Alejandro Bruno

The difference between good and great engineers is not technical ability. It's these six things: 1. THEY DEFINE THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOLVING IT Good engineers solve the problem they're given. Great engineers ask whether it's the right problem. The best solution to the wrong problem is still the wrong solution. 2. THEY COMMUNICATE UP, DOWN, AND SIDEWAYS Technical excellence that can't be communicated doesn't scale. Great engineers write clearly, speak plainly, and translate between technical and non-technical fluently. This skill multiplies their impact by 10x. 3. THEY OWN FAILURES WITHOUT EXCUSE Good engineers explain why something failed. Great engineers explain what they will do differently. Accountability without defensiveness is rare. It's also what builds trust. 4. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW Good engineers are confident in their domain. Great engineers are explicit about the boundaries of that domain. "I don't know – but I know who does" is one of the most valuable sentences in engineering. 5. THEY THINK IN SYSTEMS, NOT COMPONENTS Every component has a context. Great engineers design for the context, not just the component. The part that works perfectly in isolation and fails in the system is the most common engineering story. 6. THEY MAKE DECISIONS WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION The real world never has all the data. Great engineers develop judgement – the ability to make good decisions when the information is ambiguous, the timeline is short, and the stakes are real. Technical skill gets you to good. These six things get you to great.