What does a performance engineer do?
A Performance Engineer validates system stability and its performance by carrying out load tests. They analyze test outcomes and work diligently with different engineers and developers to deliver excellent bug fix results. These professionals improve system capacity, scalability, reliability, and performance by offering technical assistance. Besides undertaking root cause evaluation of the system's performance problems and giving corrective actions, a performance engineer also recommends system improvements after evaluating the system performance. Also, they oversee the performance lifecycle and then recommend the right improvements.
Performance engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real performance engineer resumes:
- Manage SharePoint inter-office documentation in relation to projects and internal processes.
- Prepare load runner scripts base off of the test cases that the QA team and the BA prioritize.
- Collaborate with product managers and QA resources to create test scenarios for each and every function of the project.
- Coordinate with DBA for optimizing UNIX server for querying data in SQL and running scripts.
- Measure and characterize performance for TCP/IP file subsystem, and other system components of OSF1 UNIX.
- Used Linux commands and shell scripts to perform testing of the command line module of the search engine.
- Recommend Java VM is tuned by tweaking settings like heap memory, garbage collection (GC) and other optimization parameters.
- Analyze different graphs like transaction response time, hits per second, throughput, windows resources and database server resources etc.
- Aid in developing custom Linux distributions.
- Develop enhancements to a Java base performance automation framework.
- Monitor performance using windows performance monitors and LoadRunner monitors.
- Monitor and analyze system performance during load tests using SiteScope and DynaTrace.
- Craft VBA macro to predict future forced-outages via processing historical forced-outage data.
- Communicate projected savings, project status, benefits and pitfalls to executive leadership usingExcel charts and PowerPoint presentations.
- Develop tool for calculation of custom client-specific benchmarks aim at decreasing computational errors and ensuring accurate reflection of historical composition.
Performance engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Performance Engineers are proficient in Java, Linux, and Performance Issues. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Performance Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Java, 16%
Prepared and executed functional test through SilkTest and Mercury QuickTest on Java application.
- Linux, 6%
Developed system RAM usage profiling utility for an embedded Linux platform.
- Performance Issues, 5%
Developed and coordinated implementation of client-approved action plans to address network performance issues and capacity concerns.
- Performance Analysis, 5%
Produced production and development batch job activity and turnaround for daily and monthly reporting, performance analysis and service level agreements.
- Profiling, 4%
Developed application and system profiling strategies.
- JMeter, 4%
Involved in setting up the JMETER tool on various environments.
Most performance engineers use their skills in "java," "linux," and "performance issues" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential performance engineer responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a performance engineer to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "management analysts must be able to interpret information and use their findings to make proposals." Performance engineers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "awarded for innovation in data visualization tools. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling performance engineer duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "management analysts must be able to convey information clearly in both writing and speaking." According to a performance engineer resume, here's how performance engineers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "used vts (loadrunner component) for the communication between scripts created single user, base line and soak test scenarios. "
Time-management skills. performance engineers are also known for time-management skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to performance engineer responsibilities, because "management analysts often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to complete projects on schedule." A performance engineer resume example shows how time-management skills is used in the workplace: "worked extensively with other team members to develop test scripts in parallel to meet deadlines for a given application. "
Problem-solving skills. A big part of what performance engineers do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to performance engineer responsibilities because "management analysts must be able to think creatively to solve clients’ problems." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical performance engineer tasks: "migrated .net and microsoft business intelligence batch analytics solution to java, hadoop, and hive. "
The three companies that hire the most performance engineers are:
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Compare different performance engineers
Performance engineer vs. Quality analyst
Pumpers are individuals who take responsibility for setting the pumping system controls for product maximization. Their job requires them to set density, concentration, rate, and pressure. They do the operation and maintenance of the auxiliary equipment pumping oil. It is their duty to set the wells so they will function based on the production schedules and switch the oil flow between tanks. They even install the pumping systems.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between performance engineers and quality analyst. For instance, performance engineer responsibilities require skills such as "linux," "performance issues," "performance analysis," and "profiling." Whereas a quality analyst is skilled in "customer service," "patients," "data analysis," and "corrective action." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Quality analysts really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $77,710. Comparatively, performance engineers tend to make the most money in the start-up industry with an average salary of $148,266.The education levels that quality analysts earn slightly differ from performance engineers. In particular, quality analysts are 9.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a performance engineer. Additionally, they're 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Performance engineer vs. Tester
The role of technical testers is to test computer software for defects, bug errors, or any issues that may come across by an end-user. They mainly conduct product testing and prepare reports about any problems or recommendations for improvements. Other responsibilities include reviewing test plans, assessing and analyzing product specifications and requirements, and mapping out testing strategy. Technical testers also frame the test environments or support network management staff and system administrators. Qualifications for this position include knowledge of the database or structured query language, proficiency in Linux commands, and proficiency in defect tracking tools.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real performance engineer resumes. While performance engineer responsibilities can utilize skills like "performance issues," "performance analysis," "profiling," and "jmeter," testers use skills like "digital transformation," "metasploit," "regression test cases," and "api."
Testers earn a lower average salary than performance engineers. But testers earn the highest pay in the telecommunication industry, with an average salary of $74,239. Additionally, performance engineers earn the highest salaries in the start-up with average pay of $148,266 annually.testers earn lower levels of education than performance engineers in general. They're 13.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for performance engineers in the next 3-5 years?
Frank McCown Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Harding University
Performance engineer vs. Quality assurance
The primary role of quality assurance specialists is to inspect the quality system's implementation and perform quality assurance audits. They are responsible for monitoring and recording results from procedures and processes within manufacturing industries. They are also responsible for some other tasks, including keeping up-to-date manufacturing and auditing documentation, training less experienced QA team members, and creating standard operating procedures. To be a quality assurance specialist, you must have a high school diploma, organizational skills, and strong attention to detail.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a performance engineer is likely to be skilled in "performance issues," "performance analysis," "profiling," and "jmeter," while a typical quality assurance is skilled in "food handling," "selenium," "data entry," and "test procedures."
Quality assurances earn the best pay in the finance industry, where they command an average salary of $68,731. Performance engineers earn the highest pay from the start-up industry, with an average salary of $148,266.Most quality assurances achieve a lower degree level compared to performance engineers. For example, they're 13.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Performance engineer vs. Quality assurance specialist
A quality assurance specialist is an individual who is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and proposing measures to correct and improve a company's product. Quality assurance specialists need to outline quality assurance policies and procedures, making sure that quality standards are assured. It is important that a quality assurance specialist should have strong attention to detail and is excellent in data collection. This work may require a minimum of bachelor's degree and certification to get certified.
Types of performance engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
