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Principal Performance Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Leonardo DRS

Senior Performance Engineer

Fitchburg, MA · On-site

$102K - $159K/yr

... Senior Principal. * Strong experience in turbomachinery, steam turbines, gas turbines, rotating ... performance tradeoffs in turbine systems. * Experience using commercial CFD and engineering ...

Leonardo DRS

Senior Performance Engineer

Fitchburg, MA · On-site

$102K - $159K/yr

... Senior Principal. * Strong experience in turbomachinery, steam turbines, gas turbines, rotating ... performance tradeoffs in turbine systems. * Experience using commercial CFD and engineering ...

034Motorsport

PERFORMANCE HARD PARTS ENGINEER

Fremont, CA · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Overview 034Motorsport is a leading automotive engineering firm specializing in performance ... Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, and design to manufacture principals - sheet metal ...

034Motorsport

PERFORMANCE HARD PARTS ENGINEER

Fremont, CA · On-site

$58K - $95K/yr

... performance automotive products. This position reports to the Hardware Engineering Manager ... Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, and design to manufacture principals - sheet metal ...

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Principal Performance Engineer information

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$74K

$147.2K

$212.5K

How much do principal performance engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 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.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a principal performance engineer?

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.

How does a principal performance engineer 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.

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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
Infographic showing various Principal Performance Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,220 per year, or $70.8 per hour.

Senior Performance Engineer

Leonardo DRS

Fitchburg, MA • On-site

$102K - $159K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago

Leonardo DRS rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 56 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

117th of 540 rated manufacturers

Job description

Job ID: 114730
The Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems business is a trusted provider of innovative naval gas and hybrid power systems, control technology and support solutions for the U.S. Navy and navies around the world.
Job Summary
Join our Fitchburg, MA team as an experienced engineer supporting the performance, flow path, and thermal-fluid design considerations of steam turbines and related turbomachinery. This role blends thermodynamic and aerodynamic engineering responsibilities into a single performance-focused position responsible for evaluating energy distribution, flow behavior, efficiency, and overall turbine performance.
The engineer in this role will provide direct contributor work in analysis, design development, and problem resolution while partnering across mechanical, structural, acoustic, and systems disciplines. Depending on level, this position may also provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and independently lead focused analysis efforts or trade studies.
What You Will Do
  • Perform thermodynamic and aerodynamic analyses to support the design, evaluation, and optimization of steam turbine flow paths and associated components.
  • Assess turbine performance through a combination of 0D, 1D, 2D, CFD, and related engineering analysis methods using commercial tools, internal methods, or equivalent developed approaches.
  • Support or lead investigations into flow, pressure, temperature, loss, leakage, and energy distribution issues within turbine systems.
  • Contribute to the design and evaluation of turbine flow path features including nozzles, buckets, valves, inlet flow passages, seals, packing, exhaust plenums, and related hardware as applicable.
  • Develop and execute trade studies that balance performance goals with mechanical, structural, acoustic, manufacturability, and program requirements.
  • Shape or evaluate overall steam path architecture to enable stable flow behavior and efficient energy conversion.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate thermo-aerodynamic design considerations into broader product development efforts.
  • Prepare and present technical analyses, recommendations, and status updates to engineering leadership and program stakeholders.
  • At higher levels, provide technical guidance, mentor earlier career engineers, and independently drive focused work scopes to closure.

Education & Experience Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related technical field with progressively responsible relevant experience; typical target range is Senior through Senior Principal.
  • Strong experience in turbomachinery, steam turbines, gas turbines, rotating machinery, or related thermal-fluid performance applications.
  • Experience in thermodynamic analysis, aerodynamic analysis, or integrated performance analysis of turbine or turbo machinery systems.
  • Proficiency in compressible fluid flow, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics as applied to rotating machinery.
  • Experience with performance modeling methods such as bulk flow, lumped parameter, meanline, throughflow, or related engineering analyses.
  • Working knowledge of loss mechanisms, flow path shaping, leakage effects, and performance tradeoffs in turbine systems.
  • Experience using commercial CFD and engineering analysis tools such as Ansys Fluent, CFX, TurboGrid, BladeModeler, or equivalent software.
  • Ability to work effectively across multiple engineering disciplines and make sound engineering tradeoffs in a complex product environment.

Secondary Skills, Experience, and Aptitude to Grow
  • Experience with steam as a working fluid and performance considerations specific to steam turbine systems.
  • Experience evaluating seals, packing, exhaust hoods, valves, or auxiliary flow applications in rotating machinery.
  • Experience with parameterized models, design studies, optimization methods, or thermal-fluid interaction analyses.
  • Exposure to Navy Nuclear applications, defense industry product lines, or highly regulated engineering environments.
  • Ability to independently lead technical tasks and contribute to planning, estimation, and execution of analysis work packages.

U.S. Citizenship required. This position may require an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.
The salary range for this position is $102,433/year to $159,027/year. This range reflects the good faith estimate of pay the employer is willing to offer at the time of posting. Several factors can influence the pay scale, including but not limited to: Federal contract labor categories and contract wage rates, collective bargaining agreements, geographic location, business considerations, scope, and responsibilities of the position, local or other applicable market conditions, and internal equity. Other factors include the candidate's qualifications such as prior work experience, specific skills and competencies, education/training, and certifications.
Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS. We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan. We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career-growth, professional development, and skill enhancement. And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours.
Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Our Vision. To be the leading mid-tier defense technology company in the U.S.
Our Values. The Leonardo DRS culture is defined by our Core Values and Principles:
- Integrity
- Agility
- Excellence
- Customer Focus
- Community & Respect
- Innovation
We strive to uphold them in all aspects of our business practices to inspire our employees and provide outstanding support for our customers.

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