Characteristics of Software Technical Expert - As documented by Hemant Shah

Hemant Shah listed these characteristics of a Software Technical Expert in a mail to participants of Accelerated Technical Expert Program. I think this is a great list and forwarded this mail to various other Teams in Geometric Ltd. I am reproducing the list here as it will be great reference to everyone.

(PS - Hemant has uncanny ability to simplify complex ideas to simple core concepts. If you are in GeometricPLM/HCL Technologies, don't miss his sessions) 

 

While Nitin has been articulating the qualities which he wants to see in Techincal Experts,
Here is a list of things which has been compiled.

I understand that it might sound too much of super-human-like. Also most of the things you would already know.

This is just to document things in a single place.

Note that not all of them are unique or mutually exclusive. Some of them might be repetition of already mentioned points, with a different view point.

Technical Expert

1. A Technical Expert should be able to design a software.
2. A Technical Expert should be able to implement a software.
3. A Technical Expert should have a wide-ranging experience.
4. A Technical Expert should be the go-to person in the team for Technical queries.
5. A Technical Expert should be able to give Technical Presentations.
6.  A Technical Expert should be able to make, review, evaluate a Technical Proposal.
7. A Technical Expert should be able to formulate Technical Guidelines for e.g., Technical Coding Guidelines etc.
8. A Technical Expert should be able to evaluate a new software and give recommendations.
9. A Technical Expert should do Technical Bench-marking.
10. A Technical Expert should be aware of / read technical standards.
11. A Technical Expert should be aware of / read latest things available in his/her field. 
12. A Technical Expert should be member of Technical bodies. 
13. A Technical Expert should write Technical Blogs.
14. A Technical Expert should be able to compare and evaluate two software.
15. A Technical Expert loves challenging problems and attempts at solving them.
16. A Technical Expert should answer queries which are posted on Technical Forums.
17. A Technical Expert should take part in Technical Competitions. 
18. A Technical Expert should be a judge of a Technical Competition. 
19. A Technical Expert should attend Technical Conferences / Events. 
20. A Technical Expert should be a Speaker at Technical Conferences / Events. 
21. A Technical Expert should be able to guide / mentor new comers in the organization and the project team.
22. A Technical Expert should be able to analyse technical reports / findings.
23. A Technical Expert should have some preliminary business sense. 
24. A Technical Expert should be aware of the various tools available in his/her field of expertise, or should be able to find out and figure out.
25. A Technical Expert should take part in Techathons, Hackathons. 
26. A Technical Expert should have in-depth knowledge of a particular topic / subject. He / she should be an authority on that subject. A Technical Expert should have broad knowledge of other areas. 
27. A Technical Expert should have broad knowledge of the various Software Development Processes
28.  A Technical Expert should be part of the Technical Evaluation / Promotion of Individuals. 
29. A Technical Expert should improve the efficiency of the Team on Technical
30. A Technical Expert should share his/her knowledge across multiple domains.
31. A Technical Expert should share technical information with others.
32. A Technical Expert should inspire others also to become a Technical Expert.
33. A Technical Expert should do external Technical Certifications. 
34. A Technical Expert should be an innovator. 
35. A Technical Expert actively contributes on Social Media. 
36. A Technical Expert knows how to build a technical team. 
37. A Technical Expert challenges his / her peers with technical problems.
38.  A Technical Expert comes up with other challenging problems. 
39. A Technical Expert should be a curious person. He / she should be an early adopter of a new technology. 
40. A Technical Expert comes out with challenging test papers / question papers for the next generation to solve.
41. A Technical Expert should be able to talk to, articulate things to non-Technical folks like Human Resources, Business, Finance, Sales, etc.
42. A Technical Expert should be able to simplify complex topics so that other non-technical folks or other technical folks are able to understand and comprehend the complex topics.
43.  A Technical Expert should be able to take Technical Interviews. 
44. A Technical Expert should be able to sustain a dialog with other Technical Experts. 
45. A Technical Expert should be able to teach others about the Technical Skills which he/she has acquired.
46. 48.  A Technical Expert should be sincere, perseverance, able to express, diplomatic, great inter-personal skills, approachable. 
47. A Technical Expert should be an avid reader.
48. A Technical Expert is a Guru.
49. A Technical Expert is a Final Authority on Technical matters. 
50. A Technical Expert is a Role Model for others.