Performance Engineer Jobs in San Diego, CA
Performance Engineer jobs in San Diego are concentrated in Sorrento Valley, Kearny Mesa, and the UTC corridor, driven by defense contractors, life sciences firms, biotech companies, and enterprise software developers hiring across the region. Employers posting openings right now include Qualcomm, Apple, and Turquoise. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 165+ Performance Engineer jobs
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > GPU ASICS EngineeringGeneral Summary:
As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drives digital transformation to help create a smarter, connected future for all. As a Qualcomm GPU Engineer, you may architect, design, implement, verify, and/or optimize the performance and power of GPU cores. Qualcomm Engineers collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet and exceed customer needs.
The team is open to multiple locations including Bay Area and Orlando.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree or PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
- 2+ years of relevant GPU experience.
- 1+ year of work experience in a role requiring interaction with senior leadership (e.g., Director and above).
- 1+ year in a technical leadership role with direct reports (only applies to positions with direct reports).
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Leverages advanced GPU knowledge and experience to architect, design, implement, verify, and/or optimize the performance and power of GPU cores.
- Builds functional model simulations, develops software, and tests for various graphics to verify correctness and ensures advanced performance and power goals are met.
- Designs, programs, and runs comprehensive graphics tests using tools and methods under different scenarios and benchmarks to verify functionality, performance, power, and stability and identify issues.
- Collaborates with cross-functional teams, third-party vendors, and external users to guide implementation and ensure alignment with needs and goals.
- Develops critical driver and compiler software to support GPU products.
- Writes detailed technical documentation and feature descriptions for complex GPU projects to guide users and/or customers to implement output.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field and 1+ year of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here . Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies : Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm 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, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits :
$141,300.00 - $211,900.00The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link .
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers .
Company:
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > GPU ASICS EngineeringGeneral Summary:
As a leading technology innovator, Qualcomm pushes the boundaries of what's possible to enable next-generation experiences and drives digital transformation to help create a smarter, connected future for all. As a Qualcomm GPU Engineer, you may architect, design, implement, verify, and/or optimize the performance and power of GPU cores. Qualcomm Engineers collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet and exceed customer needs.
The team is open to multiple locations including Bay Area and Orlando.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree or PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
- 2+ years of relevant GPU experience.
- 1+ year of work experience in a role requiring interaction with senior leadership (e.g., Director and above).
- 1+ year in a technical leadership role with direct reports (only applies to positions with direct reports).
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Leverages advanced GPU knowledge and experience to architect, design, implement, verify, and/or optimize the performance and power of GPU cores.
- Builds functional model simulations, develops software, and tests for various graphics to verify correctness and ensures advanced performance and power goals are met.
- Designs, programs, and runs comprehensive graphics tests using tools and methods under different scenarios and benchmarks to verify functionality, performance, power, and stability and identify issues.
- Collaborates with cross-functional teams, third-party vendors, and external users to guide implementation and ensure alignment with needs and goals.
- Develops critical driver and compiler software to support GPU products.
- Writes detailed technical documentation and feature descriptions for complex GPU projects to guide users and/or customers to implement output.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
Master's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field and 1+ year of Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here . Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies : Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm 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, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits :
$141,300.00 - $211,900.00The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer – and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link .
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers .
See All 165+ Performance Engineer Jobs in San Diego
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Find Performance Engineer JobsPerformance Engineer Job Market in San Diego
Who's Hiring
- Qualcomm124
- Apple33
- Turquoise8
Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware58
- Telecommunications41
- Technology & Software41
- Sports & Recreation8
Performance Engineer Jobs in San Diego: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a performance engineer job in San Diego?
Focus on San Diego's strongest hiring sectors: defense and aerospace contractors in Sorrento Valley, biotech and life sciences companies in Torrey Pines, and enterprise software firms in the UTC and Kearny Mesa corridors. Candidates with experience in systems testing, load analysis, or reliability engineering stand out locally. Networking through San Diego engineering meetups and targeting contract-to-hire roles at defense primes are both practical entry points.
Which companies hire performance engineers in San Diego?
San Diego performance engineer roles are posted by Qualcomm, Apple, and Turquoise and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. The local market blends large defense primes, mid-size biotech firms, and growing enterprise technology companies that maintain engineering teams in the region year-round.
Are there remote performance engineer jobs in San Diego?
Yes, though availability depends heavily on the role type: analytical and software-side performance work tends to be remote-friendly, while hardware testing, lab-based, or defense-cleared positions typically require on-site presence. About 16% of performance engineer openings tied to San Diego are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, with software and cloud-performance roles accounting for the largest share of those flexible arrangements.
How can I get a performance engineer job in San Diego with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in San Diego is through quality assurance or test engineering roles at mid-size software companies in Kearny Mesa or the UTC area, where performance work is often bundled into broader QA responsibilities. Defense contractors along the I-15 corridor also hire junior systems engineers who rotate into performance testing. A portfolio of load-testing or benchmarking projects and familiarity with tools like JMeter or Gatling gives entry-level candidates a concrete edge locally.
Which industries hire the most performance engineers in San Diego?
The sectors hiring the most performance engineers in San Diego are Electronics & Hardware, Telecommunications, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. San Diego's dense concentration of defense contractors, federally funded research institutions, and venture-backed biotech firms creates sustained demand for engineers who can validate and optimize complex systems across both hardware and software environments.
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See All 165+ Performance Engineer Jobs in San Diego
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