Key Takeaways

  • 75% of U.S. employers use automated applicant tracking systems to screen resumes before a human reviews them (Harvard Business School & Accenture, 2021)
  • The most common ATS failures are missing keywords, incompatible formatting, and incorrect file types
  • ResumeGeni scores your resume across 8 parsing layers — modeled on the same steps enterprise ATS platforms like Workday, Greenhouse, and Taleo use to evaluate candidates

How ATS Resume Scoring Works

Applicant tracking systems parse your resume into structured data — extracting your name, contact info, work history, skills, and education — then score how well that data matches the job requirements. Many ATS rejections happen because the parser couldn't extract critical fields, not because the candidate wasn't qualified.

LayerWhat It ChecksWhy It Matters
Document extractionFile format, encoding, readabilityCorrupted or image-only PDFs fail immediately
Layout analysisTables, columns, headers, footersMulti-column layouts break field extraction
Section detectionExperience, education, skills headingsNon-standard headings cause sections to be missed
Field mappingName, email, phone, dates, titlesMissing contact info is a common cause of immediate rejection
Keyword matchingJob-specific terms, skills, certificationsKeyword overlap affects recruiter search visibility and ATS scoring
Chronology checkDate ordering, gap detectionReverse-chronological order is expected by most ATS
QuantificationMetrics, numbers, measurable outcomesQuantified achievements help human reviewers and some scoring models
Confidence scoringOverall parse quality and completenessLow-confidence parses get deprioritized in results

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ResumeGeni free?
Yes. ResumeGeni is currently in beta — ATS analysis, scoring, and initial improvement suggestions are free with no signup required. Full guidance and saved reports may require a free account.
What file formats are supported?
PDF, DOCX, DOC, TXT, RTF, ODT, and Apple Pages. PDF and DOCX are recommended for best ATS compatibility.
How is the ATS score calculated?
Your resume is processed through an 8-layer parsing pipeline that extracts structured data the same way enterprise ATS platforms do. The score reflects how completely and accurately your resume can be parsed, plus how well your content matches common ATS ranking criteria.
Can ATS read PDF resumes?
Yes, but not all PDFs are equal. Text-based PDFs parse well. Image-only PDFs (scanned documents) and PDFs with complex tables or multi-column layouts often fail ATS parsing. Our analyzer will flag these issues.
How do I improve my ATS score?
Focus on three areas: use a clean single-column format, include keywords from the job description naturally in your experience bullets, and ensure all sections (contact, experience, education, skills) use standard headings.

ATS Guides & Resources

Built by engineers with 12 years of experience building enterprise hiring technology at ZipRecruiter. Last updated .

Principal System Engineer

Fullspectrumsoftware · Lincolnshire, IL

Full Spectrum partners with leading companies in MedTech to develop cutting-edge software for medical devices. With projects focused on embedded systems, mobile apps, robotics, engineers at Full Spectrum love the challenge of working with clients on products that have a meaningful impact. Working across different client projects with a wide range of technologies, a career at Full Spectrum offers both technical and professional growth opportunities.

Principal System Engineer:
 
At Full Spectrum, our Systems Engineering team is the core differentiator that sets us apart from standard medical device service companies. As a Principal System Engineer, you aren't just using a highly efficient and compliant process, you will be working with Full Spectrum clients to improve their process and provide life-saving technology in a more repeatable manor. You will lead diverse projects, translating complex clinical needs into robust, secure, and compliant engineering realities.
 
 
The Opportunity: Strategic Leadership & Client Impact:

In this high-visibility role, you serve as the primary technical interface for our clients, driving Software Systems Engineering for mission-critical medical device projects:

Lead & Delegate: Manage project execution by aligning client needs with team tasks and deliverables.

Consult & Partner: Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs partners to define system intent, launch strategies, and regulatory pathways.

Mentor & Coach: Provide real-time guidance, training, and problem-solving for engineers, particularly within the Software Test and documentation realms.

Process Innovation: Consult with Test Process owners to refine methodologies while minimizing audit exposure.
 
Technical Architecture & Risk Management:
You will be responsible for how teams address "Safety and Security by Design" of complex systems, ensuring protective measures are embedded from the earliest stages of development.

Safety Risk Analysis: Lead planning for complex software-driven medical devices, perform top-down hazard and harm assessment working with Full Spectrum clients’ clinical tam or medical director, performing bottom-up failure analysis (FMEA) and identifying potential risk to safety.

Cybersecurity Strategy: Drive the process for threat model analysis, cyber risk assessments, vulnerability analysis, and incident reporting to ensure full FDA compliance.

Lifecycle Risk: Apply practical risk management throughout the entire product lifecycle, utilizing strong familiarity with both design and process risk models from ISO 14971.

Requirements Mastery: Develop and implement requirement schemas and hierarchies using industry-standard RM tools, ensuring flawless allocation and traceability.
 
V&V Strategy & Regulatory Mastery:
You will define the path to market by establishing rigorous V&V strategies within an iterative development environment.

V&V Leadership: Oversee system and software V&V approaches, including test planning, design, and the creation of comprehensive test cases.

Testing Strategy: Implement lifecycle-based testing (IEC 62304), covering everything from unit testing to system-level GUI testing.

System Verification: Define and oversee system integration over development, define performance characterization tests and test requirements and test methods, coordinate and plan testing of the system at meaningful milestones to mitigate project risk and to meet defined performance requirements.

