Discover 10 Remarkable Qualities to Become a Senior Engineer
A quick shortlist of qualities of senior software engineers for other engineers to emulate
When I started working 15+ years back, I always wondered what it took to be a senior programmer. Having years of experience under the belt was what I thought was the answer then. But then I saw a few of them being able to solve problems fast and the team respected those few. They held exalted status in the team and many people consult them on approaches, solutions, and challenges. So I would stalk them and observe their modus operandi so that I could emulate them.
15 years since these traits seem very obvious. Yet, remembering those early years of struggle, I made this list for any new programmer who wants to get an insight into senior engineers’ minds.
1. Asks why?
A senior software engineer never accepts a directive without question. They want to understand the reasoning behind implementing a solution. This helps in uncovering hidden assumptions and challenges. Sometimes this questioning helps in simplifying the code and faster delivery. Other times, it can question the underlying assumptions and help businesses avoid shooting themselves.
