We counted how often Shield AI's own 98 ads (those with a full description) state each requirement. This shows the filters the ads apply before anyone reads a resume. We have no data on why candidates are rejected after applying, and we do not guess.
Years of experience. 75 of 98 ads (77%) state a number of years. The median is 7 years; 95% ask for 5 or more and 19% for 10 or more.
Education
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
Bachelor's degree
45
46%
Master's degree
44
45%
'or equivalent experience' accepted
37
38%
PhD or doctorate
31
32%
Legal and eligibility: what can rule you out
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
Security clearance mentioned
52
53%
U.S. citizenship mentioned
15
15%
U.S. person / export-control (ITAR, EAR) rules
2
2%
Working conditions
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
Travel mentioned
19
19%
On-site or in-person work
6
6%
Relocation mentioned
1
1%
Skills and tools named most often
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
python
45
46%
c++
41
42%
cad
24
24%
linux
20
20%
solidworks
8
8%
react
8
8%
matlab
7
7%
kubernetes
6
6%
javascript
6
6%
machine learning
6
6%
typescript
6
6%
docker
5
5%
excel
4
4%
java
4
4%
fpga
4
4%
How to stand out
First, cover the basics the ads ask for most (see the requirements above: python (46%), c++ (42%), cad (24%), linux (20%)). Then look at what separates higher-paid ads:
Among the 98 ads that publish a pay range, we compared the median pay of ads that name each item with ads that do not. This is a correlation in the ads, not a promise: an item can pay more because it comes with senior roles.
Sort:
Item named in the ad ⇅
Ads naming it ⇅
Ads not naming it ⇅
Median pay midpoint with it ⇅
Difference vs ads without it ⇅
docker
5
93
$265,000
+$55,000
machine learning
6
92
$244,800
+$32,300
PhD or doctorate
31
67
$220,000
+$20,000
matlab
7
91
$226,000
+$16,000
kubernetes
6
92
$225,000
+$12,500
'or equivalent experience' accepted
37
61
$214,320
+$10,320
Master's degree
44
54
$214,320
+$9,320
solidworks
8
90
$212,500
-$1,820
cad
24
74
$210,000
-$7,200
python
45
53
$205,000
-$7,500
We describe only what the ads state. We do not know how recruiters rank candidates.
Same role elsewhere
Where else the same role family is open, with the pay each posts: