Traits of Successful Software Engineers

I'm often asked about the most important trait of a good software engineer.

I'm not sure I can single out just one, but I can think of a few traits that make someone a great addition to your software engineering team.

Drawing from my experiences at Supportful and previous roles, I've compiled a list of character traits of good software engineers.

I do not claim this is an exhaustive list, but I believe these are the most impactful ones: passion, hard work, interpersonal skills, willingness to learn, and rigor.

The Passionate

I can tell when a software engineer is passionate about their work, although I can't exactly explain how I recognize it.

It could be the spark in their eyes when they discuss their favorite tech stack or the energy with which they speak.

As a Supreme Court Justice once said, "I know it when I see it."

A more tangible passion indicator is when a software engineer is well into the geek culture, from jokes and memes to loving Linux and everything open-source.

Contributing to open-source projects is a big green flag.

The Hard Working

A hard working engineer is not someone that works overtime. Of course, they work long hours when there's a need to do it.

However, this trait is mostly noticeable when a person will not settle before finding a solution to the problem they're addressing.

They are result-driven and are willing to sacrifice short-term gratification in exchange for delivering what is required from them. And sometimes even more.

The Pleasant

The ability to work well with others is as important as having advanced technical skills.

A good software engineer with strong interpersonal skills is a must for any team to succeed.

Whether they help their colleagues, bring humor to the workplace, or provide a sense of security to the team during challenging times, these individuals are net positive contributors to the team dynamics.

The Learner

I'm always impressed with software engineers who proactively learn new technologies, new ways of doing things, or who are simply on top with the latest happening in their area of expertise.

Such profiles are future-proof as they can adapt and pivot when necessary. (In tech, this happens a bit too much.)

The Rigorous

A rigorous engineer is someone who builds neat software based on solid foundations.

They are attentive to details and most importantly committed to quality work. They are rarely the fastest coders.

Having a rigorous engineer on the team is important but not only for the work they produce. They serve as a "correctness watchdog" when we're inclined to take the easiest path to deliver faster. They're here to remind us of doing things correctly.

As the saying goes, it takes all kinds to make a world. The best engineering teams are those formed of diverse profiles and characters.

Get in touch if you'd like to beef up your team with top software engineers from Lebanon.