About the job FRFS Fedwire Performance Tester, Non-Employee
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. All inquiries will be handled with strict confidentiality.