Software Development Engineer Characteristics: What The Best Have In Common

If you want to attract, retain, and build a phenomenal team of software developers, hiring people who are smart, educated, and technically inclined won’t be enough. That’s a great place to start, but you’re going to need to dig much deeper into the characteristics and personalities of these people. In this article, we’ll share the software development engineer characteristics to look for.

Valuable Software Development Engineer Characteristics

Whether you’re hiring in-house or interviewing software development agencies to partner with on your next dev project, here are things you want to look for in the people you’re going to be working with.

They’re a team player

Your team is only as strong as your weakest link, so it’s essential that your developers are true team players. Whether it’s collaborating with the team on the current project or understanding the needs of the people using the product that’s being designed, this is a team-centric atmosphere.

You can see their inclination to teach and help

Each project will encompass multiple stages and phases, and there will be multiple people working diligently along the chain. Much like the importance of teamwork, things are changing rapidly and new tech is emerging all the time. In order for the team to be functioning at full efficiency, everyone needs to be helping one another and teaching others what they know at every opportunity.

They think and act independently

You can’t uncover new and innovative solutions and product ideas if you aren’t a forward thinker, so it’s important that the people on your team strike a balance between being team players and also having their own thoughts that drive their actions. Game-changing, disruptive technology doesn’t come from people who follow the pack.

They have the desire to produce quality work

Whether you want to call it work ethic or striving for perfection, you need software developers on your team who truly take pride in their work. They have this inner desire and drive to produce good quality work, as they see it as a direct reflection of themselves.

They’ve got a genuine passion for programming

Just because someone is good at something doesn’t mean they love doing it. Try to uncover whether or not programming is what gets this person out of bed in the morning, as passion is what’s required for long-term success.

They understand the importance of time management and deadlines

Deadlines are crucial for any development project, and you need people who not only respect that but will do what it takes to meet the timeframes given to them. When one step begets the next, one missed deadline has the potential to completely blow the budget and cause major issues to the overall project timeline.

They enjoy learning and being challenged

Trends, technologies, and even fields are constantly evolving in the software development space. You need software developers who are agile, adaptable, and eager to learn new skills. Without this desire to improve and attack new challenges, the team won’t be able to keep up as new technologies continue to evolve.

They are naturally curious

Last, but certainly not least, is the characteristic of curiosity. The mother of invention, this trait is what will lead individuals down the path of exploration and innovation.

These characteristics aren’t things you’ll find on a resume, so ensure you’re asking the right questions during the interviewing and hiring process. You really need to get to know your candidates if you’re going to find the people and teams who possess the soft skills that are proven to be behind those high-performing software development teams.