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How to hire a software engineer/architect

Software engineer/architect hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring software engineers/architect in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a software engineer/architect is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per software engineer/architect on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 167,551 software engineers/architect in the US and 344,071 job openings.
  • Atlanta, GA, has the highest demand for software engineers/architect, with 16 job openings.
  • Atlanta, GA has the highest concentration of software engineers/architect.

How to hire a software engineer/architect, step by step

To hire a software engineer/architect, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a software engineer/architect:

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

What does a software engineer/architect do?

A software engineer/architect specializes in designing and developing applications and software systems in a company, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include understanding and identifying project requirements, conducting extensive research and analysis, managing software development teams, setting objectives and guidelines, preparing and maintaining documentation, developing test structures, eliminating bugs, and creating strategies to optimize operations. Moreover, a software engineer/architect must lead and encourage teams to reach goals, all while monitoring their progress and resolving issues should any arise.

Learn more about the specifics of what a software engineer/architect does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the software engineer/architect you need to hire. Certain software engineer/architect roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A software engineer/architect's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, software engineers/architect 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 engineer/architect salaries for various positions.

    Type of Software Engineer/ArchitectDescriptionHourly rate
    Software Engineer/ArchitectSoftware 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$40-77
    Software DeveloperA 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
    Lead ArchitectA lead architect spearheads architectural operations while maintaining an active communication line with clients. They typically meet with clients to discuss the project's needs and specifications, agree on a budget, provide advice and recommendations, and negotiate contracts... Show more$37-66
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Java
    • Python
    • Software Development
    • Cloud
    • Linux
    • Scrum
    • API
    • Cloud Computing
    • AWS
    • Amazon Web Services
    • JavaScript
    • Jenkins
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Object Oriented Programming
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage ancillary projects written in PHP framework Yii.
    • Manage entire QA process from requirements documentation to final release testing.
    • Design and implement various reusable components combining JSP, JQuery, Ajax and HTML into a user-friendly interface.
    • Craft application architecture for all major software development initiatives resulting in reusable business objects, decrease TCO and reduce technical debt.
    • Have done lot of debugging.
    • Source are maintained in git and subversion repositories
    More software engineer/architect duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your software engineer/architect job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A software engineer/architect 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 software engineer/architect in Arkansas may be lower than in California, and an entry-level software engineer/architect usually earns less than a senior-level software engineer/architect. Additionally, a software engineer/architect 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 software engineer/architect salary

    $117,739yearly

    $56.61 hourly rate

    Entry-level software engineer/architect salary
    $85,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 19, 2026

    Average software engineer/architect salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$154,010$74
    2Washington$133,356$64
    3District of Columbia$129,122$62
    4North Carolina$127,720$61
    5Indiana$122,699$59
    6New York$122,570$59
    7Massachusetts$121,679$59
    8Maryland$119,886$58
    9Georgia$114,426$55
    10Delaware$113,618$55
    11New Hampshire$113,367$55
    12Arizona$108,331$52
    13Illinois$107,484$52
    14Texas$107,192$52
    15Missouri$103,993$50
    16New Jersey$103,898$50
    17Colorado$103,779$50
    18Connecticut$103,259$50
    19Oklahoma$102,951$50
    20Montana$102,938$49

    Average software engineer/architect salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Apple$154,388$74.22615
    2Zscaler$151,539$72.8626
    3Medallia$147,276$70.81
    4VMware$146,598$70.481
    5Walmart$146,284$70.33551
    6Move$146,152$70.27
    7Cisco$143,860$69.16494
    8JPMorgan Chase & Co.$141,263$67.911,274
    9Amazon$141,110$67.841,450
    10Gluster$140,433$67.52
    11Costco Wholesale$140,296$67.454
    12J.P. Morgan$138,958$66.81
    13Slalom$136,316$65.541,280
    14Volvo Trucks$134,546$64.69
    15Ford Motor$134,352$64.59573
    16CyberCoders$132,252$63.581
    17McKinsey & Company Inc$132,213$63.5663
    18Cadence Design Systems$132,109$63.5190
    19Violin Memory$131,342$63.15
    20Amd$131,149$63.0597
  4. Writing a software engineer/architect job description

    A job description for a software engineer/architect 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 engineer/architect job description:

    Software engineer/architect job description example

    Precision Resources a division of the Trimarc Group Inc., is presently recruiting for a Senior Software Engineer/Systems Architect for a permanent position for one of our clients in Alabama.
    This is a fulltime remote position.

    QUALIFICATIONS:

    • College degree required. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Information Technology preferred with 6-10 years of IT experience.
    • Familiarity with finance or insurance industry and product models, data analysis, rating concepts, and a general knowledge of basic business functions performed within software products.
    • Strong background in .NET/.NET Core/C# and related technologies
    Buzzwords:

    ASP, MVC, Blazor, JavaScript, AngularJS, React, Vue.js, Bootstrap, jQuery, HTML, XML, JSON, Web Services, Entity Framework, LINQ, SQL Server

    DUTIES:

    • Provides technical leadership and vision for software solutions, technical strategy and design, coordination of projects and tasks, planning and organization of developmental work, and insuring quality software deliverables.
    • Designs effective application recovery strategies, approaches to track and monitor the health of software systems, and vision for minimizing/preventing functional and technical software issues across multiple environments and platforms.
    • Grows, mentors, and matures critical skills of the software development departments/teams.
    • Provides timely, effective resolution of software problems, questions, and additional assignments.
    • Leads the evolution of company-level best practices, standards, and policies as it relates to software development.
    • Acts as a liaison between technical and business teams, focusing on the big picture to meet business requirements.
    Must have US Citizenship or Green Card.
    Candidates requiring sponsorship or Corp to Corp Candidates will not be considered.

    For a currently listing of all our positions, please visit www.precisionresources.org/careers

    Precision Resources, a division of the Trimarc Group Inc., is one of the fastest growing consulting and recruiting firms providing top-tier Information Technology professionals. Our IT Consulting and Recruitment Division is strengthened with our ability to match talented and experienced Information Technology professionals to the unique business needs of our clients.

    Our team-based approach allows us to combine our experiences in the IT industry to develop effective, customized solutions quickly and efficiently. Since we focus on building long-term relationships, we are always striving to provide higher quality service and produce better results.

    We have become a strategic partner for Fortune 500 firms as well as small to medium sized companies because of the ability to quickly develop effective, customized solutions for time-sensitive initiatives for our clients. From contract and consulting, to contract to hire and permanent placement, Precision Resources has a solution to meet your needs.
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right software engineer/architect for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your software engineer/architect job on Zippia to find and attract quality software engineer/architect candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit software engineers/architect, 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 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.

    Sometimes, it's not enough to interview software engineer/architect candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

    • 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 engineer/architect

    Once you've selected the best software engineer/architect 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 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 engineer/architect 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 engineer/architect?

Recruiting software engineers/architect involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Software engineers/architect earn a median yearly salary is $117,739 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find software engineers/architect for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $40 and $77.

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