Good Software Engineer

1. It is not the code they write. It is the code they don't have to write.
2. It is not how fast they grow a code base, in terms of lines of code or complexity, but about how fast they shrink it without losing feature or functionality.
3. If you try to start the 'whats the best language' argument with them, do they smile, or maybe look bored, and then change the subject? Or do they evangelize? If they evangelize, they're not a great software engineer.
4. It is not about the code or the language. Nor is it about 'obsession', 'knack', 'talent' or any other pseudo magical term. Simply- do they understand software beyond the level of code? Do they understand the software on the architectural level? Or can they only think about lines of code? Can they slip between mathematical abstractions of problems and software? Can they work with stakeholders to understand their needs for the system, or will they develop the system they want to code, that they think you should really want? Someone can be a great hacker or coder or programmer, but that is not he same as a great Software Engineer. I say this without a value scale- a great programmer is a great programmer... But you don't ask a master welder to design a bridge.
5. Can they 'spot the flaw' when everyone else in the room is enamored of some solution or hot new thing, and moreover, can they explain that fundamental flaw in a way that makes it clear to *everyone* in the room.
6. Can they Listen?  If not then they are not a great software engineer.

Some success Tips

If you ever wanted to be success-full and think that what points can help you  read below:

Learn relentlessly. Read books and books on success, people skills and anything that might have some inkling of strand of wisdom about success and wealth. Especially read the biographies of successful people. In his autobiography, Mark Cuban talks about how we would buy and read any book on business that he thought might help. The $15 he'd spend was a fraction of the wisdom he picked up was worth. Drew Houston of Dropbox talks about how he would spend every weekend reading books on business, sales, marketing, all day long. Every weekend.

Become a people person. This is a learnable skill or skills. No one is born a great salesperson. There may be people (like athletics) with better inborn abilities (outgoing, etc). But the best learn, they read, they study, and they practice, relentlessly. A lot of times, those with the best given talent, don't end up being the top in the field, because at the start, it comes easy to them. The ones that have to work at, work relentlessly and don't ever get complacent. And then one morning, they wake up and the effortlessness at sales or marketing or leadership that they never thought they would achieve, they now embody.

Work hard. As an employer, one of the things that stands out the most with employee is a good work ethic. It's worth it's weight in gold. Drop your expectations and ego, and put your nose to the grind and good things will happen.

Take risks. Not dumb, fickle risks and not gambles. But smart, calculated risks where you have a good chance at succeeding. You won't always succeed, but you will learn a huge amount in the process and you will garner an enormous amount of respect from people in doing so.