How to hire a computer software engineer

How to hire a computer software engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step computer software engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a computer software engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new computer software engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a computer software engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The computer software engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

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   Hiring the perfect computer software engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of computer software engineers.

   Type of Computer Software Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Computer Software Engineer	Software developers are the creative minds behind computer programs. Some develop the applications that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or another device... Show more	$37-64
   Software Analyst	A software analyst is responsible for creating and designing software programs and applications, as well as modifying existing ones for optimization according to business requirements. Software analysts work with the technical team to draw system codes, analyze programming languages, and ensure the stability and efficiency of software navigation by running multiple quality checks to the system... Show more	$29-47
   Software Developer	A software developer is responsible for designing application systems to support the user and business' needs. Duties of a software developer include testing software codes, performing diagnostic programs and troubleshooting, interpreting system data and establishing efficient parameters, and ensuring the compatibility of the systems... Show more	$32-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Software Development
   • Java
   • Linux
   • Object Oriented Programming
   • MATLAB
   • Debugging
   • Visualization
   • Technical Support
   • API
   • PowerPoint
   • Computer Software
   • OS
   • Management System

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Contribute to implementing microservices used to manage entities and maintain a synchronize state between supplier and distributor.
   • Authore PHP, Perl, and JAVA scripts for various other department projects.
   • Compile for Linux and BSD Unix.
   • Develop the front-end of the application using JSP and Perl.
   • Start using Java and end up using C++ due to performance issues.
   • Assist with testing, modifying, and debugging new and existing programs.

   More computer software engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your computer software engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A computer software engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a computer software engineer in West Virginia may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level computer software engineer usually earns less than a senior-level computer software engineer. Additionally, a computer software engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average computer software engineer salary

   $102,511yearly

   $49.28 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level computer software engineer salary

   $77,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average computer software engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$134,889	$65
   2	Washington	$131,514	$63
   3	New York	$104,993	$50
   4	Massachusetts	$102,022	$49
   5	District of Columbia	$95,371	$46
   6	New Jersey	$93,865	$45
   7	Delaware	$91,364	$44
   8	Texas	$90,367	$43
   9	Pennsylvania	$89,692	$43
   10	Virginia	$89,411	$43
   11	Arizona	$88,955	$43
   12	Illinois	$86,958	$42
   13	North Carolina	$85,743	$41
   14	Michigan	$85,055	$41
   15	Ohio	$84,834	$41
   16	Nebraska	$83,298	$40
   17	Georgia	$81,445	$39
   18	Missouri	$78,180	$38

   Average computer software engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Citadel	$167,591	$80.57	5
   2	Pacific Investment Management Company LLC	$144,425	$69.44	10
   3	Mayo Clinic	$143,414	$68.95	24
   4	Meta	$142,904	$68.70	1,374
   5	Lord Abbett	$140,920	$67.75	4
   6	Infoblox	$140,518	$67.56	5
   7	F5	$140,022	$67.32	39
   8	Pure Storage	$139,570	$67.10	16
   9	Extreme Networks	$139,326	$66.98	13
   10	Palo Alto Networks	$139,280	$66.96	183
   11	Apple	$138,961	$66.81	654
   12	Foundry Networks	$138,863	$66.76
   13	Twitter	$138,482	$66.58	4
   14	Dolby Laboratories	$138,184	$66.43	1
   15	Google	$137,681	$66.19	1,117
   16	QuinStreet	$137,520	$66.12
   17	Bridgewater Associates	$137,495	$66.10	1
   18	Intuitive Surgical	$136,779	$65.76	13
   19	Instinet Incorporated	$136,716	$65.73
   20	Juniper Networks	$136,171	$65.47

4. Writing a computer software engineer job description

   A computer software engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a computer software engineer job description:

   Computer software engineer job description example

   MathWorks has a hybrid work model that enables staff members to split their time between office and home. The hybrid model provides the advantage of having both in-person time with colleagues and flexible at-home life optimizations. Learn More:
   
   The Computational Finance Risk Management Software Engineer will contirbute to the design, specification, development, and testing of financial modeling and analysis tools for the risk management application space. You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team of programmers, scientists, engineers and marketing professionals to understand customer needs, and then translate those needs into effective product designs.
   
   MathWorks nurtures growth, appreciates diversity, encourages initiative, values teamwork, shares success, and rewards excellence.
   
   A suitable candidate will combine programming skills with a sound understanding of mathematical and statistical methods used to assess risk in the risk management and finance industries. The candidate will initially be responsible for creating visualization tools in these areas. An ideal candidate will have experience as a user or developer for one of the disciplines likely to form the main customer base for CF products (portfolio optimization, risk management, fixed-income, econometrics and time series analysis, derivatives, etc.).
   
   Specialist knowledge of data analysis techniques as they are applied in one of these domains would further enable the candidate to lead the development of downstream products customized for specialist use within that discipline.
   
   BS degree in Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, or Financial Modeling with 7 years experience with an emphasis on the application of mathematical and statistical methods used in risk management or a MS degree with equivalent experience.
   
   Knowledge of, and track record in, programming for data analysis applications using MATLAB, Java, C++, and/or VB.
   
   Industrial or research experience in one or more of the disciplines that make extensive use of financial modeling and analysis, for portfolio and risk management, insurance, etc.
   Programming experience in MATLAB preferred. 3 or more years programming and product release experience. A bachelor's degree and 7 years of professional work experience (or a master's degree and 5 years of professional work experience, or a PhD degree, or equivalent experience) is required.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find computer software engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any computer software engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level computer software engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   To find computer software engineer candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting computer software engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a computer software engineer applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new computer software engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the computer software engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a computer software engineer?