Software Engineer Resume Example
Software engineers get hired when they prove end-to-end system ownership measured by performance gains, not by listing programming languages without context.
This resume is for software engineers who own end-to-end features and optimize complex systems, but aren't yet responsible for defining department-wide technical roadmaps or managing entire engineering teams.
- Ownership of end-to-end features or distributed services
- Evidence of measurable performance or reliability improvements
- Competency in modern infrastructure and deployment workflows
- Contact information and location in the header
- Skills section categorized by language and infrastructure
- Professional experience listed in reverse-chronological order
Hana Reyes
Summary
Experience
- Engineered a distributed data processing pipeline using Python and AWS Lambda, reducing batch processing time from 45 minutes to 28 minutes.
- Optimized SQL query performance for internal reporting tools, resulting in a 35% reduction in dashboard latency for 12,000 internal users.
- Spearheaded the migration of 8 legacy microservices to a containerized architecture using Docker and Kubernetes to improve system reliability.
- Directed technical design reviews for a new internal analytics platform, providing mentorship to 2 junior engineers on API best practices.
- Developed and maintained RESTful APIs in Go and TypeScript to support messaging features used by over 450,000 active developers.
- Refined CI/CD workflows using Git and automated testing, decreasing deployment failure rates by 22% over four quarters.
- Scaled a Redis-based caching layer to handle 15,000 requests per second during peak traffic periods, maintaining 99.9% uptime.
Education
Skills
Python · JavaScript · TypeScript · SQL · Git · REST APIs · Go · AWS · Docker · Kubernetes · Node.js · PostgreSQL · Redis · CI/CD
What makes this resume effective
- This resume meets the hiring bar for software engineers by demonstrating end-to-end feature ownership, measurable performance optimizations, and proficiency with containerized infrastructure.
- Notice how Hana's work at Apple on the distributed data processing pipeline anchors her technical skill to a concrete 37% reduction in processing time.
- See how the Twilio experience emphasizes scale by mentioning the Redis-based caching layer handling 15,000 requests per second, which signals reliability at volume.
How to write better bullet points
Wrote SQL queries for internal tools.
Optimized SQL query performance for internal reporting tools, resulting in a 35% reduction in dashboard latency for 12,000 users.
It replaces a vague task with a specific outcome and a clear metric of success.
Worked on microservices using Docker.
Spearheaded the migration of 8 legacy microservices to a containerized architecture using Docker and Kubernetes to improve system reliability.
It shows initiative and technical leadership rather than passive participation in a project.
Helped maintain the CI/CD pipeline.
Refined CI/CD workflows using Git and automated testing, decreasing deployment failure rates by 22% over four quarters.
It ties technical maintenance to a measurable improvement in team velocity and reliability.
Software Engineer resume writing tips
- Quantify the performance gains of your code changes to prove technical impact.
- Highlight specific infrastructure tools like Docker or AWS to show deployment ownership.
- Mention collaboration or mentorship to demonstrate influence beyond individual coding tasks.
Common mistakes
- Listing languages without context: Simply listing 'Python' doesn't show proficiency; instead, describe a specific system you built with it.
- Focusing on tickets rather than systems: Avoid describing your job as 'fixing bugs' and instead explain how you improved system stability.
- Ignoring the 'why' behind the tech: Engineers often forget to mention why a migration or new tool was necessary for the business.
Frequently asked questions
Is this resume right for someone with 3-7 years of experience? Yes, if moving into roles requiring independent feature ownership rather than supervised task execution.
Yes, if moving into roles requiring independent feature ownership rather than supervised task execution.
Yes, if you are moving into roles that require independent feature ownership. No, if you are looking for entry-level positions where you will be closely supervised on every task.
What if my background isn't exactly like this? Focus on problem complexity and ownership signals, which are more important to hiring managers than specific brand names.
Focus on problem complexity and ownership signals, which are more important to hiring managers than specific brand names.
Hiring managers look for the same signals of ownership and impact regardless of company size. Focus on the scale and complexity of the problems you solved rather than the specific brand names.
What if I don't have metrics like this? Use order-of-magnitude estimates or describe the scale of users and data affected if exact percentages are unavailable.
Use order-of-magnitude estimates or describe the scale of users and data affected if exact percentages are unavailable.
In this resume, Hana quantifies dashboard latency and request volume, which is the level of specificity recruiters expect. If you lack exact numbers, use order-of-magnitude estimates or describe the scale of the user base affected.
How much should I change before applying? Maintain the impact-focused bullet structure but update specific technical skills to match the job description.
Maintain the impact-focused bullet structure but update specific technical skills to match the job description.
Keep the structure of the impact-focused bullets, but ensure the skills section is updated to reflect the specific tech stack requested in the job description. Do not touch the formatting of the experience section as it is optimized for readability.
What do hiring managers focus on for software engineers? They look for deep technical execution that is clearly connected to broader system health and business outcomes.
They look for deep technical execution that is clearly connected to broader system health and business outcomes.
They look for a balance of deep technical execution and the ability to understand how their code affects the broader system. This resume signals that balance by connecting technical choices to business outcomes like reliability and speed.
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