Performance Engineer Sr
Dayforce is a global human capital management (HCM) company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, with operations across North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), and the Asia Pacific Japan (APJ) region.
Our award-winning Cloud HCM platform offers a unified solution database and continuous calculation engine, driving efficiency, productivity and compliance for the global workforce.
Our brand promise - Makes Work Life Better™ - Reflects our commitment to employees, customers, partners and communities globally.
About the Opportunity
We are seeking a Senior Performance Engineer with a strong software engineering background and deep expertise in profiling, debugging, and optimizing application performance at scale.
This is a developer-first role focused on improving system efficiency through code-level analysis, architectural insights, and data-driven optimization. You will work closely with engineering teams to identify performance bottlenecks, optimize execution paths, and ensure our platforms are highly scalable, reliable, and cost-efficient.
What you'll get to do
Profile, analyze, and optimize application code to improve:
Execution efficiency
CPU, memory, and I/O utilization
Latency and throughput
Conduct deep-dive investigations into performance issues using tools such as:
SQL Profiler, dotTrace, DebugDiag, WinDbg, Fiddler, and observability platforms
Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks at the code, database, and system level, leveraging profiling data, logs, and telemetry
Analyze and optimize:
C# / ASP.NET application performance (threading, async patterns, memory usage, GC behavior)
Database queries and execution plans (MS SQL, MongoDB)
Network calls and API behavior
Collaborate with developers and architects to:
Embed performance considerations into system design
Influence architectural decisions for scalability and efficiency
Drive performance-focused code reviews
Optimize enterprise SaaS applications across:
Multi-tier web architectures
Microservices-based distributed systems
Design and execute capacity and scalability experiments to guide system sizing and cost optimization
Build and enhance tools to monitor, analyze, and visualize performance metrics in cloud environments
Analyze performance data and provide clear, actionable recommendations to engineering and product stakeholders
Leverage AI tools to automate analysis, optimize workflows, and improve engineering productivity
Contribute to and lead performance engineering best practices across teams
Skills and experience we value
Strong background in software development with a focus on performance optimization
Proficiency in one or more programming languages:
C# and Python
Strong experience with:
ASP.NET / .NET application performance tuning and diagnostics
Experience with scripting and automation:
Python, JavaScript
Deep hands-on experience with profiling and debugging tools, such as:
SQL Profiler, dotTrace, DebugDiag, WinDbg, Fiddler
Strong experience with code-level profiling and optimization techniques
Hands-on experience with database performance tuning:
MS SQL, MongoDB (query optimization, indexing, execution plans)
Proven ability to:
Analyze and optimize code for quality, efficiency, and performance
Diagnose complex performance issues in distributed systems
Solid understanding of:
Microservices and distributed system design
API performance and service interactions
Experience with observability and performance monitoring tools, such as:
AppDynamics, OpenTelemetry, DBA Dash, Datadog, Prometheus, Grafana
Experience working with engineering workflows and tracking systems such as Jira
Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact
Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence technical decisions
What would make you really stand out
Experience with performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, Gatling, k6, LoadRunner)
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and integrating performance validation into workflows
Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
Experience with advanced profiling techniques (e.g., flame graphs, heap analysis, thread dumps)
Background in cloud cost optimization and efficiency engineering
Experience with non-functional requirement (NFR) gathering and performance test planning
What’s in it for you
Dayforce is fueled by the diversity of our talented employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider and embrace ALL individuals and what makes them unique. We believe our employees should be happy and healthy, with peace of mind and a sense of fulfillment.
We encourage individuals to apply based on their passions.
Dayforce encourages personal and professional growth. We offer excellent time away from work programs, comprehensive wellness initiatives and recognition through competitive pay and benefits.
With a commitment to community impact, including volunteer days and our charity, Dayforce Cares we provide opportunities for you to thrive both in your career and personal life. Our focus is not just on your job but on supporting you to be the best version of yourself.
About the Salary Ranges
Please note that the salary range mentioned in this job description should serve simply as a guide. The final compensation offered may vary based on a variety of factors, including bonuses and/or incentives, or a candidate’s experience, skills, budget and location. Our company is committed to providing a fair, equitable, and competitive package that reflects the value an individual brings to the organization.
Fraudulent Recruiting
Beware of fraudulent recruiting. Legitimate Dayforce contacts will use an @dayforce.com email address. We do not request money, checks, equipment orders, or sensitive personal data during the recruitment process. If you have been asked for any of the above, or believe you have been contacted by someone posing as a Dayforce employee, please refer to our fraudulent recruiting statement found here: https://www.dayforce.com/be-aware-of-recruiting-fraud
Dayforce actively monitors all job applications to ensure authenticity. Submissions determined to be fraudulent or misleading will be declined from the recruitment process
#LI-Remote
Our award-winning Cloud HCM platform offers a unified solution database and continuous calculation engine, driving efficiency, productivity and compliance for the global workforce.
