Senior Performance Test Engineer (loadrunner) - Permanent/remote - Remote Eligible

Sr. Performance Engineer

Our client, a key player in IT Services/IT Consulting providing software solutions is currently in need of Sr. Performance Engineer. In this position, you will be instrumental in ensuring the scalability, reliability, and performance of our systems to deliver exceptional user experiences. Your mastery of performance testing tools, deep understanding of system architecture, and expertise in code and database optimization will drive the creation of high-performing, resilient applications. Reporting to the Head of Technology and collaborating closely with SRE, development, and database teams, you will lead performance testing initiatives, conduct bottleneck analysis, and implement optimization strategies. Your success will be defined by your ability to deliver robust performance solutions, maintain exceptional system reliability, and foster a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Performance Testing & Analysis

Lead all aspects of performance testing, including requirements gathering, test planning, script development, test data creation, execution, and comprehensive reporting.

Design, execute, and analyze performance tests using a suite of tools, including but not limited to Microfocus LoadRunner, JMeter, Gatling, and k6, ensuring accurate simulation of production workloads.

Conduct bottleneck analysis using advanced monitoring tools and Application Performance Management (APM) platforms (e.g., Dynatrace), identifying performance issues at the system, application, or database level.

Develop workload models based on production statistics, designing realistic load patterns to simulate peak traffic and edge cases.

Collaborate with SRE teams to collect and analyze production

System Architecture & Optimization

Leverage a deep understanding of system architecture, including caching, distributed systems, Kubernetes (k8s) architecture, and networking, to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks.

Perform code profiling and optimization, applying expertise in algorithm selection, data structure efficiency, memory management, and concurrency patterns to enhance application performance.

Optimize system configurations and infrastructure to support scalability and low-latency performance under high load.

Database Performance Optimization

Conduct SQL database performance testing, profiling, and tuning, optimizing query performance, indexing strategies, and caching mechanisms to ensure efficient data access.

Apply deep knowledge of database systems (e.g., relational, NoSQL) to implement performance improvements, minimizing latency and resource utilisation.

Collaborate with database administrators to refine database parameters and configurations for optimal performance.

Monitoring & Observability

Implement advanced monitoring and observability practices, utilizing tools like Dynatrace to generate real-time performance metrics and actionable insights.

Develop and maintain dashboards to track key performance indicators (KPIs), enabling proactive identification of performance degradation.

Ensure comprehensive logging and tracing mechanisms are in place to support root cause analysis and performance troubleshooting.

Collaboration & Stakeholder Communication

Engage actively in sprint planning, performance reviews, and cross-functional team meetings, contributing insights on performance feasibility and optimization strategies.

Clearly articulate performance bottlenecks, trade-offs, and optimization rationales to developers, SREs, and stakeholders, documenting decisions for transparency.

Work closely with development teams to align on performance goals, ensuring code and system changes meet performance standards.

Bridge technical and operational discussions, fostering alignment between performance objectives and business requirements.

Leadership & Mentorship

Mentor junior engineers on performance testing, profiling, and optimization techniques through pair programming, code reviews, and knowledge-sharing sessions.

Lead workshops or tech talks on topics such as performance testing tools, observability practices, or database optimization, driving team-wide proficiency.

Propose tools or processes (e.g., new testing frameworks, profiling tools) to enhance performance engineering efficiency, justifying recommendations with evidence.

Model a data-driven, solution-oriented approach, inspiring team members to prioritize performance and reliability.

Professional Conduct & Team Culture

Maintain a collaborative, respectful demeanor in all interactions, upholding values of integrity, innovation, and collaboration.

Promote a culture of precision and technical excellence by sharing performance insights and encouraging open feedback within the team.

Address performance challenges professionally, escalating issues with clear context and proposed solutions.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance Testing Accuracy & Quality (30%)

System & Code Performance (25%)

Database Performance Optimization (20%)

Collaboration & Communication (15%)

Leadership & Team Development (10%)