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 .

FPGA Engineer

Scalian · San Diego, CA, us

As an FPGA Engineer, you will play a key role in designing, verifying, and implementing complex digital hardware solutions for aerospace and defense applications, including navigation, timing, and actuation systems. Your primary focus will be on developing reliable, high-performance FPGA/ASIC designs that meet stringent safety, quality, and performance standards.

You will collaborate with system architects, hardware engineers, and verification teams to support the full development lifecycle from requirements definition and RTL design through verification, integration, and validation. This role is central to delivering robust, safety-critical hardware solutions that enable advanced avionics and embedded systems.

Who are we? 
At Scalian, we are a leading multinational engineering consulting firm with 5,500 specialists and over 30 years of experience. We are specialized in Digital Systems (IT & Software and Systems Engineering) and Industrial Performance (Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, and Project Management).

Our expertise serves various technological sectors such as the aerospace, defense, rail, and energy industries while providing distinctive support to their development and operations.

Are you an experienced FPGA Engineer? 
If your answer is yes, it’s your lucky day as we are looking for a dynamic and talented person to join our team in the US! 

What will your role be? 

As an FPGA Engineer, you will play a key role in designing, verifying, and implementing complex digital hardware solutions for aerospace and defense applications, including navigation, timing, and actuation systems. Your primary focus will be on developing reliable, high-performance FPGA/ASIC designs that meet stringent safety, quality, and performance standards.

You will collaborate with system architects, hardware engineers, and verification teams to support the full development lifecycle from requirements definition and RTL design through verification, integration, and validation. This role is central to delivering robust, safety-critical hardware solutions that enable advanced avionics and embedded systems.

  • Design and develop RTL modules using VHDL/Verilog for FPGA and ASIC targets based on system requirements
  • Build and execute verification environments, including testbenches and simulation models, using SystemVerilog/UVM methodologies
  • Develop scripts (Python, Tcl, Perl) to automate simulation, testing, and validation workflows
  • Ensure compliance with DO-254 standards for safety-critical hardware development
  • Utilize tools such as Xilinx Vivado/Vitis for synthesis, implementation, and debugging
  • Work with industry-standard communication protocols such as PCIe, ARINC 429, SPI, and MIL-STD-1553
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams on system integration and hardware/software co-design
  • Debug RTL issues and validate designs on laboratory hardware test benches
  • Analyze code and functional coverage to ensure design robustness and completeness
  • Document design processes, verification results, and technical specifications to support certification and continuous improvement
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical or Electronics Engineering or a related field
  • 5–8 years of experience in FPGA/ASIC design and verification (level dependent)
  • Strong proficiency in VHDL and/or Verilog, with experience in UVM/SystemVerilog for verification
  • Hands-on experience with FPGA development tools such as Xilinx Vivado (Vitis is a plus)
  • Familiarity with simulation tools such as QuestaSim, ModelSim, or VCS
  • Solid understanding of digital design principles and hardware development workflows
  • Experience working with communication protocols such as PCIe, ARINC 429, SPI, or MIL-STD-1553
  • Knowledge of DO-254 level C or more critica Exposure to scripting languages (Python, Tcl, Perl) for automation and testing
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to debug complex hardware issues
  • Effective communication and collaboration skills for working across multidisciplinary teams
  • Experience in domains such as digital signal processing, image processing, or embedded systems (C/C++, embedded Linux) is a plus