Senior Performance Test Engineer

Cognizant; Toronto; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Senior Performance Test Engineer to design and execute performance tests using JMeter and Dynatrace. You will monitor system performance, diagnose bottlenecks, and provide actionable recommendations to improve scalability and reliability in enterprise applications.

The role is hybrid in Toronto, with 4 days in office as required. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, participate in Agile ceremonies, and contribute to continuous performance improvements.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of hands-on experience in performance testing & engineering using JMeter and APM tools (Prometheus, Dynatrace, Datadog).
• Must have 4+ years of experience in Apache JMeter.
• Proficiency in scripting techniques, develop custom codes for enhancing and customizing performance testing scripts and scenarios using JMeter.
• Excellent understanding of concepts like NFR gathering, Workload modelling, Root Cause Analysis of performance problems.
• Experience with Cloud-based IaaS (Azure), Docker/Kubernetes, MySQL, Java, Python, Splunk.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and execute performance, load, stress, and soak tests for complex enterprise applications.
• Create and maintain performance test scripts using Apache JMeter.
• Instrument and monitor application and infrastructure during tests to capture response times, throughput, errors, CPU/memory/GC, DB performance, network, and queue behavior.
• Analyze test results and system metrics to diagnose bottlenecks, memory leaks, latency issues, and throughput constraints.
• Monitor system, application, database, and server performance during test execution.
• Perform root cause analysis (RCA) on performance problems and provide actionable recommendations to architecture and development teams.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to continuous performance improvements.

Skills

JMeter

Dynatrace

APM tools

Linux fundamentals

Java

Python

MySQL

Docker

Kubernetes

Splunk

Mountebank

Observability

Tools

Docker

ECS

Kubernetes

Splunk

Mountebank

Job description

About the role

We are seeking a skilled Senior Performance Test Engineer with hands-on experience in JMeter and Dynatracek skills to assess, analyze, and optimize application performance. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing and executing performance testing strategies, identifying bottlenecks, and ensuring applications meet scalability, reliability, and stability requirements.

In this role, you will

• Design, build, and execute performance, load, stress, and soak tests for complex enterprise applications.
• Create and maintain performance test scripts using Apache JMeter.
• Instrument and monitor application and infrastructure during tests (APM/logs/metrics) to capture response times, throughput, errors, CPU/memory/GC, DB performance, network, and queue behaviour.
• Analyze test results and system metrics to diagnose bottlenecks, memory leaks, latency issues, and throughput constraints.
• Monitor system, application, database, and server performance during test execution.
• Perform root cause analysis (RCA) on performance problems and provide actionable recommendations to architecture and development teams.

• Participate in Agile ceremonies and contribute to continuous performance improvements.

  Work Model

We believe hybrid work is the way forward as we strive to provide flexibility wherever possible. Based on this role’s business requirements, this is a hybrid position requiring 4 days a week in a client or Cognizant office in Toronto, ON. Regardless of your working arrangement, we are here to support a healthy work-life balance though our various wellbeing programs.

Note:

The working arrangements for this role are accurate as of the date of posting. This may change based on the project you’re engaged in, as well as business and client requirements. Rest assured; we will always be clear about role expectations.

What you need to have to be considered

• 6+ years of hands-on experience in performance testing & engineering using JMeter and APM tools (Prometheus, Dynatrace, Datadog).
• Must have 4+ years of experience in Apache JMeter.
• Proficiency in various scripting techniques, develop custom codes for enhancing and customizing performance testing scripts and scenarios using JMeter.
• Excellent understanding of concepts like NFR gathering , Workload modelling, Root Cause Analysis of performance problems.
• Experience with some of the following technologies and services:

1. Cloud based Infrastructure as a Service (especially Azure)
2. Container based service schedulers (e.g., Docker, ECS, Kubernetes, etc.)
3. MySQL, Java, Python
4. Log management tools (Splunk)

• Demonstrate excellent Linux fundamentals and solid understanding of diagnosing system utilization.
• Experience working with large scale distributed systems & large data volumes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to diagnose performance issues and propose effective solutions.
• Experience in developing virtual services using Mountebank to remove backend/third-party dependencies.

These will help you stand out

• Experience with Chaos Engineering & Observability is nice to have to transition towards an SRE role.
• Banking Domain is nice to have.

We’re excited to meet people who share our mission and can make an impact in a variety of ways.

Total compensation

We regularly assess market data to ensure we offer a competitive compensation package for our associates. The base salary for this position ranges between CAD 75,000 – 95,000 per year. Where the successful candidate may fall within the range depends on relevant education, work and/or management experience and other business-related and job-necessary qualifications. This position is also eligible for Cognizant’s discretionary annual performance-based bonus, as well as benefits that support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing.