Software Engineer CV: Template, Skills & Example (2026)
A strong software engineer CV proves impact, not just technologies. Recruiters skim for the stack you know; engineering managers look for what you built and the results. This guide shows how to cover both — and pass the ATS on the way.
Key skills for a Software Engineer CV
Sample professional summary
Software engineer with 5+ years building scalable web applications in TypeScript and React. Shipped features used by 200k+ monthly users and cut API latency by 40% through caching and query optimization. Comfortable across the stack, from database design to CI/CD.
What recruiters look for
The first scan is for a keyword match: the languages, frameworks, and tools in the job description. List your core stack clearly in a Skills section so both the ATS and the recruiter find it in seconds.
The second read is for impact. Lead each experience bullet with what you built and the outcome — users served, latency cut, revenue enabled, incidents reduced.
Write results-focused bullets
Use the pattern: action + technology + measurable result. "Built a real-time notification service in Node.js and Redis, reducing email volume 60% and lifting engagement 12%" beats "Worked on notifications."
Quantify wherever you honestly can: throughput, latency, test coverage, deployment frequency, cost savings, or team size you led.
Skills section that beats the ATS
Group skills so they're scannable: Languages, Frameworks, Databases, Cloud/DevOps, Tools. Mirror the exact wording from the posting ("TypeScript" not just "JS") because the ATS matches strings.
Keep it honest — anything on the CV is fair game in the interview.
Projects & open source
For juniors and career-changers, a Projects section can carry the CV. Add 2–3 projects with the stack, your role, and a link. A live demo or GitHub repo is strong proof.
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