In the high-stakes world of startups, your dev team can make or break your company. One exceptional software engineer can outperform five average ones, but how do you identify that unicorn during the hiring process? After spending countless hours interviewing engineers and watching teams succeed (or implode), I’ve identified the key habits of great software engineers that truly separate the good from the great.
Why Great Software Engineers Are More Valuable Than Ever
Startups are in a constant battle for top software engineering talent. With over 3 million software engineering jobs in the U.S. but only 1.3 million qualified professionals to fill them, the competition is fierce. (Source)
This talent shortage makes it even more crucial to identify engineers who have the right mix of technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and a growth mindset.
Beyond Just Writing Code
What makes a great software engineer isn’t just technical skill. They’re strategic problem solvers who approach challenges with a unique mindset that sets them apart from the crowd.
1. They Think in Systems, Not Features
Average programmers build features. Great software developers architect systems.
When faced with a new requirement, a good software developer immediately starts thinking about implementation. A great software developer takes a step back and considers how this piece fits into the larger ecosystem. They anticipate scaling issues, potential bottlenecks, and how today’s decisions might impact tomorrow’s architecture.
How to detect it: During interviews, present a seemingly straightforward problem, then gradually introduce complexity. Great software engineers will proactively ask about system boundaries, dependencies, and future considerations before diving into code.
2. They Embrace “Productive Laziness”
This might sound counterintuitive, but the best software engineers often follow the DRY principle (Don’t Repeat Yourself) religiously, not because some textbook told them to but because they are inherently “productively lazy.”
“I’m not a great programmer; I’m just a good programmer with great habits.” – Kent Beck, creator of Extreme Programming
What makes a good software engineer stand out is their willingness to invest time upfront to automate repetitive tasks, create reusable components, and build robust tooling, which saves countless hours down the road.
How to detect it: Ask candidates about a time they automated a process. The exceptional ones will have multiple examples ready and can articulate both the immediate and long-term ROI of their approach.
3. They Debug Methodically
When things break (and they always do), average engineers try random solutions hoping something works. Great software engineers approach debugging like detectives – forming hypotheses, testing systematically, and narrowing down the problem space with each step.
How to detect it: Give candidates a buggy piece of code during interviews. Watch their process. Do they make random changes and hope for the best, or do they methodically isolate variables and test assumptions?
4. They Prioritize Readability Over Cleverness
“Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.” – Martin Fowler
What are software engineers if not communicators? The best ones know their code will be read far more times than it’s written. They prioritize clarity and maintainability over showing off their technical prowess with clever one-liners.
How to detect it: Review their code samples or GitHub repositories. Look for consistent naming conventions, thoughtful comments, and straightforward implementations rather than overly complex solutions.
5. They Constantly Refactor
The best software engineer candidates are never satisfied with “working code.” They continuously refine and improve their work, removing complexity and technical debt whenever possible.
How to detect it: Ask about their approach to legacy code. Great software engineers will talk about incremental improvements, setting up test coverage first, and the importance of maintaining or improving code health over time.
6. They Communicate Effectively
Technical excellence alone isn’t enough. What makes a good software engineer truly valuable is their ability to translate complex concepts into language business stakeholders understand.
How to detect it: Ask technical questions and evaluate how clearly they explain complex concepts. Can they adjust their explanation based on the technical background of the listener?
7. They Write Tests by Default
Average engineers see testing as a chore. Great software developers see it as a productivity tool.
They don’t write tests because some process mandates it; they write tests because it helps them move faster with confidence. Their tests serve as living documentation and safety nets for future changes.
How to detect it: Ask how they approach testing. Listen for nuanced answers about the appropriate levels of testing (unit, integration, end-to-end) and how they use tests to design better interfaces.
8. They Embrace Continuous Learning
Technology evolves rapidly. What makes a great software engineer stand out is their commitment to continuously expanding their knowledge, not just about what is trending on Hacker News but about fundamental concepts that transcend specific tools or frameworks.
How to detect it: Ask what they’ve learned recently and how they applied it. The best software engineers will have thoughtful answers about both cutting-edge technologies and timeless principles.
9. They Take Ownership Beyond Their Code
Good software developers don’t just throw code over the wall. They take responsibility for the entire lifecycle, from conception through deployment and monitoring.
In the most successful startups, engineers demonstrate a deep sense of ownership over product outcomes, not just technical deliverables.
How to detect it: Ask about a project they’re proud of. Great software engineers will talk about business impact and user value, not just technical implementation details.
10. They Understand Business Context
Perhaps most importantly for startups, what makes a great software engineer exceptional is understanding they’re building products, not just code. They make technical decisions with business priorities in mind.
How to detect it: Ask how they would approach technical tradeoffs with limited resources. Great software developers will factor in business constraints, market timing, and customer needs alongside technical considerations.
Finding Your Game-Changers
For early-stage startups, finding engineers with these habits can be transformative. While technical skills matter, these behavioral patterns are often better predictors of long-term impact.
During your next hiring round, look beyond the resume buzzwords and dig into how candidates approach problems, communicate solutions, and take ownership of their work. Your technical assessment should evaluate not just what they know, but how they think.
Remember that great software engineers aren’t just assets for your codebase, they’re multipliers for your entire team. One engineer with these habits can elevate the performance of everyone around them.
