In order of priority, what we look for when making an engineering hire is:

1. Raw Intellectual Ability

This can be of various kinds. Some engineers are amazing with the front end, some can architect complex infrastructure, some can orchestrate complex migrations. We’re agnostic. Just be intellectually or creatively impressive in some demonstrable way. 

2. Desire To Improve Themselves

We look for engineers who care a lot about being great engineers. About learning, and improving and discovering best practices (both with respect to code, but also in regards to collaboration).

3. Relevant Skills And Experience

Notice this is the last on our list. It is a distant last. We believe someone with raw intellectual horsepower, paired with a drive to learn and improve, will pick up whatever new ideas, technologies or systems are needed given some time and guidance. Some of our best engineering hires have come from unusual or esoteric parts of computer science.