Key Traits of Successful Engineers and Inventors

I've interviewed 100+ engineers at Microsoft, VMware & Instacart. The best predictor of performance isn't what you think. Here's what actually works: Most technical interviews are fundamentally broken. I ask candidates to describe their home internet setup. This single question reveals more than hours of coding tests. True engineers are obsessed with optimization. They can detail their router model, network configuration, and backup systems with enthusiasm. If they respond with "I don't know, it just works" - immediate red flag. The best candidates treat their home network like mission-critical infrastructure: "If the internet dies, I'm going ninja-level to figure it out. It's as important as breathing." This reveals the first trait I look for: Deep curiosity. The second trait? Systems thinking. I ask them to explain how email works. Not looking for textbook answers. Average candidates give surface-level explanations. Great candidates dive deep into: • DNS lookups • MX records • Multi-tier architecture • Edge cases They can't help themselves - they're fascinated by complexity. The third trait is crucial: Making complex things simple. At Acompli (acquired by Microsoft for $200M), I interviewed 100 iOS engineers to hire ONE. The key question: "How would you build an app where long lists scroll at 60fps?" 99% jumped straight into technical solutions. The 1% we hired? They started by asking about user experience and performance tradeoffs. These 3 traits combined: • Deep curiosity • Systems thinking • Simplifying complexity Are worth more than any coding test. Here's the counterintuitive part: You can't teach these traits. They're ingrained patterns developed over years. That's why I'd rather hire someone who compiled their own router firmware as a hobby than someone who aced every CS course. This approach helped me build teams that: • Scaled to hundreds of engineers • Shipped products used by millions • Led to multiple $100M+ exits The hard truth: Technical skills can be taught. But curiosity, systems thinking, and simplification abilities? Those are the real predictors of engineering excellence. Want to master the founder mindset and build better? Join Founder Mode for free weekly insights on startups, systems, and personal growth: https://lnkd.in/gSjjvzt9

A lot of traits are used to describe successful people: customer obsession, being “right a lot,” strong ownership, innovation, and so on. But I don’t think most of these are root behaviors. They’re outcomes. If I had to pick one underlying behavior that consistently leads to many of these outcomes, it’s this: Curiosity. When someone is genuinely curious, a lot of other important behaviors follow almost naturally: - They put in the work. Curiosity makes people dig in instead of taking the easy route. - They’re willing to get uncomfortable. Curious people step into unfamiliar areas because they want to understand how things work. - They look for better ways of doing things. That often means trying new tools, debugging the process, or rethinking how something is built. - They make more informed decisions. They simply know more about the problem and the surrounding context. - They care about customers. Because they’re genuinely interested in how their work is used and what problems it solves. - They improve and simplify things. Curiosity makes them question assumptions instead of accepting the existing setup. - They think beyond their immediate scope. They pay attention to what’s happening around them, their team, the company, the market. Across my career, the engineers and leaders who consistently deliver the most impact tend to be the ones who stay curious. They learn new tools, explore new domains, and ask the questions others skip. They’re the ones who push past “how things are done” and end up unlocking simpler or faster solutions. There is one downside, though: Curiosity has no natural stopping point. It’s easy to go down rabbit holes, get distracted, or constantly chase new ideas. That’s why curiosity needs a counterweight: focus. Curiosity helps you see possibilities. Focus helps you finish things. Put together, they form a very strong combination.

10 patterns I’ve noticed in engineers who grow, stand out and raise the bar:   They think before they speak → and when they do, it moves the conversation forward. They come prepared → ready to contribute, answer, and clarify. They read the codebase deeply → and leave it better than they found it. They stretch themselves → seeking complexity instead of staying comfortable. They document decisions → not just code → so others can trace the ‘why’ later. They offer feedback respectfully → and welcome it just as openly. They notice edge cases others miss → and quietly plug the gaps. They don’t chase credit → they chase clarity, quality, and impact. They mentor without making it a big deal → answering questions generously. They stay curious → reading PRs, RFCs, and design docs even when it’s not “their project.” -- What would you add?

