What are the characteristics of a Good Software Engineer?

 Article by @Harmanjot Kaur, Content Writer, Chandigarh University 

The biggest delusion about software engineers is that all they need to do is write good code. But scrutinizing the different questions asked during various software engineering job interviews, it has been concluded that employers are expecting candidates who are far beyond good programmers.

Apart from engineering-focused education, some other characteristics make you a good software engineer and help you stand out in the cut-throat competition.

Let’s walk through the characteristics of a good software engineer:

Time Management and Team Player

The contemporary world is running at a pace faster than a second hand on a clock. Time is crucial for profits which makes it significant to accomplish the tasks on time. Software engineering projects that aren’t delivered on time become white elephants.

Apart from this, leadership skills and being a dynamic team player is fundamental to success. Software engineering projects are a collaborative process and require the active participation of each team member. 

Knowledge of Full Stack

Any good software engineer must possess good technical knowledge and skills. The Software engineering field is changing expeditiously with new advancements. A software product consists of several layers- front end, back-end, server, hardware, network, and database. 

A good software engineer should possess knowledge about the functionality of each stack and must be able to solve problems independently in any phase of application development. The unique characteristic to think and act independently is necessary if you want to do pioneering work. 

Excellent Communication Skills

Open and good communication is the key to good development skills. A great developer knows to comprehend problems well, break the concepts into theories, and propose the best solutions.

They understand the theories easily and feel no need to jot down everything in a specification document. Having a good command of the English language is essential as it is the de facto language of most documentation and developer interactions. Otherwise, translators and interpreters are required which creates a hassle in team working. 

Clear-Headedness

The ability to think clearly and cleverly is a very important characteristic of a good software engineer. Software engineers have to deal with abstract and intangible things which include complex programming languages. 

Hence, it becomes fundamental to think out-of-the-box.

Quick Learning Ability

Good software engineers are generally amazing self-learners. They can learn new technologies on their own and process information expeditiously. There is a situation in every programmer's life when he or she is unable to understand and doesn’t know the answer. 

Great software engineers make opportunities for themselves by speaking to the right people and finding appropriate solutions. The best ability one can hold is how to self-learn.

High-End User Focus

One of the most important characteristics of a good software engineer is that they think about the end-user of the software. They try and work hard to solve problems within the organization’s capabilities. A good programmer is always keen to know whether the functionality they’re creating is of high value or not and pushes hard when a feature doesn’t create value for anybody.

Solid Business Acumen

You don’t need to have an MBA degree to become a good software engineer. Being acquainted with your software as it functions in the real world is a key skill for software engineers. 

Good developers spend a significant amount of time in their careers developing their business acumen by:

1. Comprehending the end-user personas clearly
2. Working closely with the business teams
3. Studying usage analytics

Also, senior software engineers take a keen interest in marketing, sales, and revenue metrics of the software to evaluate the overall value of their work. 

Curiosity to know about innovative technologies

Curiosity makes you invent many cutting-edge technologies. Curiosity also drives continuous improvement from the development of Flintstone cars to modern-day luxurious cars. It is one of the most vital characteristics of a good software engineer. It is essential throughout the life of an engineer as it encourages them to learn new languages, experiment, and look for new solutions. It further motivates them to investigate the architectural choices of others as well as question assumptions. 

Love of Learning

Genuine dedication to continuous learning is one of the primary developer strengths. Good software engineers need to adopt one thing - the practice of going from not knowing to knowing and learning every single day. One needs to find fast ways of getting things done. 

There are many ways to continue learning:

1. Attending international and national conferences and hackathons
2. Discovering a mentor
3. Asking for feedback from seniors

 Adaptivity

The IT world is transforming rapidly at a fast pace. Another characteristic of a good developer is to be adaptable.  Try to be on the lookout for new tools and ways of doing things. 

Use this approach to keep up with the technology.

1. Listen to your gut feeling
2. Look for silver bullets. These include well-marketed technologies
3. Learn to debug
4. Go with the flow

 Welcoming Mentorship

Good software engineers don’t become good in isolation. Mentorship is significant in IT as the top characteristics of a good software engineer are developed by apprenticeship. Have advice from a more seasoned colleague at work.

Another reason to advocate mentorship is that it exposes both your strengths and weaknesses. 

The tech industry is undergoing a talent scarcity situation. Hence, it is becoming more and more difficult to find excellent programmers. Hence, it becomes vital to develop the necessary skills by doing a professional study program. 

Chandigarh University is the leading institution for engineering in North India. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering nurtures engineers who are industry-ready to face the challenges and equipped with the knowledge of innovative technologies. The specialized courses in collaboration with top-notch multinationals companies provide students with a practical experience of corporate life. It has North India’s first Microsoft Innovation Centre and the first software lab for emerging technologies. Research and make a wise decision.