5 Senior Software Engineer Resume Examples (Google, Amazon, etc.)

Acceptance rates for senior software engineer (SWE) jobs at top tech companies tend to be under 1%. As you can imagine, most candidates don’t even get past resume screening.

 

To increase your chances of getting to the interview stage, we created this step-by-step guide to writing a top senior SWE resume or CV. This includes a template that you can use to kickstart your resume-writing process.

 

Aside from tips and expert insights from our recruitment and engineering coaches, this guide includes 5 real examples of senior SWE resumes of candidates who’ve earned offers or interviews at top companies like Google, Amazon, etc.

 

We’ve also analyzed senior SWE job offers at top companies to create a list of common requirements that your resume should meet.

 

Here’s an overview of everything that’s covered:
 

1. 7 golden rules for writing senior software engineer resumes (from FAANG recruiters)
2. Key skills to highlight in your senior software engineer resume
3. 5 senior software engineer resume examples that worked for Google, Amazon, etc.
4. Sample template: Senior software engineer resume
5. How to write a senior software engineer resume that gets you into FAANG (section-by-section)
6. Your senior software engineer resume checklist

Get expert feedback on your resume from senior software engineer ex-interviewers.

1. 7 golden rules for writing senior software engineer resumes (from FAANG recruiters) ↑

We asked Cody (top tech recruiter, ex-Google, now at LinkedIn) and Candace (career and resume expert) for advice on how to write an effective senior SWE resume.

They've helped tons of people get into FAANG companies and have extensive experience evaluating tech resumes every day, so they know what they're talking about. 

This is what they came up with:

Tip #1: Make it easy to find key information recruiters look for

One thing all recruiters and hiring managers want to know immediately? Years of role-relevant experience. If you’re applying for a management role, they'll also want to see how many years of management experience you have.

Make it easy for recruiters to find these details on your resume.

To do this, you can add bullet points at the top of your senior SWE resume that detail this key information. This leads us to the next point.

Tip #2: Consider a non-traditional structure

The layout we recommend in our sample template is the traditional one, perhaps the safest. But it's not obligatory. 

Cody prefers using two bullet-point summaries at the top of your senior SWE resume to pack in the key information and your most impressive career achievements.

This is what page 1 of Cody’s resume looks like:

Click to watch Cody's full explanation of this non-traditional resume format.

Tip #3: Avoid using design features

There really is no upside to using a fancy resume design. It won't impress recruiters and, in a worst-case scenario, could actually prevent your resume from being properly processed.

You should also avoid including your photo in your resume, which is another potential problem for ATS systems, and goes against employment and discrimination laws in most countries. 

Tip #4: Be explicit about the locations you’re open to working at / remote

Many people fail to do this. But if FAANG recruiters are going to approach you for roles rather than the other way around, they'll need to know the locations you're available to work at.

If you're willing to relocate for the right role, make that clear in your resume. 

For example, instead of putting "San Francisco" under your name next to your email, you can put something like, "Locations: San Francisco | remote | hybrid within a 30-mile radius of Bay Area.”

Tip #5: Cut out all waffle

Recruiters like Cody and Candace see so many personal statements or 'objective' sections at the top of resumes, which take up valuable space without saying much at all.

"Everything on your resume needs to be specific," says Cody. 

Tip #6: Numbers tell a better story

This is worth repeating again and again: quantify your achievements. All the most effective resumes are packed full of metrics and numbers that put achievements in context.

So, if you launched an app, say how many downloads it got or how many days ahead of schedule you launched. If you managed a team, say how many people were in it. 

Without numbers, your achievements are hard to evaluate.

Tip #7: Use a skills section to include keywords for your role

You don't want to jam your resume full of keywords, but with ATS systems increasingly used, it’s important to make sure your resume mentions the necessary skills, tools, and technologies. 

Candace says that a skills section can be a great place to list these details efficiently.

"A ‘Skills’ section can help recruiters quickly see if you fit their requirements, and is also a great way to get keywords into your resume. You could also consider a ‘technology snapshot’ type section if the jobs you’re applying for require experience in specific technologies."

For similar role-specific examples, check out our guide on software engineer resume keywords that ATS and recruiters look for. 

2. Key skills to highlight in your senior software engineer resume ↑

Certain key skills are important for any senior software engineer resume, and we're not just talking about the obvious technical skills.

