Job Description
Position Overview Position: Performance Tester - Payment Systems Type: 12-month contract (potential extension and conversion to permanent) Rate: Up to $70/hour Start Date: January 2026 Locations: Multiple major metropolitan areas available (BOS, NY, PHIL, CLEV, RICH, ATL, CHI, STLS, MPLS, KC, DAL, SF) Candidates must live within a commutable distance to one of the headquarter locations listed above) About the Opportunity Our client, a leading financial institution, is seeking an experienced Performance Tester to support critical payment systems infrastructure. This is an excellent opportunity to work with enterprise-level payment processing systems in a stable, prestigious environment. You'll be part of a team dedicated to ensuring the performance, reliability, and scalability of mission-critical financial services platforms that serve institutions across the United States. Key Responsibilities Performance Testing • Conduct comprehensive performance testing, encompassing requirement gathering, test planning, scripting, execution, analysis, and result reporting • Assess system communication protocols to determine appropriate scripting approaches • Design and establish load test scenarios for various performance tests including load, stress, volume, and failover tests • Perform API performance testing and integrate into CI pipelines • Conduct manual testing to validate vulnerabilities • Evaluate non-functional requirements to determine acceptance criteria Technical Development • Demonstrate advanced proficiency in programming languages including Python, JavaScript, Java, Visual Basic, and Linux • Develop and submit comprehensive performance test reports • Analyze performance test results and provide actionable insights • Maintain performance test scenarios and scripts • Participate in code reviews and create/maintain test data • Manage test artifacts in version control systems Collaboration & Analysis • Collaborate with product development, architecture, infrastructure, and engineering teams • Coordinate with dependent teams across product lines • Integrate security requirements into testing strategies • Participate in agile team reviews • Resolve testing problems, bottlenecks, and issues creatively Monitoring & Optimization • Monitor server utilization and system-level statistics during test runs • Collect and analyze performance statistics from front-end and back-end systems • Correlate system performance data to present comprehensive reports • Conduct production log analysis to determine target and peak load models • Support implementation and maintenance of performance testing tools Continuous Improvement • Stay current with emerging performance testing technologies and techniques • Adapt new technologies to meet evolving software development demands • Utilize CI integration tools for continuous testing • Optimize performance testing scenarios for automated deployment tools Required Qualifications Experience • 8+ years of experience in performance testing • Minimum 3+ years working on large-scale projects with minimal supervision • 4-6 years developing performance test scripts using LoadRunner, Performance Center, JMeter, or similar platforms • Experience with MQ, Java Cloud, and AWS application testing • End-to-end performance testing capability from requirements through analysis Education • Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Information Systems, or equivalent (preferred) Technical Expertise • Strong experience with Apache JMeter and/or LoadRunner • Proficiency in Java for test script development and customization • Extensive experience with server monitoring tools such as Dynatrace, Splunk • Proficient with IDEs such as IntelliJ, Eclipse • Experience with source control systems (Git, Subversion) • Advanced programming concepts knowledge (threads, exceptions, I/O, memory management) • Understanding of KPIs including response times, throughput, error rates, and resource usage • Ability to set up test environments simulating production conditions Skills & Abilities • Experience planning and designing performance tests for load, stress, spike, scalability, and volume testing • Strong expertise in load generation, bottleneck analysis, modeling tools, and statistical analysis • Proficient in analyzing and presenting performance results to technical teams • Experience generating reports and metrics • Excellent collaboration and communication skills • Strong problem-solving abilities Location & Work Arrangement Available Locations: Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Richmond, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, San Francisco Work Model: • Candidates must be located within commutable distance to one of the locations listed above • Hybrid work arrangement with on-site requirements (varies by location and team) • Remote work flexibility available depending on location Eligibility Requirements Work Authorization: • Must be a US Citizen, Green Card holder, or Permanent Resident with at least 3 years of residency • No visa sponsorship available - candidates must be currently authorized to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future Background Screening: • This position requires enhanced background screening due to the nature of the work • Screening includes education/employment verification, criminal history, credit history, and reference checks • Process is initiated upon offer acceptance and may take up to 2 months • Employment is contingent on acceptable screening results • Candidates can begin work pending completion of screening Compensation & Benefits • Rate: Up to $70/hour (depending on experience) • Contract Term: 12 months • Extension Potential: Yes • Conversion Opportunity: Potential conversion to permanent employment Application Process Interested candidates should submit their resume highlighting: • Performance testing experience and tools • Relevant certifications • Experience with financial services or payment systems (if applicable) • Current location and work authorization status AP Recruiters & Associates is representing this confidential client search. 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