Software Engineer Resume Keywords for ATS
Software engineering resumes live or die on concrete tech keywords and measurable impact. These are the terms ATS software looks for on a software engineer resume.
Applicant tracking systems rank your resume by how closely it matches the job description. Below are the keywords ATS software and recruiters look for on a software engineer resume. Use the ones that genuinely apply to you, woven naturally into your skills and experience sections — never stuffed.
Core skills
- Software development
- Data structures
- Algorithms
- System design
- REST APIs
- Microservices
- Object-oriented programming
- Unit testing
- Code review
- CI/CD
Tools & technologies
- Python
- Java
- JavaScript
- TypeScript
- Git
- Docker
- Kubernetes
- AWS
- SQL
- React
- Node.js
Methodologies
- Agile
- Scrum
- Test-driven development
See which of these keywords you're missing
Paste a job description into ATS Grade and it shows exactly which keywords your software engineer resume is missing, plus an instant ATS score and a 12-point report — free.
Analyze my resume freeHow to use these keywords
- Only include keywords that reflect real skills and experience — honesty beats keyword stuffing.
- Mirror the exact wording of the job description when it matches your background.
- Spell out acronyms at least once (e.g. "Search Engine Optimization (SEO)") so the ATS catches both forms.
- Put your strongest keywords in your skills section and in your most recent role.