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 .

Forward Deployed Engineer

Picogrid · El Segundo, CA

Who we are

Picogrid is a leading venture-backed defense technology company founded to bridge the decades-long gap between modern technology and the critical demands of national security. Today, we're building the essential infrastructure to unify sensors, autonomy, and operators with our technology deployed in active operations around the world. Our mission is to deliver an operational advantage to secure the United States and its allies.

About the Role

Picogrid is seeking a Forward Deployed Engineer to operate at the intersection of product, engineering, and the customer. You will be responsible for working shoulder to shoulder with military customers to design and deliver the end-to-end capabilities for real missions.

Required Qualifications

  • 3+ years of experience in a technical role combining Software Engineering with customer-facing functions (Solutions Engineering, Sales Engineering, or Developer Relations) with a focus on Full-stack Development.

  • Proven experience engaging directly with end-users to understand mission needs, conduct valuable user testing, and incorporate product feedback.

  • Exceptional communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills, with strong technical knowledge in distributed systems, autonomy platforms, data pipelines, and edge software.

  • Demonstrated ability to integrate with complex government software systems, including data platforms, Identity and Access Management (IdAM) providers, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems, and Cross Domain Solutions (CDSs).

Preferred Qualifications

  • Active U.S. Secret or Top Secret security clearance.

  • Experience in Golang, Python, and/or React development.

  • Experience with hybrid operating environments (cloud, on-prem, edge) and common Communication APIs (REST, gRPC, GraphQL, MQTT).

  • Background in DOD RMF, FedRAMP, or NIST 800-53 compliance.

  • Experience with low-latency FMV/video systems, tactical data standards (CoT, STANAG), and/or common command-and-control platforms (TAK, Maven, Lattice).

  • Expertise in DDIL environments, Disconnected DevOps (Docker/K3s, mesh networking), and/or multi-sensor fusion.

  • Demonstrated ability to build or invent (e.g., app, startup) and experience/interest in the defense industry.

Compensation & Benefits

  • Base salary range: 120,000 - $200,000 per year. Base salary is just one part of your total compensation package at Picogrid.

  • Significant stock options with a high potential upside as an early-stage company

  • 401(k) with employer matching

  • Full health coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance)

  • Relocation assistance provided (if applicable)

  • Unlimited PTO (two-week minimum) and 11 paid holidays per year

  • Paid parental leave for both parents

  • Lunch provided when working in-office and a fully stocked kitchenette

  • Free EV charging at the HQ

  • Unique office in El Segundo, CA stocked with quality coffee, snacks, and craft beer

Export Control Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

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