Skill report · Practices & Methods
Software Engineering: demand in job postings
Software Engineering is named in 7% of the 28,652 tech job postings Mettlespark read in the United States and Canada over the last 180 days (1,877 postings), most often for Applied Scientist at 22%, Forward Deployed Engineer at 17% and Solutions Architect at 16%. When a posting names it, 87% list it as required.
From 28,652 postings in the United States and Canada, April 23, 2026 to October 20, 2026. Updated October 20, 2026. How we count
- Postings naming it
- 1,8777% of all postings
- Required when named
- 87%rather than nice to have
- Senior level or above
- 60%of the postings naming it
Over time
Its share of postings has risen about 2.6 points since October 2023, comparing like with like.
The roles that ask for it most
The share of each role's postings that name Software Engineering.
| Role | Share of the role's postings |
|---|---|
| Applied Scientist | |
| Forward Deployed Engineer | |
| Solutions Architect | |
| Applied AI Engineer | |
| Machine Learning Engineer | |
| MLOps Engineer | |
| Engineering Manager | |
| AI Engineer |
Often asked for alongside
The share of postings naming Software Engineering that also name each.
- AWS39%
- Distributed Systems39%
- Machine Learning39%
- Python34%
- Code Review32%
- AI Agents28%
Industries
Where the postings naming it come from.
- Banking & Financial Services9%
- Aerospace & Defense8%
- Enterprise Software & SaaS7%
- Healthcare6%
Quick answers
Is Software Engineering in demand?
Software Engineering is named in 7% of tech job postings in the United States and Canada over the last 180 days, 1,877 postings, and required in 87% of those. Its share of postings has risen about 2.6 points since October 2023, comparing like with like.
Which jobs ask for Software Engineering?
Applied Scientist, Forward Deployed Engineer, Solutions Architect and Applied AI Engineer postings name it most often: 22% of Applied Scientist postings, 17% of Forward Deployed Engineer postings, 16% of Solutions Architect postings.
What skills go with Software Engineering?
Postings that name Software Engineering most often also name AWS, Distributed Systems, Machine Learning and Python.