10 OKR Examples for Software Engineers

OKRs for software engineers focus on technical work quality such as functionality, security, performance, usability, reliability, and dev speed. Objectives and key results help your software engineering team set strategy and measure progress on technical goals.

Software engineering OKRs might differ based on industry and company phase, such as startups or enterprises.  Here are 10 examples of OKRs for software engineers:

UX and Product Quality OKRs

1. Objective: Increase user satisfaction with Android app

• Key result 1: Increase average load time by 3 seconds

• Key result 2: Reduce crash reports by 10%

• Key result 3: Increase user review rating by 1.0 points in the Google Play Store

• Period: Q1-2027

2. Objective: Improve user experience of consumer-facing website

• Key result 1: Reduce downtime by 20%

• Key result 2: Reduce bug reports by 20%

• Key result 3: Reduce error rate to less than 1%

• Period: Q1-2027

3. Objective: Expand app reach in localized region

• Key result 1: Support five more local languages in the app

• Key result 2: Increase subscriber count by 25% in the region

• Key result 3: Improve Google Play Store rating by 1.0 stars 

• Period: Q1-2027

Performance OKRs

4. Objective: Increase e-commerce conversions from 5% to 10%

• Key result 1: Implement new shopping cart design

• Key result 2: Make the new app ready for download for Android and Apple devices

• Key result 3: Implement new abandoned cart workflow

• Period: Q1-2027

5. Objective: Improve website performance speed

• Key result 1: Implement new caching mechanism with cache hits +90%

• Key result 2: Reduce API response time from 900ms to 250ms

• Key result 3: Port 80% of components from AngularJS to React

• Period: Q1-2027

6. Objective: Improve speed by cleaning up technical procedures

• Key result 1: Reduce feature implementation time from one month to two weeks

• Key result 2: Reduce “do not modify” warnings by 25%

• Key result 3: Transition core legacy modules to new platform

• Period: Q1-2027

Security OKRs

7. Objective: Make our software the most secure on the market

• Key result 1: Improve average incident detection time by 20%

• Key result 2: Increase frequency of incident simulations from annually to quarterly

• Key result 3: Reduce incident escalation rate to less than 5%

• Period: Q1-2027

Productivity OKRs

8. Objective: Help engineering teams become more productive

• Key result 1: Increase use of AI coding tools by 25%

• Key result 2: Reduce deployment time of fixes by 10%

• Key result 3: Double current deployment schedule from 1 day to 2 days a week

• Period: Q1-2027

9. Objective: Use AI to improve user experience and increase consumer value

• Key result 1: Identify areas where new AI implementation can improve experience

• Key result 2: Implement AI in three test areas 

• Key result 3: Achieve 85% user satisfaction rate with new AI features

• Period: Q1-2027

10. Objective: Give our internal team the technical support they need to thrive

• Key result 1: Implement a self-serve developer portal that 90% of engineers use weekly

• Key result 2: Decrease new development environment time from 2 hours to 30 minutes

• Key result 3: Increase employee satisfaction rating from 4.0 to 5.0 on quarterly survey

• Period: Q1-2027

What Makes a Strong Engineering OKR

Think of OKRs in two parts: “objectives” and “key results.” The objective is what your strategy is ultimately trying to achieve. The key results are the precise, detailed outcomes that should support each objective. An easy example from the non-engineering space might be: 

• Objective: Feel rested throughout the day

• Key result: Sleep 8 hours every night

• Key result: Take 1 nap or fewer

The key results make each objective actionable. Abstract aspirations are hard to achieve without steps your team can take to reach those aspirations. A quick scan of OKR examples for software engineers should follow the pattern of thinking big (objectives), with a measurable result that your team can create a plan and work towards. 

Strive to include these elements in each software engineering OKR:

• Objective: A high-level, aspirational goal

• Key results: A list of three or four specific results that support the objective

• Timeline: A period to achieve the OKR, such as Q4-2026 

You might also assign a team lead or specific individual to head up the OKR initiatives. The lead can support software engineering teams and act as the go-to resource for overcoming barriers to success. 

Let’s not forget that software engineering OKRs focus on technical work quality; that’s distinct from product OKRs, which measure customer value. You probably don’t want to silo these too robustly, as they’ll often cross paths in your company’s overall development strategy. However, the best OKR examples for software engineers hone in on the technical specifications that support business strategy. 

How OKRs Are Different From KPIs

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are the staple of most business planning. But these are distinct from OKRs, as your team already monitors them. KPIs show ongoing performance, while OKRs are a specific model to drive change. 

An OKR can start with an aspirational objective that is built upon a foundation of key results driven by a plan of action. The “O” in an OKR might be “to overtake our competitors to have the leading market share in North America,” while the KPI is an ongoing measurement of market share from period to period.  

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