Top 9 Software Engineer Skills We Look For (with Tips!)

To engineer something is to design something meaningfully, with purpose, and intention. Engineering is a mindset. Along with knowing the technical parts of engineering, you can benefit from knowing a bunch of other things.

The software engineering space can often feel like working in a vacuum, you are assigned a project, have a timeline for when to deliver it, and you do what is needed. But it can and even should have some more layers.

Beyond basic coding, engineers should have other skills, the kind that make them job-ready developers. These are the top skills we look for when hiring engineers, and how you can practically build them through daily habits, projects, and learning paths.

1. Curiosity

Why we value it: The most necessary skill, for lack of a better word, that any engineer can have is curiosity. Curiosity pushes you forward, makes you question the norm, encourages you to explore answers, and keeps you asking questions. Curious people ask, “why is this happening?” and it can lead them to understand something deeper.

How to build it:

• Take one “why” question a day and chase it till you understand the root cause.
• Reverse-engineer a favourite tool or feature you use.
• Join communities like Stack Overflow or Reddit dev threads — not just to answer but to read what others are exploring.

2. Creativity

Why we value it: Creative engineers don’t just follow instructions, they challenge assumptions, design better experiences, and find smarter paths.

How to build it:

• Take coding breaks with non-coding creativity: design, writing, music.
• Join idea jams or innovation sprints at work or in communities.
• Remix: build an app that does the same thing, differently.

3. Attention to detail

Why we value it: When the smallest change in the flow or a misplaced semicolon can result in something drastically different, it is crucial to pay attention to detail. A good engineer is one who can see the bigger picture and zooms into the details simultaneously. They anticipate edge cases and test with intent.

How to build it:

• Practice peer code reviews, it sharpens both your writing and reviewing.
• Use linters, formatters, and testing libraries religiously.
• Do a daily 10-minute “code walkthrough” of your own recent work. See what you missed.

4. Mentorship

Why we value it: Being a mentor to someone is not about being a senior, and most certainly not about formal titles. It’s about initiative. Great engineers lift others up, share what they know, and build better teams. Mentorship isn’t just good team behaviour, it’s a key job-ready developer skill that companies actively look for.

How to build it:

• Start by documenting your learnings. Write internal wikis, public blogs, or dev notes.
• Pair-program with someone less experienced. You’ll be surprised how much you learn.
• Create your own “junior you” onboarding checklist — and offer it to someone new.

5. Presentation

Why we value it: No matter how good you are at your work, if you can’t present it, it is of no use. Being good at presenting your work is a skill that goes beyond your manager seeing that you have done your job. It can win you confidence, client facing time, and even win you accolades for having done your job with a little flair. It is the extra marks for good handwriting of the engineering world.

How to build it:

• Record yourself explaining a project in under 3 minutes. Watch it back.
• Use visual aids like architecture diagrams or demo videos.
• Volunteer to demo features during sprint reviews. It’s real-time training.

6. Communication

Why we value it: Whether you’re writing docs, pushing PRs, or giving feedback, good communication keeps teams healthy and work flowing smoothly.

How to build it:

• Write concise commit messages and pull request descriptions.
• Practice active listening in standups, respond, don’t just report.
• Use frameworks like “situation-behaviour-impact” when giving feedback.

7. Adaptability & Continuous Learning

Why we value it: Tech changes fast. So do teams, tools, and timelines. Adaptable engineers stay valuable.

How to build it:

• Dedicate 30–60 minutes a week to learning something not immediately needed.
• Try a new language or framework through a mini project.
• When things change suddenly, don’t resist, reflect, replan, reset.

8. Teamwork & Collaboration

Why we value it: Engineering is a team sport. Collaboration means knowing when to lead, when to listen, and when to ask for help.

How to build it:

• Participate in group hackathons or mob coding sessions.
• Practice giving and receiving pull request feedback.
• Make empathy a habit: assume good intent, stay open, stay kind.

9. Project Management

Why we value it: Engineers who manage their own work well are easier to trust with bigger things.

How to build it:

• Use a project management tool, even for solo side projects.
• Write clear specs and timelines before starting.
• Reflect weekly: What went well? What delayed you?

Final thoughts:
You don’t need to master all of these at once. Start small. Pick one or two skills. Build habits around them. Engineering is a craft, and crafts are built over time.

These are the tech hiring tips we lean on when evaluating software engineer skills. If you’re someone who loves to build, learn, and push yourself, we’d love to meet you.