How to hire a software applications engineer

How to hire a software applications engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step software applications 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 software applications engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new software applications engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a software applications engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your software applications engineer job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a software applications engineer for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A software applications engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, software applications engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of software applications engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Software Applications Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Software Applications 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	$37-67
   Lead Engineer	A lead engineer's duties vary on their line of work or industry of employment. Typically, their responsibilities will revolve around overseeing the progress of operations and performance of the workforce, ensuring that everything is running smoothly... Show more	$28-57
   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:

   • Java
   • Python
   • Software Development
   • JavaScript
   • Architecture
   • HTML
   • C
   • C++
   • Linux
   • Object Oriented Programming
   • Debugging
   • UI
   • API
   • Application Development

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Developed/Maintain software to fully automate businesses onto PC's.
   • Manage and complete multiple concurrent ERP software implementation projects.
   • Contribute to implementing microservices used to manage entities and maintain a synchronize state between supplier and distributor.
   • Develop web applications to retrieve data for team assessments using technologies like JSP, Java, HTML and JavaScript.
   • Design databases and write web services that can communicate with PageFlex API.
   • Involve in detail analysis, estimates, development, bug fixing and enhancement following SDLC and scrum patterns.

   More software applications engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the software applications engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A software applications engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a software applications engineer in Wisconsin may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level software applications engineer. Additionally, a software applications engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average software applications engineer salary

   $104,885yearly

   $50.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level software applications engineer salary

   $77,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 19, 2026

   Average software applications engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$132,262	$64
   2	Washington	$122,490	$59
   3	Nevada	$110,639	$53
   4	Arizona	$98,097	$47
   5	Texas	$96,284	$46
   6	New York	$94,150	$45
   7	Massachusetts	$89,413	$43
   8	Minnesota	$87,261	$42
   9	Georgia	$85,855	$41
   10	Pennsylvania	$85,586	$41
   11	District of Columbia	$85,332	$41
   12	New Jersey	$84,779	$41
   13	Ohio	$84,738	$41
   14	Illinois	$82,394	$40
   15	North Carolina	$82,278	$40
   16	Missouri	$79,269	$38
   17	Michigan	$78,683	$38
   18	Nebraska	$78,324	$38
   19	Indiana	$75,827	$36

   Average software applications engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Citadel	$161,239	$77.52	5
   2	Apple	$146,955	$70.65	681
   3	PayPal	$143,828	$69.15	36
   4	Netflix	$141,061	$67.82	32
   5	Flexport	$140,943	$67.76	13
   6	Cloudflare	$140,720	$67.65	65
   7	eBay	$139,781	$67.20	31
   8	Box	$136,290	$65.52	5
   9	Google	$135,250	$65.02	1,138
   10	Brocade Services Corporation	$134,562	$64.69
   11	Evernote	$134,313	$64.57
   12	Scribd	$132,656	$63.78	13
   13	Varian Medical Systems	$132,316	$63.61
   14	Blackstone Group	$132,099	$63.51	2
   15	The Walt Disney Company	$131,607	$63.27	237
   16	Intuit	$131,056	$63.01	106
   17	GainSpan	$130,440	$62.71
   18	Hulu	$130,290	$62.64
   19	Poshmark	$128,915	$61.98	26
   20	Walmart	$128,814	$61.93	523

4. Writing a software applications engineer job description

   A good software applications engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a software applications engineer job description:

   Software applications engineer job description example

   Analog Devices (NASDAQ: ADI) designs and manufactures semiconductor products and solutions. We enable our customers to interpret the world around us by intelligently bridging the physical and digital worlds with unmatched technologies that sense, measure and connect.
   The Battery Management Systems (BMS) team at Analog Devices is looking for a Principal Design Verification Engineer based in Dallas (Plano), TX.
   
   Responsibilities
   
   This position will be responsible for contributing to:
   Verification of complex designs and sub-systems using leading edge verification methodologies. Contribute and Influence the decisions on methodologies to be adopted for the verification. Technically mentor and guide junior verification engineers on SoC Verification. Architect the testbench and develop in UVM or Formal based verification approaches. Integrate the block testbench in chip-level UVM environment and verify integration. Define testplans, tests and verification methodology for block / chip-level verification. Work with the design team in generating test-plans and closure of code and functional coverage. Continuous interaction with analog and digital teams in enabling top-level chip verification. Support post-silicon verification activities of the products working with design, product evaluation, and applications engineering team.
   
   Qualifications Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering 8+ years ASIC design, verification, or related work experience.
   
   Additional Preferred Qualifications Proficient in developing unit and SoC level test benches using VMM/OVM/UVM Strong knowledge of test-plan generation, coverage analysis transaction level modeling, pseudo and constrained random techniques, assertion based and formal verification techniques with System Verilog Experience of pre and post-silicon verification testflow and automated test benches Familiarity with verification for automotive functional safety Verilog, C/C++, System C, Java, TCL/Perl/Python/shell-scripting Building and leading verification teams is a plus RTL design/front-end design experience Formal verification methodology Strong interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills are required. Self-motivated and enthusiastic
   
   For positions requiring access to technical data, Analog Devices, Inc. may have to obtain export licensing approval from the U.S. Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security and/or the U.S. Department of State - Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. As such, applicants for this position - except US Citizens, US Permanent Residents, and protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) - may have to go through an export licensing review process.
   
   Analog Devices, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability
   
   EEO is the Law: Notice of Applicant Rights Under the Law

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right software applications engineer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with software applications engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit software applications engineers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your software applications engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit software applications engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting software applications 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. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a software applications 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 software applications engineer

   Once you've selected the best software applications engineer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new software applications engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 software applications engineer?