Great engineers stand out through behaviors, not just technical skills. Top performers prevent problems by deeply understanding requirements before coding. This saves weeks of rework that comes from rushing. Career growth depends more on communication than knowing frameworks. Engineers who explain complex ideas simply and write clear documentation get promoted faster. Leaders notice consistent output, not short bursts of productivity. Working steadily for months impresses more than working intensely for a week. Elite engineers know when not to code. They find simpler solutions that need less maintenance and create fewer problems long-term. The biggest success factor - Making everyone around you better. Engineers who help their whole team improve always advance faster than those who work alone, no matter how brilliant.

After working with hundreds of automation projects, I've noticed that the best automation engineers share these key traits: 1. Systems Thinking Mastery They see the big picture AND the tiny details. They understand how each automation decision ripples through the entire system. 2. Adaptable Problem-Solving The best don't just solve problems—they anticipate them. They're comfortable with ambiguity and can pivot their approach when needed. 3. Continuous Learning Drive Technology evolves daily. Elite automation engineers aren't just okay with this—they thrive on it. They're always exploring new tools and methodologies. 4. Process Optimization Obsession They're never satisfied with "good enough." They constantly ask: "How can this be better, faster, more efficient?" 5. Quality-First Mindset They know that automated doesn't mean perfect. They build robust, maintainable solutions with proper error handling and logging. 6. Collaborative DNA The best automation engineers aren't lone wolves. They document extensively, share knowledge freely, and build solutions others can maintain. 7. Business Acumen They understand that automation isn't just about tech—it's about creating business value. They prioritize projects with the highest ROI. 💡 Which of these traits do you think is most crucial? 

The more I engage with experienced engineers at Microsoft, the more I notice some common traits that really set them apart: 🔹 Strong Technical Instincts – They can quickly gauge whether an idea is feasible, drawing from past experience to anticipate risks before they arise. 🔹 Exceptional Prioritization Skills – They manage multiple tasks seamlessly, knowing what needs immediate attention and what can wait. 🔹 Big-Picture Thinking – Instead of just tackling the problem at hand, they consider how their solutions align with long-term goals and broader business objectives. 🔹 Quick & Practical Estimations – Those rough mental calculations we often discuss in interviews? They do them effortlessly, ensuring realistic planning and execution. 🔹 Decisive Under Uncertainty – Even with incomplete information, they make well-reasoned decisions, balancing trade-offs effectively to keep things moving. Observing these qualities in action is both inspiring and a learning experience. Beyond technical expertise, it’s their ability to think strategically, adapt, and lead that makes them invaluable. What other traits have you noticed in senior engineers that set them apart?

5 traits of real breakthrough innovators according to Marc Andreessen (a16z; cofounder of Netscape; coauthor of Mosaic): 1/ Very high in openness — "Just flat-out open to new ideas…You’re not just open to new ideas in one category, you’re open to many different kinds of new ideas…But of course, just being open is not sufficient because if you’re just open, you could just be curious and explore and spend your entire life reading, talking to people, but never actually create something.” 2/ High level of conscientiousness — “You need somebody who’s really willing to apply themselves, typically over a period of many years to accomplish something great…For most of these people, it’s years and years of applied effort. You need somebody with an extreme basic willingness to defer gratification." 3/ High in disagreeableness — "If they’re not ornery, then they’ll be talked out of their ideas because the reaction most people have to new ideas is ‘Oh, that’s dumb.’ So, somebody who’s too agreeable will be easily dissuaded to not pull on the thread anymore.” 4/ High IQ — "They just need to be really smart because it’s hard to innovate in any category if you can’t synthesize large amounts of information quickly.” 5/ Relatively low neuroticism — “If they’re too neurotic, they probably can’t handle the stress.” >> What I find interesting about these traits are: A/ They have conflict and tension between them, such as openness vs conscientiousness, since it's the classic right vs left brain. That's what make these innovators rare. B/ Disagreeableness is tough because if too extreme, you can put off people and be deemed "hard to work with" — that said, these people are sometimes the best founders, so it's likely they are built more to be founders than middle/senior management. So maybe my 3 year old toddler is showing signs of founder mode right now :) C/ Of the best founders I know, I'll add a 6th trait...larger than life mission. They all believe in something bigger than themselves, that their product/service/way of thinking must exist in the world. And yes, to be candid, for some the power (status) and money is a big draw because of the things they can do with it. It's this belief that drives them through the ups and downs and being OK not having work/life balance or harmony (because the straight truth it, it's 90%+ work for them). Anything stand out to you?