At the senior software engineer level, recruiters are no longer looking for raw coding ability alone. They want evidence that you can operate with autonomy, make good technical decisions at scale, and raise the level of the team around you.

2.1 Leadership and influence (even if it’s not a managerial role)

Senior SWEs are considered an IC (Individual Contributor) role, not a managerial one. However, as a senior, you’re still expected to shape technical direction. 

You need to earn trust through judgment and execution, especially since you’ll work alongside less experienced peers.

You may also want to highlight cross-functional experience where you worked and aligned with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders.

2.2 Coding languages and technical depth

Of course, coding basics still matter — but at this level, recruiters care more about depth of experience and how you’ve applied your skills in real-world systems.

Your resume should communicate not just what you know, but how well you know it.

Having depth in fewer technologies is often more compelling than having a superficial understanding of many.

2.3 Problem-solving at scale

Senior SWEs are expected to come up with innovative solutions to harder, messier problems, often involving legacy systems, competing constraints, or unclear requirements.

Your resume should demonstrate that you can reason through difficult trade-offs and deliver practical solutions.

Focus on impact: what was broken, what you did, and how the outcome improved the system or team. 

2.4 System design and architectural judgment

System design is a non-negotiable for senior SWE roles, especially at top tech companies.

Hiring managers want to see that you can think beyond individual components and make sound architectural decisions over time.

You don’t need to have built an entire system from scratch. What matters is demonstrating good architectural judgment and an understanding of system-level trade-offs.

2.5 Ownership and execution

Senior SWEs are trusted to take ownership of larger responsibilities, such as project execution and project outcomes. It’s what separates seniors from more junior engineers in resume screens.

Your resume should show that you can be relied on to take something ambiguous and see it through to completion. 

Where possible, focus on scope and impact rather than tasks. Hiring managers want to see evidence that you can be trusted with critical work.

2.6 Mentorship and knowledge sharing

As a senior engineer, you’re already at an advanced skill level. Less experienced team members will be looking to you for guidance. Part of your job is to elevate your team’s overall capabilities.

Your resume should show how you’ve helped others grow and how your knowledge has scaled beyond the code you personally wrote.

Formal mentorship isn’t required. Informal guidance, consistent high-quality reviews, or being a go-to person for certain areas all count, as long as the impact is clear.

2.7 Domain and product knowledge

Strong senior SWEs go beyond the logistics of coding and building. They understand the “why” behind the systems they build.

At this level, your technical decisions should reflect a deep understanding of the product, users, and business constraints at play.

This signals that you’re not just building software, but building it right to solve the specific problem at hand.

3. Five (5) senior software engineer resume examples that worked for Google, Amazon, etc. ↑

Before we show you how to write your software engineer resume step-by-step, take a look at some real examples from candidates who got interviews at top companies.

You'll notice they follow different formats, and none fully follow the guidelines we set out below. 

We think this shows two things:

1. There are many acceptable ways to write a resume.
2. Your resume doesn't have to be perfect, as long as it demonstrates your skills and achievements effectively.

Let's take a look.

3.1 Amazon senior software development engineer resume example

This candidate — let's call him “Sunil” — got interviews for a Senior Software Development Engineer role at Amazon. Here’s his resume:

Here's our feedback on this resume:

• Experience: We had to blank them out, but Sunil had worked for some really top tech companies. This is what makes the resume really strong.
• Quantifying impact: Sunil could perhaps enhance his resume by better quantifying his actions and demonstrating their impact. For example, he says he "Revised Telemetry dashboards to improve signal-noise ratio". How much did he improve it? Including specific metrics more often would take this resume to the next level.
• Key skills: Sunil lists key skills and tools that were likely listed as requirements in the job description. This makes a recruiter's life easier.

3.2 Crunchyroll senior software engineer (Android) resume example 

This resume got "Sam" interviews at CrunchyRoll for a senior Android developer position.

Here's what we liked about Sam's resume:

• Structure: Sam lists his technical skills, including programming languages, at the top.
• Impact: His work achievements are mostly well-quantified, e.g., “increasing... downloads by 80% in 2 months."
• Action verbs: He always starts the bullet point with powerful action verbs such as "Created", "Designed", "Fixed", etc.

3.3 Google senior software engineer resume example

“Sahand” is currently a senior software engineer at Google. He entered the company as an L3 and got promoted internally to L5.

