How to hire a system software developer

How to hire a system software developer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step system software developer hiring guide:

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

What does a system software developer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your system software developer 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 system software developer 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 system software developer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, system software developers 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 system software developers.

   Type of System Software Developer	Description	Hourly rate
   System Software Developer	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 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 Systems Engineer	A software systems engineer is responsible for designing and creating software systems applications and programs according to clients' specifications or business' needs. They work to improve the features of existing applications to boost efficiency and optimal performance... Show more	$38-68

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Python
   • Java
   • Software Development
   • JavaScript
   • Linux
   • C
   • C++
   • HTML
   • Jenkins
   • Debugging
   • API
   • PHP
   • Configuration Management
   • Troubleshoot

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage Unix server providing Telefonica implementation support for new billing process.
   • Implement a centralize configuration system for managing application settings, consisting of a desktop application with a WCF backend.
   • Develop client request validations and processing using JavaScript and HTML.
   • Improve existing code (php, html, asterix), design and implement new features.
   • Design and develop a tier Internet banking system using Linux and Perl interfacing to legacy core system.
   • Work on cleaning up the displayable HTML code transfer by server.

   More system software developer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your system software developer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A system software developer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, system software developers' average salary in hawaii is 42% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level system software developers 44% less than senior-level system software developers.
   • Certifications. A system software developer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a system software developer's salary.

   Average system software developer salary

   $108,328yearly

   $52.08 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level system software developer salary

   $81,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

   Average system software developer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$137,643	$66
   2	Washington	$118,055	$57
   3	Oregon	$109,877	$53
   4	New York	$104,028	$50
   5	New Jersey	$103,417	$50
   6	Massachusetts	$103,086	$50
   7	Arizona	$95,843	$46
   8	Minnesota	$94,125	$45
   9	Pennsylvania	$91,023	$44
   10	Michigan	$90,463	$43
   11	North Carolina	$89,589	$43
   12	Texas	$89,559	$43
   13	Illinois	$87,744	$42
   14	Georgia	$84,916	$41
   15	Ohio	$84,539	$41
   16	Wisconsin	$82,247	$40
   17	Missouri	$82,174	$40
   18	Indiana	$80,102	$39
   19	Florida	$75,436	$36

   Average system software developer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	The Citadel	$167,955	$80.75	11
   2	Roku	$157,929	$75.93	17
   3	Airbnb	$156,060	$75.03	4
   4	Twitter	$155,257	$74.64	3
   5	Meta	$154,691	$74.37	2,937
   6	Cloudflare	$151,427	$72.80	44
   7	Yelp	$150,406	$72.31
   8	Apple	$148,454	$71.37	418
   9	Lyft	$147,789	$71.05	12
   10	Google	$147,489	$70.91	611
   11	Evernote	$147,479	$70.90
   12	eBay	$147,251	$70.79	31
   13	Pure Storage	$146,730	$70.54	12
   14	Infoblox	$146,516	$70.44	10
   15	Pinterest	$145,401	$69.90	28
   16	Platfora	$144,887	$69.66
   17	DoorDash	$144,711	$69.57	70
   18	F5	$144,107	$69.28	33
   19	Dropbox	$143,734	$69.10	17
   20	Palo Alto Networks	$143,707	$69.09	105

4. Writing a system software developer job description

   A good system software developer 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 system software developer job description:

   System software developer job description example

   Michael Baker International is seeking a Software Developer with a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience for our greater Pittsburgh, PA area location. This is a ground floor opportunity with career growth potential and the opportunity to contribute to growing an office while working on large, cutting-edge projects. The developer will be part of Michael Baker's Bridge Software Group. This group has been applying computer technology to the bridge area for state departments of transportation for over 30 years, using a wide range of programming skills.
   RESPONSIBILITIES
   Work with existing asset management software code. Ability to work with a team of developers. Working with a database related to asset management. Working on a variety of bridge software projects. Managing the work for individual tasks. Writing user and system documentation.
   PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS
   Degree from an accredited STEM program or relevant experience. Civil Engineering with a structural background preferred. Asset management experience. Bridge Asset Management experience, desirable. Bridge analytical experience a plus. Experience with Windows User Interface development a plus. Solid C# .NET programming skills. Strong object-oriented design and development experience. Understanding of source control concepts. Excellent oral and written communication skills. HTML, CSS, XSL/XSLT, JavaScript (a plus). Vue 3 or general computer graphics (a plus).
   COMPENSATION
   
   The salary range for this position is $80,7011 - $121,067 per year. This will be dependent on the experience and expertise of the incoming candidate.
   
   BENEFITS
   
   We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
   Medical, dental, vision insurance 401k Retirement Plan Health Savings Account (HSA) Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability Professional and personal development Generous paid time off Commuter and wellness benefits

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find system software developers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your system software developer job on Zippia to find and recruit system software developer 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

   During your first interview to recruit system software developers, 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 system software developer 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 system software developer

   Once you've decided on a perfect system software developer 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new system software developer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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 system software developer?