Our brand promise - Makes Work Life Better™ - Reflects our commitment to employees, customers, partners and communities globally.
About the Opportunity
We are seeking a Senior Performance Engineer with a strong software engineering background and deep expertise in profiling, debugging, and optimizing application performance at scale.
This is a developer-first role focused on improving system efficiency through code-level analysis, architectural insights, and data-driven optimization. You will work closely with engineering teams to identify performance bottlenecks, optimize execution paths, and ensure our platforms are highly scalable, reliable, and cost-efficient.
What you'll get to do
Profile, analyze, and optimize application code to improve:
Execution efficiency
CPU, memory, and I/O utilization
Latency and throughput
Conduct deep-dive investigations into performance issues using tools such as:
SQL Profiler, dotTrace, DebugDiag, WinDbg, Fiddler, and observability platforms
Identify and resolve performance bottlenecks at the code, database, and system level, leveraging profiling data, logs, and telemetry
Analyze and optimize:
C# / ASP.NET application performance (threading, async patterns, memory usage, GC behavior)
Database queries and execution plans (MS SQL, MongoDB)
Network calls and API behavior
Collaborate with developers and architects to:
Embed performance considerations into system design
Influence architectural decisions for scalability and efficiency
Drive performance-focused code reviews
Optimize enterprise SaaS applications across:
Multi-tier web architectures
Microservices-based distributed systems
Design and execute capacity and scalability experiments to guide system sizing and cost optimization
Build and enhance tools to monitor, analyze, and visualize performance metrics in cloud environments
Analyze performance data and provide clear, actionable recommendations to engineering and product stakeholders
Leverage AI tools to automate analysis, optimize workflows, and improve engineering productivity
Contribute to and lead performance engineering best practices across teams
Skills and experience we value
Strong background in software development with a focus on performance optimization
Proficiency in one or more programming languages:
C# and Python
Strong experience with:
ASP.NET / .NET application performance tuning and diagnostics
Experience with scripting and automation:
Python, JavaScript
Deep hands-on experience with profiling and debugging tools, such as:
SQL Profiler, dotTrace, DebugDiag, WinDbg, Fiddler
Strong experience with code-level profiling and optimization techniques
Hands-on experience with database performance tuning:
MS SQL, MongoDB (query optimization, indexing, execution plans)
Proven ability to:
Analyze and optimize code for quality, efficiency, and performance
Diagnose complex performance issues in distributed systems
Solid understanding of:
Microservices and distributed system design
API performance and service interactions
Experience with observability and performance monitoring tools, such as:
AppDynamics, OpenTelemetry, DBA Dash, Datadog, Prometheus, Grafana
Experience working with engineering workflows and tracking systems such as Jira
Demonstrated ability to integrate AI tools to optimize/redesign workflows and drive measurable impact
Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence technical decisions
What would make you really stand out
Experience with performance testing tools (e.g., JMeter, Gatling, k6, LoadRunner)
Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and integrating performance validation into workflows
Experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
Experience with advanced profiling techniques (e.g., flame graphs, heap analysis, thread dumps)
Background in cloud cost optimization and efficiency engineering
Experience with non-functional requirement (NFR) gathering and performance test planning
What’s in it for you
Dayforce is fueled by the diversity of our talented employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider and embrace ALL individuals and what makes them unique. We believe our employees should be happy and healthy, with peace of mind and a sense of fulfillment.
We encourage individuals to apply based on their passions.
Dayforce encourages personal and professional growth. We offer excellent time away from work programs, comprehensive wellness initiatives and recognition through competitive pay and benefits.
With a commitment to community impact, including volunteer days and our charity, Dayforce Cares we provide opportunities for you to thrive both in your career and personal life. Our focus is not just on your job but on supporting you to be the best version of yourself.
About the Salary Ranges
Please note that the salary range mentioned in this job description should serve simply as a guide. The final compensation offered may vary based on a variety of factors, including bonuses and/or incentives, or a candidate’s experience, skills, budget and location. Our company is committed to providing a fair, equitable, and competitive package that reflects the value an individual brings to the organization.
Fraudulent Recruiting
Beware of fraudulent recruiting. Legitimate Dayforce contacts will use an @dayforce.com email address. We do not request money, checks, equipment orders, or sensitive personal data during the recruitment process. If you have been asked for any of the above, or believe you have been contacted by someone posing as a Dayforce employee, please refer to our fraudulent recruiting statement found here: https://www.dayforce.com/be-aware-of-recruiting-fraud
Dayforce actively monitors all job applications to ensure authenticity. Submissions determined to be fraudulent or misleading will be declined from the recruitment process
#LI-Remote