What Top Software Engineers Care About Most

November 13, 2013

With top tech talent in such high demand, it’s generally a given that the best software engineers are going to be well compensated. Most companies are paying competitive salaries, and with that as a more or less level playing field the choice often comes down to other key differentiators.

That said, Balihoo’s Paul Price tries to do what any good CTO would do when they want to retain, or attract, top engineering talent — he makes the money aspect of the engineer’s decision mostly irrelevant by matching other companies’ offers.

“I think people genuinely prefer to work for us and value many of the things we offered,” Price says. “I just need to make money a non-issue. Once that happens, we are able to focus on the things that really matter to most talented engineers.”

So, what exactly are those “things?”

What Engineers Really Want: 3 Tips for Providing It

In Price’s experience, the best engineers and developers rank compensation somewhere in the middle of their “must-haves” list, below things like the opportunity to be challenged, build new technology, or have the freedom to work without management breathing down their necks. Also ranking above the cash component of an offer: the ability to creatively solve interesting problems and the opportunity to build something that genuinely makes a difference in a customer’s life or business.

“Frankly, the most important things to engineers aren’t the tangible perks that matter to most workers,” Price says. “In many ways, engineers are like artists. Money matters to an understandable degree, but there are many other less obvious things that matter more.”

What are some tips Price would give to growing businesses trying to hire and retain top engineer talent?

1. Allow engineers to determine how their workspace is set up

It might seem frivolous, but engineers care very much about the environments they work in. So, if an engineer wants dual 27-inch monitors, a funky keyboard and mouse, and a desk chair fit for a space station, Price suggests splurging for those things. “They’re small investments in the grand scheme of things,” Price says. “And they can go a long way toward helping you attract and retain the best engineers.”

2. Give them work schedule and location flexibility

The reality is that many engineers don’t always function at peak efficiency or productivity between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and sometimes they work better from home. So, provided the quality of their work is upheld and they’re completing projects on time, why not give them the flexibility to do that?

3. Encourage engineers to participate in the hiring process

One of the biggest reasons many engineers give for wanting to join, or leave, a company is the team they work with. By allowing engineers to participate in the hiring process (i.e., interviewing candidates, reviewing resumes, etc.), Price says you can foster a stronger sense of team and ensure that everyone is on board when you hire someone new.

Keep a Broad Perspective

All of that being said, Price urges CTOs to remember that the things that matter most to their engineering team will likely depend on a myriad of factors, including a company’s stage, location, market, and industry.

“We’re in Boise, Idaho, so what matters most to the engineers we hire may be very different than what matters most to engineers in Silicon Valley,” Price says. “It’s critical to keep that in mind and avoid trying to copycat another company’s recruiting and retention approach.”

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We Want to Hear from You

How did you get your best engineers, or, if you are an engineer, what persuaded you to go to your current company? Do you have any tips to add to the list? Let us know in the comments section below.

Photo by: Michael Dales

CEO

<strong>Paul Price</strong> is the CEO of <a href="http://balihoo.com/">Balihoo</a>, a local marketing automation software company based in Boise, Idaho, where he is responsible for leading engineering efforts, including software development and infrastructure. Before joining Balihoo, Price played a key role in developing the software and building the team that created Clearwater Analytics, a leading institutional investment reporting company.