I've read 20+ biographies of the most successful people in history: • Leonardo da Vinci • David Ogilvy • Sam Walton • Steve Jobs • Phil Knight • Elon Musk Here are the 8 things they all have in common: 1. Relentless Curiosity They never stopped asking "why?" • Da Vinci filled thousands of notebook pages with observations. • Musk taught himself rocket science to build SpaceX. • Ogilvy researched consumer behavior obsessively. Never stop learning. Curiosity fuels breakthroughs. 2. Obsessive Focus On Their Vision They had a clear, ambitious vision and pursued it relentlessly. • Jobs saw Apple as tech meets art. • Knight envisioned Nike as a lifestyle, not just shoes. • Walton built around low prices & customer obsession. Define your bold vision. Let it guide every decision. 3. Embrace Risk and Failure They ran toward risk, not away from it. • Knight faced bankruptcy but doubled down. • Musk risked his PayPal fortune on Tesla and SpaceX. • Da Vinci's flying machine failed, but he learned from it. Fear of failure kills progress. Take bold risks. 4. Customer-Centric Obsession They prioritized customers' needs above everything else. • Walton lived by "The customer is the boss." • Ogilvy crafted ads that spoke to consumers' desires. • Jobs designed for user delight, not just function. Know your customer better than they know themselves. 5. Insane Work Ethic They outworked everyone. No exceptions. • Knight sold shoes from his car while working as an accountant. • Musk works 100-hour weeks, sleeping on factory floors. • Ogilvy wrote ad copy late into the night. Success demands embracing the grind at times. 6. Adaptability to Change They pivoted when markets shifted. • Jobs returned to save Apple from near bankruptcy. • Da Vinci shifted from art to engineering based on needs. • Walton adopted satellite technology for Walmart's logistics. Stay flexible because markets can shift at any time. 7. Build Dream Teams They surrounded themselves with talent & delegated effectively. • Musk hired rocket scientists & creative minds. • Ogilvy recruited top creatives for his agency. • Knight partnered with coach Bill Bowerman. You're only as good as your team. Hire smart & inspire loyalty. 8. Master Storytellers They crafted compelling narratives to sell their vision. • Ogilvy turned ads into unforgettable stories. • Musk paints SpaceX as humanity's path to Mars. • Jobs launched products with iconic keynotes. Master storytelling to make your brand unforgettable. These 8 traits built empires that changed the world. Which trait are you working on? Let me know below. & if you found this valuable… Follow me for more content like this.

The phrase "No school, no teacher, yet the world's best engineer" celebrates the idea that success in fields like engineering doesn't always come through formal education, but can be driven by passion, curiosity, and real-world learning. Here's the origin of this idea: SELF-LEARNING: Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla, two historical figures, exemplify self-driven learning. Despite limited formal education, they revolutionized industries through experimentation, showing that hands-on experience can sometimes outweigh classroom learning. ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORMS: In the digital age, platforms like Coursera, edX, and YouTube democratize education. Individuals can access expert-level resources and engineering concepts without the confines of traditional schooling. HANDS ON EXPERIENCE: Engineering is a field where practical skills are often as important as theory. People who dive into internships, personal projects, or maker spaces can learn by doing, which is often more effective than formal education alone. MENTORSHIP AND PEER LEARNING: Learning from peers, mentors, or through collaboration can fill the gap left by formal teachers. Many successful engineers network to gain insights from experienced professionals. CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING: Many of the best engineers succeed by approaching problems creatively and thinking outside traditional methods, which often comes from exposure to diverse experiences rather than formal education. PASSION AND CURIOSITY: A deep love for problem-solving drives many engineers to pursue knowledge beyond a classroom setting, continually pushing them to innovate and explore new ideas. This concept underscores that education is a journey that can take many forms, and true innovation often stems from a combination of self-motivation, hands-on learning, and creative thinking.

The secret weapon of successful engineers is mental models. There's too much focus on: • The best AI model • Languages • Frameworks • Libraries And not enough focus on: • Systems thinking • Pattern recognition • Reasoning from first principles • Solving real problems for people Your ability to solve problems depends more on 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 than what you know. Developing mental models isn't boring theory. It's practical leverage. How many more opportunities will slip away because you're too busy identifying the best tool?