How to hire a software designer

How to hire a software designer, step by step

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

What does a software designer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The software designer 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

   No

   A software designer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, software designers 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.

   This list presents software designer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Software Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Software Designer	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	$38-69
   Software Engineering Internship	A software engineer intern is responsible for assisting the technology department's operations, using their class knowledge on performing practical applications. Software engineer interns support software engineers on their processes, shadowing their daily tasks, and performing duties under mentors' supervision... Show more	$14-35
   Software Developer Internship	A software developer intern is responsible for assisting the software engineers with the design implementation and shadowing their duties to understand the processes more efficiently. Software developer interns use their classroom knowledge on practical applications, suggesting recommendations on how to make the project successful... Show more	$14-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Java
   • Software Development
   • Linux
   • Windows
   • Data Structures
   • JavaScript
   • GIT
   • API
   • CSS
   • User Interface
   • Ruby
   • Html Css
   • Front End

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
   • Implement user interface on web base application using HTML5, JavaScript.
   • Modify kernels to allow proprietary software to function in Linux.
   • Design PCI driver from scratch and create an API for reuse.
   • Create hardware configurations for test machines and seek quotes from various UNIX vendors.
   • Specify, design, implement, test, and document customized HTML generation utilities.

   More software designer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the software designer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A software designer 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 designer in Alabama may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level software designer. Additionally, a software designer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average software designer salary

   $107,449yearly

   $51.66 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level software designer salary

   $80,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average software designer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$137,083	$66
   2	Oregon	$110,621	$53
   3	Utah	$100,256	$48
   4	Washington	$95,921	$46
   5	Colorado	$94,208	$45
   6	New York	$93,456	$45
   7	Texas	$92,629	$45
   8	Arkansas	$90,457	$43
   9	Tennessee	$90,136	$43
   10	Georgia	$89,074	$43
   11	Massachusetts	$88,786	$43
   12	New Hampshire	$86,619	$42
   13	Michigan	$85,531	$41
   14	North Carolina	$83,064	$40
   15	Illinois	$81,186	$39
   16	Maryland	$80,595	$39

   Average software designer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Globant	$120,208	$57.79	1
   2	AVI	$116,146	$55.84
   3	Artemis Health	$115,251	$55.41
   4	HP	$113,330	$54.49	12
   5	NEOTech	$111,845	$53.77	1
   6	Hewlett Packard Enterprise	$111,320	$53.52	44
   7	Ericsson	$111,244	$53.48	12
   8	Qualcomm	$110,288	$53.02	93
   9	Keysight Technologies	$110,211	$52.99
   10	Skyworks Solutions	$109,828	$52.80	6
   11	Vertex	$109,604	$52.69	13
   12	Everest Holdings LLC	$109,386	$52.59	1
   13	NextCapital	$109,237	$52.52
   14	Delta Dental of Michigan	$108,309	$52.07
   15	Resource/Ammirati	$106,482	$51.19
   16	Snapfish	$105,745	$50.84
   17	Skyworks	$105,714	$50.82	1
   18	Kyyba	$104,892	$50.43
   19	International Plant Nutrition	$104,580	$50.28
   20	BlackBerry	$104,229	$50.11

4. Writing a software designer job description

   A job description for a software designer role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a software designer job description:

   Software designer job description example

   Leading societies to a low carbon future, Alstom develops and markets mobility solutions that provide the sustainable foundations for the future of transportation. Our product portfolio ranges from high-speed trains, metros, monorail, and trams to integrated systems, customised services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility solutions. Joining us means joining a caring, responsible, and innovative company where more than 70,000 people lead the way to greener and smarter mobility, worldwide
   
   As a Software Designer with focus on cyber security you will interface with System, project, and Quality teams to fullfil requirements as per the project needs.
   Our programs employ Agile development process.
   
   RESPONSIBILITIES :
   Implement, test and operate advanced software security techniques in compliance with technical reference architecture Perform on-going security testing and code review to improve software security Troubleshoot and debug issues that arise Provide engineering designs for new software solutions to help mitigate security vulnerabilities Contribute to all levels of the architecture Maintain technical documentation Consult team members on secure coding practices Contribute to road map for improving security of our products
   
   EDUCATION:
   
   B.S. in Computer Science, or similar field.
   
   BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES:
   Willingness to be trained in cyber security particularily as it applies to embedded software Be Innovative and demonstrate to peers and implement in creation of code libraries, reusable codes, and model-based developments, Be agile and adaptive to Project dynamics Demonstrate excellent communication skills and able to guide, influence and convince others in a matrix organization. Good Team player and have ownership towards assigned task & deliveries
   
   TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES & EXPERIENCE:
   Strong Problem-solving aptitude Hands-on experience in C, RTOS-Linux Interest in all aspects of security research and development Knowledge of configuration management tools and workflow management tools is essential (ex. ClearQuest, Git, RTC, ...) Awareness of SCRUM Rail industry background is highly desirable, and similar safety critical industries can also be considered. The ideal applicant will be able to thrive in a highly collaborative workplace and actively engage in the development process spread across different geographical locations. Significant experience in software development including design, analysis, development, testing and delivery.
   
   Behavioral Competencies
   Ability to work as an independent contributor and communicate directly with customer Be Innovative and define developer level test scenarios, and reusable solutions Ability to prepare software requirements specification, and architect description documents Ability to learn quickly in an agile work environment.
   
   IT Skills: MS office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
   
   LANGUAGE & SKILLS:
   Proficient in English language Good written and Verbal communication skills
   Alstom is the leading company in the mobility sector, solving the most interesting challenges for tomorrow's mobility. That's why we value inquisitive and innovative people who are passionate about working together to reinvent mobility, making it smarter and more sustainable. Day after day, we are building an agile, inclusive and responsible culture, where a diverse group of people are offered opportunities to learn, grow and advance in their careers, with options across functions and geographic locations. Are you ready to join a truly international community of great people on a challenging journey with a tangible impact and purpose?
   
   Equal opportunity statement:
   Alstom is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right software designer 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 designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit software designers 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.

   To find software designer 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

   During your first interview to recruit software designers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   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.

   If your interviews with software designer applicants aren't enough to make a decision, you should also consider including a test project. These are often the best, most straightforward, and least bias-prone ways of determining who will likely succeed in the role. If you 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 designer

   Once you've decided on a perfect software designer candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new software designer 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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