What makes a great software engineer? – paper recap

Joel’s definition works for me: https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2006/10/25/the-guerrilla-guid...

Somebody who understands the problem, sees the tasks and delivers. There are lower order attributes like field knowledge and the like, but the fundamental skills are like a session player. They come in, do what is required in a time fashion and thus make the project better.