How to hire a software systems engineer

How to hire a software systems engineer, step by step

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

What does a software systems engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The software systems 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

   No

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

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

   Type of Software Systems Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Software Systems 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	$38-68
   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
   Systems Integration Engineer	A systems integration engineer is responsible for evaluating the efficiency and performance of the control systems to support business operations and requirements. Systems integration engineers develop technical solutions from business initiatives that would maximize a team's productivity and increase target performance... Show more	$37-67

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Java
   • Python
   • Software Development
   • Architecture
   • Linux
   • Software Systems
   • C
   • C++
   • Emerging Technologies
   • Database
   • Software Design
   • Debugging
   • Cloud Computing
   • DOD

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage teams of developers through the SDLC process.
   • Accomplish PHP applications migration to a newer platform in non-disruptive manner.
   • Design, develop, and test applications to automate CAD/CAM operations and support.
   • Lead developing the L2 Ethernet switch software for new generation wireless mobile router (WMR).
   • Develop SMS software and lead all TCP/IP networking aspects for a local GSM cellular service provider and dial-up ISP.
   • Manage OS security patching and intrusion detection systems.

   More software systems engineer duties

3. Make a budget

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

   Average software systems engineer salary

   $107,102yearly

   $51.49 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level software systems engineer salary

   $80,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average software systems engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$137,871	$66
   2	Washington	$123,929	$60
   3	Massachusetts	$101,851	$49
   4	New York	$98,763	$47
   5	Arizona	$98,705	$47
   6	New Jersey	$97,464	$47
   7	North Carolina	$91,926	$44
   8	Texas	$91,700	$44
   9	Colorado	$91,377	$44
   10	Minnesota	$88,568	$43
   11	Pennsylvania	$87,707	$42
   12	Virginia	$85,263	$41
   13	Illinois	$84,411	$41
   14	Michigan	$84,124	$40
   15	Nebraska	$82,260	$40
   16	Missouri	$81,736	$39
   17	Georgia	$81,337	$39

   Average software systems engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$150,436	$72.33	3,676
   2	Twitter	$149,619	$71.93	8
   3	Cloudflare	$148,577	$71.43	71
   4	ByteDance	$146,742	$70.55	222
   5	Apple	$144,936	$69.68	965
   6	Palo Alto Networks	$144,424	$69.43	184
   7	Google	$141,966	$68.25	957
   8	Waymo	$141,794	$68.17	100
   9	Zulily	$140,367	$67.48
   10	Intuitive Surgical	$139,787	$67.21	37
   11	Pinterest	$138,793	$66.73	28
   12	Datadog	$138,502	$66.59	39
   13	Zoox	$138,097	$66.39	157
   14	Arista Networks	$136,826	$65.78	33
   15	Xandr	$136,623	$65.68
   16	Netflix	$136,147	$65.46	24
   17	Brocade Services Corporation	$135,908	$65.34
   18	The New York Times Company	$135,256	$65.03	18
   19	PayPal	$134,990	$64.90	25
   20	Dolby Laboratories	$134,799	$64.81	1

4. Writing a software systems engineer job description

   A software systems 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. Below, you can find an example of a software systems engineer job description:

   Software systems engineer job description example

   In this role, the Software System Requirements Engineer will be responsible for the management and coordination of software requirements for platform and production projects. This role is the interface to global platform stakeholders and is responsible for driving the derivation, decomposition, dissemination, and review of requirements in accordance with BorgWarner processes.
   Key responsibilities
   Create software requirements based on system or customer requirements Ensure the accuracy and completeness of software requirements across features and projects.Manage the requirements structure within the BorgWarner toolchain.Ensure traceability between software, system, customer, and test requirements.Assist project leadership to define release content and schedules.Communicate and disseminate requirements to platform stakeholders.Track requirements progress metrics to ensure progress to the platform development timeline.Ensure the requirements management process is adhered to Define requirements review criteria and ensure its compliance.Baseline and release requirements for software releases.Support internal and external process audits.
   
   What we're looking for
   B.S. in Engineering or equivalent engineering field. IREB Certification preferred.2+ years of experience working with embedded software requirements development. Automotive or related field is preferred.Knowledge of Software engineering and requirements development principles.Experience using requirements management tools (e.g., Polarian, DOORs).Knowledge of SW Quality processes (e.g., ASPICE, CMMI).Experience in driving best practices in SW development process through root cause analysis.Willingness/ability to travel internationally.Experience project tracking tools (e.g., JIRA, RTC).Preferred experience working with global development teams.Preferred IREB certified
   Attributes
   Excellent analytical and organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects in a timely manner.Team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Collaborative style with the ability to communicate clearly on technical and operational issues.Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines when required.Ambitious, highly self-driven and motivated.
   
   Internal Use Only: Salary
   Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
   Carefully read the BorgWarner Privacy Policy before using this website. Your ability to access and use this website and apply for a job at BorgWarner are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
   
   Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the geographical area where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find software systems 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 software systems engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level software systems 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 software systems 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 software systems 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview software systems engineer 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 systems engineer

   Once you've found the software systems engineer candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 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 software systems engineer?