Here's our feedback on Sahand's resume:

• Clear and concise: The first thing you’ll notice about Sahand's resume is that it has plenty of negative space. It’s easy on the eyes, but still packed with relevant information.
• Action-oriented: Each bullet point starts with an action verb, showing what he was able to achieve with each role. We do think it could be further improved with metrics, though, as it is, it’s pretty impressive.

3.4 Amazon senior software development engineer resume example (machine learning)

“Vikash” is currently an adjunct lecturer and a senior machine learning software engineer at Amazon Ads, and here’s his current resume.

Here's our feedback on Vikash’s resume:

• Shows clear leadership: As you can see, Vikash already has plenty of previous experience in senior roles. This lets recruiters know that he’s not new to occupying a position of influence and leadership. It makes him look more credible.
• Highlights extra-curricular achievements: This includes details like a high GPA and major projects related to machine learning, such as his Master's Thesis and development of a URL Reputation Classifier. This demonstrates his deep interest and commitment to the ML domain, as well as intellectual rigor. 

3.5 Google senior software engineer resume example (front-end developer)

The resume below is from "Lana,” a senior front-end engineer. It got her interviews for a front-end developer role at Google.

Here's our feedback on this resume:

• Skills: Lana lists her relevant hard skills in a way that's very easy for a recruiter to understand at a glance.
• Languages: Don't make the mistake of thinking languages aren't relevant for a technical job. Lana's five languages signal that she's a strong communicator and helped her get an interview.
• Impact: Lana doesn't include examples of impact and results that she's achieved at work. Doing so would have greatly improved this resume.

Now that you've seen some good example resumes, let's look at how you should create yours.

4. Sample template: Senior software engineer resume ↑

Unlike the examples listed above, this is not a real resume. Instead, it's an amalgamation of the many high-quality SWE/SDE resumes that candidates have shared with us before going on to work at Google, Meta, Amazon, etc.

It belongs to an imaginary senior software engineer called John Doe.

Click here to open this SWE resume template as a Google Doc.

Now, let’s take the first step in building a senior software engineer resume that's good enough to get into FAANG.

5. How to write a senior software engineer resume (section-by-section) ↑

Now that you’ve seen senior SWE resume examples and key skills, let’s go through the step-by-step process of building your resume. 

At this level, the goal is to show key competencies relevant to the role: your ability to own projects, make architectural decisions, mentor others, and deliver impact at scale.

Step 1: Study the target company and job description

Your senior SWE resume should reflect both technical depth and strategic impact. Before writing or editing your resume, do thorough research:

• Understand the profile: What type of senior SWE are they looking for? Are they emphasizing system design, distributed systems, leadership, or cross-team influence? Highlight those skills on your resume.
• Identify key responsibilities: Pick examples from your career where you’ve led similar initiatives, scaled systems, or influenced teams. Include numbers where possible to quantify impact.
• Match language: Use verbs and phrasing from the job description when relevant, e.g., “led,” “architected,” “mentored,” “drove initiative.”
• Understand company culture: For example, if applying to Meta, include experiences that reflect their emphasis on social impact or product thinking. At Google, showing innovation and technical excellence is critical.

You may also need to tailor your resume to match the expectations of the exact position you’re vying for. For example, a resume targeting a staff-track role may differ slightly from an IC-focused senior SWE resume.

Step 2: Choose a layout

Your resume should convey senior-level impact clearly and professionally. Focus on content over design — recruiters want to see outcomes, not fancy graphics.

Layout tips for senior resumes:

• Use clean, structured layouts with clear sections for impact, ownership, and mentorship.
• Avoid overly “creative” designs; a recruiter’s attention should be on your achievements, not your layout.
• Avoid photos and unnecessary personal info — these aren’t relevant and can conflict with ATS filters.

Step 3: Choose your sections

For senior SWE resumes targeting top tech companies, we recommend featuring the following sections because we know this approach works for companies such as Google, Meta, and Amazon.

1. Personal information
2. Summary / Profile (optional but highly recommended for senior roles)
3. Work experience
4. Education
5. Awards & leadership / mentorship highlights
6. Technical skills and tools

Order matters—for senior engineers, work experience usually comes first to highlight career impact and ownership. Education can follow.

Step 4: Start writing

Here’s how to write each section of your resume.

Personal information

Keep it concise and only include essential details.

Work experience

At the senior level, ownership, technical impact, and leadership matter far more than just listing responsibilities.

Your work experience section is the most important part of your resume to get right—and the easiest to get wrong. Many candidates think it’s enough to simply list roles and main responsibilities, but we recommend a more powerful approach.

