If you have reports which are Staff / Principal Engineers in your team: What have been the traits you recognize in them to be suitable for those positions?
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Director of ITa month ago
For Staff / Principal engineers, 2 key traits that I expect distinctively different from typical developers/engineers in a delivery role is that they always strive to find a "better way" of solving the problem and taking a "framework" driven approach to solving the problem. Director of IT in Softwarea month ago
Staff and Principal Engineers often exhibit several key traits that make them suitable for these advanced positions. They possess deep technical expertise, often being seen as subject matter experts with extensive knowledge in their domain, which allows them to tackle complex problems and contribute to high-level architectural decisions. Their strategic vision enables them to align technology with business objectives, providing guidance on long-term technology roadmaps and ensuring that engineering efforts support organizational goals.Strong leadership and mentorship skills are also crucial, as they guide junior engineers, address technical challenges, and foster a collaborative work environment. Effective communication is another vital trait, allowing them to articulate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, provide constructive feedback, and influence decision-making.
Exceptional problem-solving skills enable them to identify root causes of complex issues and devise innovative solutions, often involving critical thinking and a deep understanding of system interactions. They excel in collaboration and influence, working across teams and departments to align stakeholders and drive projects forward. Adaptability is important, as they must stay current with industry trends and integrate new advancements into their work.
Ownership and accountability are key traits, as they take responsibility for projects and are committed to delivering high-quality outcomes while addressing challenges proactively. Their innovation and creativity bring a fresh perspective, continuously seeking opportunities to improve processes and introduce new technologies. Lastly, a focus on impact ensures that their efforts are aligned with the organization’s goals, whether through improving system performance, optimizing workflows, or driving innovation.
VP of IT18 days ago
I think successful Principal Engineers share a couple key traits: A natural curiosity that encourages continuous learning and a collaborative spirit with a willingness to teach and guide. Such roles are crucial to successful application development and systems engineering teams. It’s important to find candidates that will not isolate themselves from the more junior engineering roles, but will instead seek to share knowledge with the larger team thereby uplifting and upskilling engineers at all levels.