Entry Level Lead Performance Engineer Jobs
New grad lead performance engineer jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where a strong portfolio or internship demonstrating load testing, profiling, or optimization work can matter more than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Education, with employers like Qualcomm, Apple, and Tarleton State University hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 84+ Entry Level Lead Performance Engineer jobs
SUMMARY
In the Wireless Technologies group, you will be responsible for bringing groundbreaking cellular and satellite connectivity to the world. You will design, develop, and patent the next generation of our state-of-the-art wireless technologies. You will collaborate across departments to help craft solutions that elevate the customer experience with Apple products and services. Our goal is to ensure that nothing hinders our customers’ connections with their devices. If you join us, you will help build world-renowned wireless systems so seamless that they almost feel like magic. The wireless software performance team is striving for innovative ways to utilize cellular technologies to enable new services and products that surprise and delight our customers. We are seeking an experienced engineer chartered to build cellular performance labs; play a major role in the architecture, design, and enhancement of new communication technologies and products. You will work on a team that will drive new initiatives within the company and the industry, focused on end-user experience.
DESCRIPTION
Apple is seeking an engineer who can lead and drive characterization of wireless software performance in labs and beyond. Develop expertise in cellular systems, RF frontends, hardware, and software by benchmarking power and performance for Apple products. Act as a liaison between technology and product engineering teams as a gatekeeper of end-user-facing quality. This is an excellent opportunity to interact cross-functionally with multiple engineering groups while bringing in fresh ideas to evangelize wireless communication technologies across Apple’s product portfolio and simultaneously working towards design wins in a data-driven manner from prototyping to commercialization.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in a laboratory environment, testing and benchmarking data, voice and application performance of cellular systems.
- Deep understanding of cellular 3GPP standards relating to 5G NR and LTE, with demonstrated experience with higher-layer protocols such as TCP/IP.
- Strong ability to debug and analyze issues across all (L1/L2/L3/Application) layers of the protocol stack, as well as RF frontends.
- Experience proposing software optimizations and improvements based on performance data to enhance overall product quality and user experience.
- Experience required working with cellular call boxes and channel emulators in a laboratory setting.
- Strong knowledge of Python scripting is necessary to automate performance test suites in the laboratory and develop tools and scripts to design key performance indicators (KPIs) required to benchmark product performance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong collaboration and communication skills across multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent problem-solving skills with a track record of delivering results in fast-paced environments.
- Thrive in a collaborative environment, communicate clearly while confidently driving multiple projects across various teams.
- Adapt to new technologies, think outside the box, and propose technology and product improvements in a data-driven manner.
- Obsessively passionate, inquisitive, and seek to solve everyday problems in innovative ways.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $277,600, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
SUMMARY
In the Wireless Technologies group, you will be responsible for bringing groundbreaking cellular and satellite connectivity to the world. You will design, develop, and patent the next generation of our state-of-the-art wireless technologies. You will collaborate across departments to help craft solutions that elevate the customer experience with Apple products and services. Our goal is to ensure that nothing hinders our customers’ connections with their devices. If you join us, you will help build world-renowned wireless systems so seamless that they almost feel like magic. The wireless software performance team is striving for innovative ways to utilize cellular technologies to enable new services and products that surprise and delight our customers. We are seeking an experienced engineer chartered to build cellular performance labs; play a major role in the architecture, design, and enhancement of new communication technologies and products. You will work on a team that will drive new initiatives within the company and the industry, focused on end-user experience.
DESCRIPTION
Apple is seeking an engineer who can lead and drive characterization of wireless software performance in labs and beyond. Develop expertise in cellular systems, RF frontends, hardware, and software by benchmarking power and performance for Apple products. Act as a liaison between technology and product engineering teams as a gatekeeper of end-user-facing quality. This is an excellent opportunity to interact cross-functionally with multiple engineering groups while bringing in fresh ideas to evangelize wireless communication technologies across Apple’s product portfolio and simultaneously working towards design wins in a data-driven manner from prototyping to commercialization.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience working in a laboratory environment, testing and benchmarking data, voice and application performance of cellular systems.
- Deep understanding of cellular 3GPP standards relating to 5G NR and LTE, with demonstrated experience with higher-layer protocols such as TCP/IP.
- Strong ability to debug and analyze issues across all (L1/L2/L3/Application) layers of the protocol stack, as well as RF frontends.
- Experience proposing software optimizations and improvements based on performance data to enhance overall product quality and user experience.
- Experience required working with cellular call boxes and channel emulators in a laboratory setting.
- Strong knowledge of Python scripting is necessary to automate performance test suites in the laboratory and develop tools and scripts to design key performance indicators (KPIs) required to benchmark product performance.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Strong collaboration and communication skills across multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent problem-solving skills with a track record of delivering results in fast-paced environments.
- Thrive in a collaborative environment, communicate clearly while confidently driving multiple projects across various teams.
- Adapt to new technologies, think outside the box, and propose technology and product improvements in a data-driven manner.
- Obsessively passionate, inquisitive, and seek to solve everyday problems in innovative ways.
COMPENSATION
- Base pay range for this role is between $150,400 and $277,600, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You’ll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses — including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
Apple is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We seek to promote equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.
At Apple, we believe accessibility is a fundamental human right. You’ll find that idea reflected in everything here — in our culture, our benefits and our digital tools. By welcoming as many perspectives as possible, we help you build a career where you feel like you belong.
Apple accepts applications to this posting on an ongoing basis.
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Find JobsEntry Level Lead Performance Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Qualcomm18
- Apple6
- Tarleton State University4
- OpenAI3
- Dell Technologies3
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software23
- Electronics & Hardware23
- Education15
- Telecommunications14
- Science & Research5
Entry Level Lead Performance Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level lead performance engineer job?
Focus on building hands-on experience with performance testing tools such as JMeter, Gatling, or Locust, and document that work in a public portfolio or GitHub repository. Entry level employers at this level look for candidates who can identify bottlenecks, interpret metrics, and communicate findings clearly. Internships, capstone projects, or open-source contributions that demonstrate these skills give new candidates a real edge over a bare resume.
Which companies hire entry level lead performance engineers?
Companies hiring entry level lead performance engineers right now include Qualcomm, Apple, and Tarleton State University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. At this experience level, hiring tends to come from technology firms, consulting agencies, and enterprise organizations building or scaling software systems that require rigorous performance validation.
Are there remote entry level lead performance engineer jobs?
Yes, though remote availability varies by employer and project needs. About 21% of entry level lead performance engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, giving new graduates real flexibility in where they start their careers. On-site roles remain common, particularly at companies where engineers work closely with infrastructure or QA teams during the early stages of product development.
Are these new grad lead performance engineer jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior lead performance engineer roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it welcomes zero to two years of experience, accepts internship or academic project work in place of professional history, or lists a portfolio as an acceptable substitute for a traditional resume. Look for language like "entry level," "junior," or "no prior professional experience required" as reliable signals.
Which industries hire the most entry level lead performance engineers?
Entry Level lead performance engineer roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Education, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they operate high-traffic or latency-sensitive systems where performance engineering is a core function rather than an afterthought, creating steady demand for new talent ready to learn and contribute early.