chessmaster22

I know a couple of electrical engineers who work in software engineering - it seems to be a pretty common career path for EE majors, actually. Are you doing a specific type of software engineering that sets you apart?
Anyway, typically PhD programs - and especially top ones - require or strongly recommend their applicants to have had some research experience. Basically, they want to be sure that you know what you're getting yourself into and are not going to discover after a year or two that you really hate research. Also, they're going to want PhD students in their labs who are going to be helpful - help them get out publications and grants.
At any rate, one strategy is to take a look at your role at Visa and emphasize the parts that are research-related or research-transferable, and write about those in the statement of purpose. Also, write compellingly about the reason you are taking this "hard turn towards research." I'm assuming you didn't just wake up one day and decide to become a researcher; what has motivated your desired career change?

Any sort of work/research/study you did as an EE graduate (or still undergrad) working in/studying about the petroleum field that made you decide on getting a graduate/professional degree in petroleum engineering, I guess?

Your new scores are awesome. Hopefully you'll do just fine. Also--in case this was the error in your apps the last time--talk more about your research and current research interests on your SOP, and highlight them on your CV/resume.
If applicable: Try to weave in how your current work experience will help you as a future researcher on the SOP.
Unrelated: You're working as a software engineer? Isn't that more of a CSE work? That's cool though. I have an old friend who's also an EE graduate working as a software engineer for Visa at SF.

I retook the GRE this morning and got a great score.
165/170/? for V/Q/A.
Help me folks, I cannot screw up again like last year!
Thanks