Software Engineer Resume Keywords: ATS-Optimized Skills List

Your software engineer resume has 6 seconds to pass the ATS scan. The difference between getting an interview and getting ghosted often comes down to keywords.

I've reviewed thousands of engineering resumes. The pattern is clear: resumes with strategically placed keywords get 3x more callbacks than generic ones.

This guide gives you the exact keywords to use—organized by category, experience level, and how to use them naturally without keyword stuffing. For the complete system on translating your experience into high-impact resume bullets, see our Professional Impact Dictionary.

Programming Languages Keywords

These are the foundation of any software engineer resume. List only languages you can actually code in during an interview.

High-Demand Languages (2026)

General Purpose:

• Python
• Java
• JavaScript
• TypeScript
• Go
• Rust
• C++
• C#

Specialized:

• Kotlin (Android, backend)
• Swift (iOS)
• Ruby
• PHP
• Scala
• R (data engineering)

How to Use Language Keywords

Wrong: "Proficient in Python, Java, JavaScript, C++, C#, Ruby, Go, Rust, Kotlin, Swift, PHP, Scala"

Right: "Built data pipelines in Python, developed microservices in Java and Go, created interactive dashboards using JavaScript/TypeScript"

Context matters. Show what you built with each language.

Frameworks & Libraries Keywords

Frameworks show depth beyond basic language knowledge.

Frontend Frameworks

• React / React.js
• Next.js
• Vue.js / Vue 3
• Angular
• Svelte
• Redux
• TailwindCSS
• Material UI

Backend Frameworks

• Node.js
• Express.js
• Django
• Flask
• FastAPI
• Spring Boot
• Ruby on Rails
• ASP.NET Core
• NestJS

Mobile Frameworks

• React Native
• Flutter
• SwiftUI
• Jetpack Compose

Data & ML Frameworks

• TensorFlow
• PyTorch
• Pandas
• NumPy
• Scikit-learn
• Apache Spark

Database Keywords

Database skills are essential for most engineering roles.

Relational Databases

• PostgreSQL
• MySQL
• SQL Server
• Oracle
• SQLite

NoSQL Databases

• MongoDB
• Redis
• Cassandra
• DynamoDB
• Elasticsearch
• Neo4j

Data Warehouses

• Snowflake
• BigQuery
• Redshift
• Databricks

Database Skills

• SQL
• Database design
• Query optimization
• Data modeling
• Database administration
• Replication
• Sharding

Cloud & DevOps Keywords

Cloud skills are now expected for most senior roles.

Cloud Platforms

• AWS (Amazon Web Services)
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Microsoft Azure
• Heroku
• DigitalOcean
• Vercel
• Netlify

AWS-Specific Services

• EC2
• S3
• Lambda
• RDS
• DynamoDB
• CloudFormation
• ECS/EKS
• API Gateway
• CloudWatch
• SNS/SQS

DevOps Tools

• Docker
• Kubernetes
• Terraform
• Ansible
• Jenkins
• GitHub Actions
• GitLab CI/CD
• CircleCI
• ArgoCD
• Helm

Infrastructure Keywords

• CI/CD pipelines
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• Containerization
• Orchestration
• Microservices architecture
• Serverless
• Auto-scaling
• Load balancing

Development Tools & Practices

Version Control

• Git
• GitHub
• GitLab
• Bitbucket
• Code review
• Branch management
• Pull requests

Testing

• Unit testing
• Integration testing
• End-to-end testing
• Test-driven development (TDD)
• Jest
• Pytest
• JUnit
• Selenium
• Cypress
• Playwright

Methodologies

• Agile
• Scrum
• Kanban
• Waterfall
• Lean
• DevOps
• Site Reliability Engineering (SRE)

Project Tools

• Jira
• Confluence
• Linear
• Notion
• Slack
• Figma

Action Verbs for Software Engineers

Use these to start bullet points. They're more impactful than passive descriptions.

For Building Features

• Developed
• Built
• Implemented
• Engineered
• Designed
• Created
• Architected
• Constructed

For Improving Systems

• Optimized
• Refactored
• Enhanced
• Improved
• Streamlined
• Accelerated
• Scaled
• Modernized

For Leadership

• Led
• Mentored
• Coordinated
• Spearheaded
• Directed
• Managed
• Guided
• Championed

For Problem-Solving

• Debugged
• Resolved
• Troubleshot
• Diagnosed
• Identified
• Analyzed
• Investigated
• Fixed

For Collaboration

• Collaborated
• Partnered
• Integrated
• Aligned
• Facilitated
• Communicated
• Presented
• Documented

Keywords by Experience Level

Junior/Entry-Level (0-2 years)

Focus on:

• Core programming languages (2-3)
• One framework deeply
• Git basics
• Agile/Scrum familiarity
• Academic projects
• Internship experience
• Learning ability

