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 .

Senior RF Engineer

Nerostechnologies · El Segundo, California, United States

Who we are

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

What you will be doing

As a Senior RF Engineer, you will take technical ownership of critical wireless subsystems and drive their development from concept to mass production. In this leadership role, you will be the expert for the entire RF chain, making key architectural and component selection decisions and ensuring our products meet performance standards. You will mentor junior engineers and collaborate across disciplines to deliver robust, high-performance wireless solutions on time.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the end-to-end design, simulation, and layout of RF systems, from the antenna through the radio interface
  • Define and own all verification, validation, and production acceptance test procedures
  • Perform detailed system analysis, including link budgets and cascade analysis, to guarantee performance
  • Spearhead complex root cause analysis for issues like RF interference, desensitization, and connectivity problems
  • Propose, model, and validate RF architectural decisions and select critical components
  • Manage project timelines and delegate tasks to junior engineers to ensure on-time delivery
  • Serve as the primary RF point of contact for cross-functional teams, including mechanical, firmware, and software

You should have the following

  • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) required; Master of Science (MSEE) is highly preferred
  • 5+ years of professional experience in RF hardware design for commercial or industrial products
  • Proven expertise in using RF simulation software (e.g., ADS, HFSS) for PCB, antenna, and fixture design
  • In-depth knowledge of RF system architecture, radio standards, and component selection trade-offs
  • Demonstrated experience leading projects and mentoring other engineers
  • Strong understanding of design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for test (DFT)

Nice to have

  • Advanced Degree: A Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) with a focus on RF/Microwaves or Electromagnetics
  • Antenna Design: Direct experience designing and simulating custom antennas for embedded systems
  • Manufacturing Experience: Proven experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Test (DFT), and working directly with contract manufacturers (CMs) to ramp production
  • System Integration: Experience in debugging complex system-level issues, such as RF desensitization, coexistence, and EMI/EMC mitigation
  • Automated Testing: Proficiency in developing automated RF test frameworks using Python, or similar tools

US Salary Range

$120,000 - $200,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.