This paper is a position statement. There are important requirements on software development engineers that go beyond the normal academic qualifications and technical skills, and which quite often receive a lower priority in education and training. Some of the soft skills that are listed in the job descriptions for software development engineers at Microsoft are: change management; self-development; composure and stress management; problem-solving skills; drive for results; communication skills; and interpersonal skills. This paper focuses on the first four of these. The exact description of the soft skills needed changes depending on the level of the position.