Performance Testing Lead

Overview

JOB TITLE:


Performance Testing Lead



JOB CODE :


3588E



CAYUSE COMPANY:


Cayuse Civil Services



LOCATION


Sacramento, CA



SALARY:


$165,000-$195,000



EMPLOYEE TYPE:


Full-Time Salary Exempt



TRAVEL


No



RELOCATION


No

Employment in this role is conditional upon successful execution of the contract by the client.

The Work

The Performance Testing Lead will oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of enterprise-scale performance engineering for complex, multi-tier systems. This role demands a unique combination of technical proficiency, leadership acumen, and in-depth expertise in performance optimization. The incumbent will be responsible for ensuring system reliability, scalability, and efficiency by defining and executing performance testing strategies, managing teams through all phases of performance testing, analyzing results to pinpoint bottlenecks, and delivering actionable recommendations for performance enhancement.

This position aligns with Cayuse's core values of Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Adaptability, and Integrity by fostering technical solutions that meet customer needs, promoting teamwork, and prioritizing quality in deliverables.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the full lifecycle of enterprise-scale performance engineering, including workload modeling, scripting, execution, analysis, and optimization for large multi-tier systems.
• Define and implement performance testing strategies, workload models, and service level agreements (SLAs) aligned with organizational objectives.
• Mentor and lead performance testing teams to ensure the successful execution of test planning, scripting, and test execution strategies.
• Conduct various performance test types, including load, stress, endurance, and spike testing, for APIs, UI, batch processing, and integrated systems.
• Translate non-functional requirements into robust and measurable performance test scenarios.
• Utilize tools like LoadRunner, JMeter, or similar for performance and monitoring testing activities.
• Perform detailed bottleneck analysis and recommend solutions for application and infrastructure optimization.
• Collaborate with developers, system architects, and operations teams to implement performance tuning recommendations to achieve SLAs.
• Leverage Application Performance Management (APM) and Observability tooling to continuously monitor and improve performance.
• Integrate performance testing workflows into Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, establishing automated pass/fail gates to ensure high system quality.
• Develop and present performance dashboards, KPIs, and comprehensive executive-level reports for stakeholders.
• Lead projects ensuring adherence to quality standards, processes, and business requirements, while continually identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications - Here's What You Need

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• At least 7+ years of performance testing or performance engineering for large-scale, enterprise-wide systems.
• Minimum of 4+ years of experience leading performance testing teams, including planning, execution, and detailed reporting.
• 4+ years of expertise in designing and implementing comprehensive, end-to-end performance test strategies.
• Proven experience conducting load, stress, endurance, and spike testing against defined performance SLAs.
• 4+ years of hands-on technical experience with performance testing tools such as LoadRunner, JMeter, or equivalent alternatives.
• Proficiency in using monitoring tools alongside performance testing tools to analyze metrics and outcomes effectively.
• Expertise in testing APIs, including both REST and SOAP-based services, and translating non-functional requirements into measurable testing scenarios effectively.
• Experience with tools such as ALM, Azure DevOps, Jira, or similar platforms.
• Strong database manipulation and scripting capabilities with at least 4+ years of experience using SQL to prepare data and validate test parameters.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct bottleneck analysis and provide actionable tuning recommendations to optimize systems.
• Must be able to pass a background check. May require additional background checks as required by projects and/or clients at any time during employment.

Minimum Skills:

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate in a clear, professional, and articulate manner.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with high-level attention to detail.
• Proven ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast past environment with changing priorities; adaptable to change and a quick learner.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work well independently as well as on a multi-functional team.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately
• Proficient in MS Office, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ years of cumulative experience in performance testing and/or performance engineering.
• 7+ years of experience leading enterprise-scale performance engineering programs, significantly improving SLA compliance, throughput, and application responsiveness.
• Demonstrated experience integrating performance testing into CI/CD pipelines for automated performance validation.
• At least five (5) years of experience integrating performance testing into CI/CD pipelines like Azure DevOps, Jenkins with automated pass/fail gates.
• One (1) year experience supporting large scale benefit systems (eg: Unemployment Insurance or Disability Insurance) meeting defined large scale enterprise system criteria.
• Possesses one or more of the below certifications:
  • ISTQB Certified Tester Performance Testing (CT-PT)
  • Open Text LoadRunner Professional Certification

• 3+ years of experience testing cloud-based or SaaS systems.
• Familiarity with at least 1 year of direct experience in performance engineering for large-scale benefit systems.
• Possession of a Master's degree in a Business Administration, IT or Engineering .
• In lieu of a Master's degree, at least twelve (12) years of cumulative experience performing performance testing or performance engineering for large scale enterprise systems as defined above.

Our Commitment to you / overview of benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance; Wellness Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter)
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability options
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (Company Provided)
• Voluntary Life and AD&D options
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with matching after one year
• Paid Time Off

Reports to: Program Manager

Working Conditions

• Professional office environment, with the ability to work onsite in the main office.
• Must be physically and mentally able to perform duties extended periods of time.
• Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed to meet the demands of this position.
• Must be able to establish a productive and professional workspace.
• Must be able to sit for long periods of time looking at computer screen.
• May be asked to work a flexible schedule which may include holidays.
• May be asked to travel for business or professional development purposes.
• May be asked to work hours outside of normal business hours.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Cayuse is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, skills, and abilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment in accordance with any applicable federal, state, or local law.