Standard Compliance: Act as a subject matter expert on key standards and FDA guidance, including:

Software & Risk: IEC 62304, ISO 14971, TIR-32, TIR-45, TIR 80001, and IEC 81001-5-1.

Hardware & Safety: IEC 60601-1, IEC 60601-1-8.

Quality & Process: 21 CFR Part 820, IEC 13485, and ISPE GAMP-5.

Usability: IEC 62366 and basic usability design principles.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Software, Electrical, Biomedical, or Computer Engineering (or a related science discipline).

Experience: Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in Systems Engineering.

Leadership: Proven track record in medical device development, identifying project risks, and communicating clearly with stakeholders.

Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of design controls, software lifecycle coaching, and automated Scrum processes for continuous integration.
 
Desirable Skills: (Nice to Have):

Advanced Degree: Master’s or PhD in an Engineering or Science discipline.
Software Development: 4+ years of hands-on experience in software development.
Technical Proficiencies: Scripting in Python or C/C++, code inspection, and Object-Oriented Programming.
Emerging Tech: Experience with Machine Learning systems, algorithm management, and real-time/embedded programming.
Modern Methodology: Familiarity with Agile, version control, and automating compliant CI/CD pipelines.

The base salary for this position is $130,000 to $170,000 annually, and the role is bonus eligible. 
The final salary offer is determined by factors such as experience, location, skills, education, and market conditions. **
Full Spectrum partners with leading companies in MedTech to develop cutting-edge software for medical devices. With projects focused on embedded systems, mobile apps, robotics, engineers at Full Spectrum love the challenge of working with clients on products that have a meaningful impact. Working across different client projects with a wide range of technologies, a career at Full Spectrum offers both technical and professional growth opportunities.

Principal System Engineer:
 
At Full Spectrum, our Systems Engineering team is the core differentiator that sets us apart from standard medical device service companies. As a Principal System Engineer, you aren't just using a highly efficient and compliant process, you will be working with Full Spectrum clients to improve their process and provide life-saving technology in a more repeatable manor. You will lead diverse projects, translating complex clinical needs into robust, secure, and compliant engineering realities.
 
 
The Opportunity: Strategic Leadership & Client Impact:

In this high-visibility role, you serve as the primary technical interface for our clients, driving Software Systems Engineering for mission-critical medical device projects:

Lead & Delegate: Manage project execution by aligning client needs with team tasks and deliverables.

Consult & Partner: Collaborate with Regulatory Affairs partners to define system intent, launch strategies, and regulatory pathways.

Mentor & Coach: Provide real-time guidance, training, and problem-solving for engineers, particularly within the Software Test and documentation realms.

Process Innovation: Consult with Test Process owners to refine methodologies while minimizing audit exposure.
 
Technical Architecture & Risk Management:
You will be responsible for how teams address "Safety and Security by Design" of complex systems, ensuring protective measures are embedded from the earliest stages of development.

Safety Risk Analysis: Lead planning for complex software-driven medical devices, perform top-down hazard and harm assessment working with Full Spectrum clients’ clinical tam or medical director, performing bottom-up failure analysis (FMEA) and identifying potential risk to safety.

Cybersecurity Strategy: Drive the process for threat model analysis, cyber risk assessments, vulnerability analysis, and incident reporting to ensure full FDA compliance.

Lifecycle Risk: Apply practical risk management throughout the entire product lifecycle, utilizing strong familiarity with both design and process risk models from ISO 14971.

Requirements Mastery: Develop and implement requirement schemas and hierarchies using industry-standard RM tools, ensuring flawless allocation and traceability.
 
V&V Strategy & Regulatory Mastery:
You will define the path to market by establishing rigorous V&V strategies within an iterative development environment.

V&V Leadership: Oversee system and software V&V approaches, including test planning, design, and the creation of comprehensive test cases.

Testing Strategy: Implement lifecycle-based testing (IEC 62304), covering everything from unit testing to system-level GUI testing.

System Verification: Define and oversee system integration over development, define performance characterization tests and test requirements and test methods, coordinate and plan testing of the system at meaningful milestones to mitigate project risk and to meet defined performance requirements.

Standard Compliance: Act as a subject matter expert on key standards and FDA guidance, including:

Software & Risk: IEC 62304, ISO 14971, TIR-32, TIR-45, TIR 80001, and IEC 81001-5-1.

Hardware & Safety: IEC 60601-1, IEC 60601-1-8.

Quality & Process: 21 CFR Part 820, IEC 13485, and ISPE GAMP-5.

Usability: IEC 62366 and basic usability design principles.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Software, Electrical, Biomedical, or Computer Engineering (or a related science discipline).

Experience: Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in Systems Engineering.

Leadership: Proven track record in medical device development, identifying project risks, and communicating clearly with stakeholders.

Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of design controls, software lifecycle coaching, and automated Scrum processes for continuous integration.
 
Desirable Skills: (Nice to Have):

Advanced Degree: Master’s or PhD in an Engineering or Science discipline.
Software Development: 4+ years of hands-on experience in software development.
Technical Proficiencies: Scripting in Python or C/C++, code inspection, and Object-Oriented Programming.
Emerging Tech: Experience with Machine Learning systems, algorithm management, and real-time/embedded programming.
Modern Methodology: Familiarity with Agile, version control, and automating compliant CI/CD pipelines.

The base salary for this position is $130,000 to $170,000 annually, and the role is bonus eligible. 
The final salary offer is determined by factors such as experience, location, skills, education, and market conditions. **