Traits of an Exceptional Engineer 🌟

MUST READ - Defining the Markers of a Great Engineer.

Hello friends 👏,

I would like to start by expressing my appreciation to all of you for your support and the valuable topic suggestions. Today's topic, "Traits of an Exceptional Engineer," was inspired by one of my former colleagues from TikTok/ByteDance. Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of working with some truly extraordinary engineers, and I would like to share some insights on this topic with all of you.

Upcoming Updates with snowflair in the Future

I am currently in the process of creating an exciting podcast that some of my audience has been eagerly anticipating. Although it is still a work in progress, I am committed to bringing it to fruition. Stay tuned for future Podcast with snowflair, where we'll feature esteemed guests including Engineering Leads, PMs, HR and Finance experts from Fortune 500 firms such as Google, Meta, Amazon, ByteDance, and some unicorn startups 🦄️. They will share their invaluable experiences and insights!!

Today’s topic 🔥

In this episode! I would like to explore the qualities that make an engineer exceptional beyond just technical expertise. Having had the opportunity to work with some of the best engineers, including those from top tech firms and Fortune 500 companies, I have gained insights on what sets them apart. While I may not be an engineer myself and may not be an authority on technical aspects, through hosting numerous interviews, I have observed other important factors that contribute to an engineer standing out from the rest, including both technical and behavioral qualities.

Before you start reading 🙂

The opinions and experiences shared in this article are solely my own, and I acknowledge that different perspectives may exist :)

AND if you find this post helpful in guiding your career, please subscribe snowflair and we are currently offering a 14-day free trial!! 🙏

Comprehensive Technical Skillset 💻

Based on interview performance and feedback and partner with hiring manager’s experiences... Here's a list of key characteristics that define an engineer with good technical depth and coding skills:

• Domain knowledge (AKA - Know your stuff..). A solid engineer will definitely have a decent understanding on their own domain (e.g: ML, AI, Python), with a deep knowledge of fundamental concepts, principles, and best practices related to your area of expertise. 💪

• Programming Language. Proficiency in one of your strongest programming languages, with the ability to design, develop, and implement on a complex solutions. Mastering at least one programming language to a high level of proficiency is essential for daily work and enables you to optimize and enhance your skills to a higher level.

• Coding. Demonstrated expertise in producing clean, well-organized, and easily maintainable code, in accordance with coding standards and best practices. This will help you to ace any interviews AND gain a much stronger daily collaboration with others at work. I recommend do more LeetCode & HackerRank practice to enhance coding skills

• Attention to detail (bug-free code). Pay attention while coding or having a strong debugging skills to identify and resolve issues, resulting in bug-free and high-quality code, including the ability to efficiently navigate through a codebase. This is crucial for both interviews and day-to-day work. It ensures that code is free from bugs and errors, and contributing to the overall quality. 👍

• Open Source Contribution. IMO, open source contributions are good for engineers because they offer opportunities for skill development, collaboration, visibility, networking, and community engagement. They provide hands-on experience, allow for teamwork, enhance credibility, foster connections, and enable engineers to give back to the tech community. (It is a huge benefits for yourself)

• Environment. In 2023 and onward will continue to have more and more AI-powered tools/platform. So having a proficiency in learning and utilizing other development tools is also a successful key factor. Using them effectively in your day to day workflow it can greatly enhance productivity and contribute to your career growth

However, besides technical depth and skill, what other factors should be taken into consideration? 🤔

Behavior and Soft Skills 💯

While technical skills are non-negotiable for engineers, their behavior, including effective communication and collaboration, also plays a pivotal role. Positive behavior and attitude contribute to effective teamwork, foster a positive work environment, and lead to successful project outcomes. These skills are essential for career advancement, ESPECIALLY for those aspiring to leadership roles (Eng Manager, TL, or Lead.. 🌞) Let’s take a look! 👇