Example keywords: Python, JavaScript, React, Git, Agile, REST APIs, SQL, problem-solving

Mid-Level (3-5 years)

Add:

• Multiple frameworks
• Cloud platform basics
• CI/CD experience
• Code review
• Technical mentoring
• System design basics
• Production debugging

Example keywords: Microservices, Docker, AWS, PostgreSQL, CI/CD pipelines, code review, technical documentation, cross-functional collaboration

Senior (6-10 years)

Add:

• Architecture decisions
• Technical leadership
• Performance optimization
• Scalability planning
• Stakeholder communication
• Mentorship
• Technical strategy

Example keywords: System architecture, technical leadership, scalability, performance optimization, cross-team collaboration, technical roadmap, engineering excellence

Staff/Principal (10+ years)

Add:

• Org-wide impact
• Technical vision
• Standards definition
• Executive communication
• Build vs. buy decisions
• Technical due diligence

Example keywords: Technical strategy, engineering culture, platform architecture, technical due diligence, cross-organizational alignment, technology vision

Soft Skills Keywords

Don't neglect soft skills. They're increasingly important in ATS systems.

Communication

• Technical documentation
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Stakeholder communication
• Presentation skills
• Written communication
• Knowledge sharing

Problem-Solving

• Analytical thinking
• Critical thinking
• Root cause analysis
• Debugging
• Troubleshooting
• Creative problem-solving

Leadership

• Team leadership
• Mentoring
• Technical guidance
• Project ownership
• Initiative
• Decision-making

Teamwork

• Collaboration
• Pair programming
• Code review
• Knowledge transfer
• Team player
• Cross-team coordination

How to Use Keywords Naturally

The Context Rule

Never list keywords without context. Always show application.

Bad: "Skills: Python, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, Redis"

Good: "Built real-time data pipeline using Python and AWS Lambda, processing 1M+ events daily with PostgreSQL and Redis caching"

The Job Description Match

For each application:

1. Copy the job description
2. Highlight technical requirements
3. Match your keywords to their exact terminology
4. Use their phrasing when possible

If they say "React.js" don't write "ReactJS"—match exactly.

The 70% Rule

Include approximately 70% of the required keywords from the job description. If you can't hit 70%, the role might not be a good match.

Keyword Placement

Place keywords in:

• Professional summary (2-3 key technologies)
• Skills section (organized by category)
• Work experience bullets (in context)
• Project descriptions (with outcomes)

Keywords to Avoid

Overused Buzzwords

• "Passionate about coding"
• "Detail-oriented"
• "Self-starter"
• "Ninja/Rockstar/Guru"
• "Synergy"
• "Think outside the box"

Outdated Technologies (unless specifically required)

• jQuery (alone)
• AngularJS (1.x)
• PHP 5
• Python 2
• SVN (unless specified)

Vague Terms

• "Various technologies"
• "Multiple languages"
• "Different frameworks"
• "Several databases"

Be specific. Vague terms don't pass ATS and don't impress humans.

Industry-Specific Keywords

FinTech

• Payment processing
• PCI compliance
• Trading systems
• Risk management
• Regulatory compliance
• High-frequency trading
• Blockchain
• Smart contracts

Healthcare/HealthTech

• HIPAA compliance
• HL7/FHIR
• EHR/EMR systems
• Medical devices
• Clinical workflows
• Patient data security

E-Commerce

• Payment gateways
• Shopping cart
• Inventory management
• Order processing
• Recommendation engines
• A/B testing
• Conversion optimization

SaaS/B2B

• Multi-tenancy
• Subscription billing
• API design
• Webhooks
• OAuth/SSO
• Rate limiting
• Usage analytics

Quick Reference: Top 50 Software Engineer Keywords

Copy this list and check off what applies to you:

1. Python
2. JavaScript
3. TypeScript
4. Java
5. Go
6. React
7. Node.js
8. AWS
9. Docker
10. Kubernetes
11. PostgreSQL
12. MongoDB
13. Redis
14. Git
15. CI/CD
16. REST APIs
17. GraphQL
18. Microservices
19. Agile
20. Scrum
21. TDD
22. System design
23. Code review
24. Technical documentation
25. Performance optimization
26. Scalability
27. Security
28. Cloud architecture
29. Serverless
30. Infrastructure as Code
31. Terraform
32. Linux
33. SQL
34. Data structures
35. Algorithms
36. Object-oriented programming
37. Functional programming
38. API design
39. Database design
40. Debugging
41. Troubleshooting
42. Cross-functional collaboration
43. Technical leadership
44. Mentoring
45. Problem-solving
46. Communication
47. Stakeholder management
48. Sprint planning
49. Technical roadmap
50. Engineering best practices

Next Steps

For full formatting tips and examples, see our Software Engineer Resume Guide.

Keywords get you past the ATS. But once a human reads your resume, the context and impact of your work matter more. Use keywords strategically, but always prioritize showing real results.