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 your 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 13-check 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.