Yoh’s vast network of opportunities and gain access to this exclusive opportunity available to you. Benefit eligibility is in accordance with applicable laws and client requirements. Benefits include:
  • Medical, Prescription, Dental & Vision Benefits (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
  • Life & Disability Insurance (for employees working 20+ hours per week)
  • MetLife Voluntary Benefits
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • 401K Retirement Savings Plan
  • Direct Deposit & weekly epayroll
  • Referral Bonus Programs
  • Certification and training opportunities

Note: Any pay ranges displayed are estimations. Actual pay is determined by an applicant's experience, technical expertise, and other qualifications as listed in the job description. All qualified applicants are welcome to apply.
Yoh, a Day & Zimmermann company, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Visit https://www.yoh.com/applicants-with-disabilities to contact us if you are an individual with a disability and require accommodation in the application process.
For California applicants, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. All of the material job duties described in this posting are job duties for which a criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment.
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
By applying and submitting your resume, you authorize Yoh to review and reformat your resume to meet Yoh’s hiring clients’ preferences. To learn more about Yoh’s privacy practices, please see our Candidate Privacy Notice: https://www.yoh.com/privacy-notice

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