Senior Performance Engineer
About the role
As a Senior Performance Engineer, you will make an impact by ensuring enterprise applications meet performance, scalability, reliability, and availability requirements. You will be a valued member of the Quality Engineering team and work collaboratively with developers, architects, DevOps engineers, infrastructure teams, and business stakeholders to deliver high-quality digital solutions.
In this role, you will:
- Design and execute performance testing strategies for web, mobile, API, cloud, and enterprise applications.
- Develop and maintain performance test scripts, scenarios, and frameworks to support performance validation efforts.
- Perform load, stress, endurance, scalability, and volume testing to evaluate application behavior under varying workloads.
- Analyze test results, identify performance bottlenecks, and provide recommendations to improve system performance.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot application, database, and infrastructure performance issues.
- Define, measure, and validate performance-related service level agreements (SLAs) and non-functional requirements.
- Monitor application performance using industry-standard observability and monitoring tools.
- Prepare and present performance reports, dashboards, findings, and recommendations to technical and business stakeholders.
- Support performance testing activities within Agile, DevOps, and CI/CD delivery environments.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives and advocate performance engineering best practices across projects.
Work Model
We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role's business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring attendance at a Cognizant office or client location in Chicago, IL. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance through our various wellbeing programs.
The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you're engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.
What you need to have to be considered
- Experience in Performance Testing, Performance Engineering, or Quality Engineering.
- Hands-on experience designing and executing load, stress, endurance, and scalability tests.
- Experience with one or more performance testing tools such as JMeter, LoadRunner, NeoLoad, BlazeMeter, or equivalent.
- Knowledge of application performance monitoring and diagnostics tools.
- Understanding of web technologies, APIs, databases, and distributed systems.
- Experience analyzing performance metrics and identifying root causes of performance issues.
- Familiarity with Agile development methodologies and DevOps practices.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
These will help you stand out
- Experience with cloud platforms and cloud-native applications.
- Knowledge of microservices architecture and containerized environments.
- Experience with CI/CD tools and automated performance testing integration.
- Familiarity with observability and monitoring platforms.
- Experience supporting large-scale enterprise applications.
- Exposure to performance engineering best practices and optimization techniques.
- Relevant certifications in performance testing, cloud technologies, or quality engineering.
We're excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways. Don't hesitate to apply, even if you only meet the minimum requirements listed. Think about your transferable experiences and unique skills that make you stand out as someone who can bring new and exciting things to this role.
Salary and Other Compensation:
Applications will be accepted until August 21, 2026.
The annual salary for this position is between $78,000 - $100,000 depending on experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual incentive program, based on performance and subject to the terms of Cognizant’s applicable plans.
Benefits: Cognizant offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:
· Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
· Paid holidays plus Paid Time Off
· 401(k) plan and contributions
· Long-term/Short-term Disability
· Paid Parental Leave
· Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
About Cognizant:
Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) is an AI Builder and technology services provider, bridging the gap between AI investment and enterprise value by building full-stack AI solutions for our clients. Our deep industry, process and engineering expertise enables us to build an organization’s unique context into technology systems that amplify human potential, drive tangible outcomes and keep global enterprises ahead in a fast-changing world. See how at cognizant.ai or @cognizant.
Additional employment information
Compensation information is accurate as of the date of this posting. Cognizant reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Applicants may be required to attend interviews in person or by video conference. In addition, candidates may be required to present their current state or government issued ID during each interview.
Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. Your application and candidacy will not be considered based on race, color, sex, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or submit an application, please email [email protected] with your request and contact information.
