System and method embodiments are provided for traffic engineering (TE) in software defined networking (SDN). The embodiments enable a complete end-to-end TE solution between a user equipment (UE) and a source/destination across a radio access network (RAN). In an embodiment, a method in a network component for TE in a SDN includes receiving TE information from a first core network component in a core network, a RAN component, wherein the RAN is communicably coupled to the core network, wherein the TE information includes a TE objective; and determining a TE decision between at least one UE and a second core network component in the core network according to the TE information and the TE objective, wherein the TE decision comprises information for at least one end-to-end path solution between the at least one UE and the second core network wherein the path traverses the core network and the RAN.