Resume examples / Software engineer resume
Software engineer resume example
By Alexander Phillip · Career Coach and Recruitment Expert · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
A software engineer resume is one dense page: your links (GitHub, LinkedIn), a skills block grouped by languages, frameworks and tools, then each job with bullet points that say what you built, with which stack, and what changed, followed by education and notable projects. Skip the summary paragraph if space is tight; never skip the stack.
- One page, US Letter
- Fictional example to adapt
- Palo Alto template
Software engineer resume example
Here is the full software engineer resume example from the picture above, as text: David Nguyen is a fictional software engineer, and the Palo Alto template lays it out on one US Letter page.
David Nguyen
Software Engineer
Austin, TX · (512) 555-0133 · david.nguyen@example.com · linkedin.com/in/davidnguyendev · github.com/davidnguyen-dev
Summary
Backend software engineer with five years building APIs and data pipelines in Go, Python and TypeScript on AWS. Cares about tests, observability and small, safe deploys.
Experience
Software Engineer II, Lonestar Logistics Software
Austin, TX · January 2023 to present
- Built the shipment tracking API in Go and PostgreSQL that the mobile app and 40 partner integrations use
- Moved nightly batch jobs to an event pipeline on AWS SQS and Lambda, so tracking updates arrive in minutes, not the next day
- Added tracing with OpenTelemetry and alerts that cut the time to find failing calls during incidents
- Review code for a team of six and run the on-call rotation for the tracking service
Software Engineer, Hill Country Health Tech
Austin, TX · June 2021 to December 2022
- Wrote Python services for appointment reminders sent by SMS and email
- Built React and TypeScript screens for the clinic scheduling dashboard
- Raised unit test coverage on the reminders service from almost none to most code paths
Education
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science, The University of Texas at Austin, May 2021
Certifications and licenses
- AWS Certified Developer, Associate, Amazon Web Services
Skills
Go · Python · TypeScript · PostgreSQL · React · AWS (Lambda, SQS, ECS) · Docker · OpenTelemetry · CI/CD (GitHub Actions)
Languages
English (native) · Vietnamese (conversational)
Activities and achievements
- Open source: maintainer of a small Go library for parsing carrier tracking numbers (github.com/davidnguyen-dev)
- Capstone: built a course planner web app used by students in the department, React and Flask
Software engineer resume bullet points: instead of, write
| Instead of | Write |
|---|---|
| Worked on backend services | Built the shipment tracking API in Go and PostgreSQL that the mobile app and 40 partner integrations use |
| Improved performance | Moved nightly batch jobs to an event pipeline on AWS SQS and Lambda, so tracking updates arrive in minutes |
| Responsible for code reviews | Review code for a team of six and run the on-call rotation for the tracking service |
| Wrote tests | Raised unit test coverage on the reminders service from almost none to most code paths |
What a US software engineer resume needs
- One page until about ten years of experience; dense, single column, no graphics or skill bars
- A skills block grouped by languages, frameworks, databases and cloud, using the posting's names for the same tools
- Bullet points as what you built + with what + what changed; numbers only when you know them
- GitHub and LinkedIn in the header; a portfolio for frontend work
- Projects or open source when your job history is short
- No photo, no references; skip "objective" lines
Software engineer pay and job outlook
The median annual wage for software developers was $135,980 in May 2025. Overall employment of software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. Both figures are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Pay varies by state, employer and shift, so check postings near you.
Build your software engineer resume on your phone
Start from the Palo Alto template or any other, write each section with help on the wording, and see your resume on US Letter as you type. Preview it free and pay once to download the PDF and a Word copy. No subscription.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a software engineer resume be?
One page for most software engineers, including many with five to ten years. Senior and staff engineers with long careers may use two, but recruiters read the first page first.
Should a software engineer resume have a summary?
A one or two line summary helps when you are changing stacks or seniority. If space is tight, drop it: the skills block and the first job do the same work.
What is the best resume template for software engineers?
A dense single-column template with clear headings and dates on the right, such as the Jake's resume layout. CV Chap Chap's Palo Alto template follows that style without LaTeX.
Should I put projects on a software engineer resume?
Yes when your work history is short or the project shows a skill the job needs. Give each project a line on what it does, the stack and a link.
Write your own software engineer resume, not a copy
Use the example for the order and the kind of lines that work, then build yours with your real jobs and dates. Preview it free; pay once to download.