Instead of simply describing your past roles, focus on the actions you took and the outcomes they led to. 

Ideally, the actions you highlight should be relevant to the essential tech skills of a senior SWE. This ensures your resume contains the right keywords that recruiters (and sometimes ATS) will look for.

To make those actions stand out even more, be intentional with your language: start your bullet points with an action verb and use numbers to quantify your impact. 

Ex-Google SVP Lazlo Bock talks about a common method for this, called the “X, Y, Z” formula:

“Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z].”

This formula is a simple way to specify past achievements and tell a compelling story about what you’re capable of. Let's take a look at some examples:

• “Architected and led migration of a legacy monolith to microservices, reducing deployment time by 60% and improving system reliability.”
• “Mentored 5 mid-level engineers, resulting in 2 promotions within 12 months.”
• “Reduced API latency by 35% by redesigning core backend services and optimizing database queries.”

Here are a few more dos and don’ts:

Education

Your ‘Education’ section should be extremely concise and clear. All you can really do here is present the most essential information with just enough detail. 

Senior SWEs typically only include essential info, such as: GPA scores, degrees, and relevant certifications and bootcamps.

Awards & leadership / mentorship

For senior SWEs, this section can help you demonstrate influence beyond individual contributions. 

We've labelled this section "Awards & Leadership" instead of "Extracurricular" for two reasons:

1. Google uses it as its recommended resume template
2. Extracurricular activities are less important for a technical role like a software engineer

You’ll want to list at least 2-3 relevant bullet points for this. However, if you can't think of any strong examples outside of your day-to-day role, then consider leaving this section out entirely.

Technical skills and tools

List technologies you’re an expert in and have applied at scale. 

This is especially relevant if you’re targeting a specialized role, such as a senior Machine Learning engineer. In that case, you’d have to show that you're adept at using a wide range of ML tools, libraries, and technologies. 

Listing relevant technologies makes it easier for a recruiter to quickly check if you meet their requirements.

Step 5: Proofread and get feedback

Senior resumes must be polished, error-free, and consistent, so don’t skip this step! 

Use a grammar-checking tool and then proofread until it’s perfect. This is harder than it sounds because multiple reviews and tweaking after the initial proofread can easily create new hard-to-spot errors. The only solution is to proofread again after each tweak.

We recommend saving your resume as a PDF file unless the job description says otherwise, and checking it opens properly (with the correct formatting) on a Mac or PC.

Receiving feedback is also important. Share it with a friend or partner, and they’ll be very likely to see mistakes that you haven’t noticed. Of course, if you can share it with an experienced tech recruiter/interviewer, that can give you a big advantage over other applicants.

Should I put my GitHub link in my senior SWE resume?

You don’t necessarily need to include your GitHub link in your SWE resume to get an interview with a top tech company.

It’s up to you to decide whether your GitHub profile will add value to your application. You need to be objective about this, as with anything you decide to include in your resume.

If you have an old GitHub profile that you haven’t updated in a while, including it in your resume may work against you. It may show bad projects and bad coding practices, which you might get judged on, even if they no longer reflect your current skill level.

That being said, having a GitHub profile signals that you’re passionate about the job. Having an active GitHub profile will help show and confirm that you indeed have the skills required. 

If you’re second-guessing whether you should put your GitHub profile on your resume, an alternative is to link to an open-source project that you’re most proud of. 

And if you want to know how to use GitHub to your benefit, check out this article on how to use GitHub to strengthen your resume.

6. Your senior software engineer resume checklist ↑

Almost ready to send your senior SWE resume? Use this checklist to make sure you’re following the best practices for senior-level candidates.

If you can answer “yes” to every question, your resume is ready to apply or upload to top tech job sites.

Did you say “yes” to every question? Great!

If you’ve applied all these tips, your senior software engineer resume should clearly communicate your technical depth, leadership, and measurable impact, giving you a strong chance at landing interviews at top tech companies.

7. Is your senior SWE resume good enough for FAANG? ↑

If you're going for top senior SWE jobs, having a resume that's fine may not be enough. Getting your senior SWE resume from fine to outstanding usually requires feedback from someone who really knows their stuff--as in an ex-recruiter or manager at one of the top companies.

We know it's hard to get access to those types of people. That's why we've created a software engineer resume review service. It allows you to get immediate feedback on your resume from a top recruiter/coach of your choosing. 

Take a look!