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 Embedded Software Engineer - Cyber

Systemstechnologyresearch · Melbourne, FL

STR makes the world a safer place by developing technology and applying it to solve emerging national security challenges. Our Cyber Division develops the people, tools, and processes that put all the right bytes in all the wrong places. We strive for impact, craftmanship, and teamwork while tackling our nation’s most demanding cyber problems. 

A Senior Embedded Software Engineer at STR will engage as part of a multidisciplinary team of researchers and engineers dedicated to developing cutting-edge vulnerability research technologies. Our work targets the boundary between the digital and physical worlds by creating models of physical systems, probing interfaces for weaknesses, and reverse engineering software. 

What you will do:   

  • Working as part of a small team to design, develop, and test software applications and tools, in languages such as C, C++, and Python
  • Ensuring software quality through the practice of unit-level and system-level tests and verification Integrating software components using networking/messaging technologies
  • Packaging software for ease of configuration control, delivery, and deployment
  • Communicating technical foundations of software designs and implementations through reports and presentations 

Who you are: 

  • This position requires the ability to obtain a Top Secret (TS) security clearance, for which U.S. citizenship is needed by the U.S. Government.
  • BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field with 5 years of experience (or MS and 3 years)
  • Deep knowledge of at least one of the following topics: microcontroller software, embedded systems, firmware, kernels, or drivers
  • Proficiency in at least one compiled and one scripting programming language
  • Familiarity with assembly language, operating systems internals (e.g., file systems, IO, memory management, device drivers), threading, compiler technologies (e.g., GCC, LLVM) 
  • Experience with software scripting and build automation tools (e.g., bash, make)  
  • Applied skills using collaborative source code management and software engineering tools (e.g., Git, Subversion, Gitlab)  

Nice to have:  

  • Experience working on classified programs 
  • Proficiency in C, C++, and Python 
  • Understanding of common software vulnerabilities, and secure programming principles  
  • Experience with containers (e.g., Docker), virtualization technologies (e.g., QEMU), network communications frameworks (e.g., TCP/IP sockets), and unit test frameworks  
  • Knowledge of static and dynamic analysis

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $134,000 - $184,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, and Carlsbad, CA. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at www.str.us for more info.


STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at [email protected] and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.

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