Software Engineer resume example, ATS tips & free builder
Practical resume guidance for software engineers and developers applying for their next role. Import your existing CV or start from scratch, edit it in the browser, download the PDF, then check the ATS score before you apply.
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What to get right on a software engineer resume
The sample wording and figures below are examples, not claims to copy. Keep only employers, tools, qualifications, dates and results you can support from your own experience.
Lead with a tech-stack line, not a mission statement
The first thing a recruiter or an ATS scans for is whether your stack matches the job posting. Open your summary with the languages, frameworks, and tools you actually work in, not a generic "passionate developer" line.
Quantify the systems you touched, not just the tasks
"Reduced API latency 40% by rewriting the caching layer" tells a hiring manager far more than "Worked on backend performance." Wherever you have a real number — latency, uptime, users served, requests handled — use it.
List projects with what they do, not just their name
A project line like "Built a Next.js e-commerce app" is forgettable. "Built and shipped a Next.js e-commerce app handling 500+ daily orders" gives an interviewer something concrete to ask about.
Keep formatting plain — no columns, no icons
Multi-column layouts and skill-rating graphics look sharp to a human and are frequently unreadable to ATS parsing software. A single column with standard headings (Experience, Projects, Skills, Education) parses correctly every time.
Software Engineer resume example
A complete one-page example in a single-column layout with standard headings. The person, employers and figures are fictional: copy the structure, then replace every detail with your own. Bracketed items such as [email] are placeholders.
[YOUR NAME] Software Engineer | Bengaluru, India | [email] | [phone] | github.com/[username] SUMMARY Backend-focused software engineer with 4 years building TypeScript and Go services on AWS. Comfortable owning a feature from design review to production monitoring. SKILLS Languages: TypeScript, Go, SQL, Python Frameworks: Node.js, Express, React, Next.js Infrastructure: AWS (Lambda, ECS, RDS), Docker, GitHub Actions, PostgreSQL, Redis EXPERIENCE Software Engineer II — Fintech payments company, Bengaluru | Jun 2023 – Present • Rewrote the payout reconciliation job in Go, cutting nightly run time from 3 hours to 25 minutes. • Added Redis caching to the merchant dashboard API, reducing p95 latency from 900 ms to 220 ms. • Led the migration of 14 services to GitHub Actions CI, removing a self-hosted Jenkins server. Software Engineer — B2B SaaS startup, Pune | Jul 2021 – May 2023 • Built the customer-facing invoicing module in Next.js and Node.js, used by 1,200+ businesses. • Wrote integration tests for the billing API, raising coverage from 38% to 81%. PROJECTS Expense splitter (Next.js, PostgreSQL) — open-source app with 300+ GitHub stars. EDUCATION B.Tech, Computer Science — [University], 2021
Prefer not to format it by hand? Build this layout in the free Resume Builder and download it as a PDF.
Turn your current CV into a cleaner software engineer resume
The free Resume Builder can import PDF, DOCX and TXT resumes, pre-fill the details it can identify, and keep everything editable. Review the fields, download the single-column PDF, then run it through our free Resume Checker for an ATS score. If you are applying to a specific role, use Job Match to compare the resume with the posting before you submit it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I list every programming language I've ever touched?
No — list the languages and frameworks you're genuinely comfortable being interviewed on, matched to what the job posting actually asks for. A long, unfocused skills list reads as padding, not depth.
Do I need a GitHub link on my resume?
Yes, if your GitHub has real, recent, browsable work — it's one of the few things a recruiter can click and verify immediately. Leave it off if your profile is empty or years stale.
How long should a resume be?
One page for most candidates, especially under 10 years of experience. Two pages only for senior or executive roles with genuinely relevant history — never pad a one-page resume to two just to fill space.
Does the free Resume Builder work for this?
Yes. You can import an existing PDF, DOCX or TXT resume or start from scratch, edit the fields in your browser and download a clean PDF without paying.
How do I tailor my resume to a specific job posting?
Use the free Job Match tool to compare your resume with the job description and see the match score and missing keywords before you apply.
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