At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and implement scalable security operations platforms using cutting-edge technology.
- Company: Join Allstate, a leader in innovation and a great workplace culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid work, and extensive professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Be part of a socially responsible organisation that values your growth and contributions.
- Why this job: Shape the future of cyber security while making a real impact in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in software engineering with expertise in multiple programming paradigms.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
At Allstate, great things happen when our people work together to protect families and their belongings from life's uncertainties. For more than 90 years, our innovative drive has kept us a step ahead of our customers' evolving needs.
This role sits within Allstate Cyber Operations & Platforms as part of a set of Digital Product Teams responsible for building and operating a cohesive, scalable Security Operations platform ecosystem. This ecosystem spans:
- Agentic Cyber Platforms (ACP): Operationalizing AI as a core cyber capability through shared platforms, orchestration patterns, and governance-by-design.
- Security Data & Observability (SD&O): Engineering and managing the Security Operations Data Plane, enabling high-fidelity telemetry, analytics, and AI-ready data.
- Tooling & Platform (T&P): Ensuring security tooling is integrated, governed, and aligned as part of a unified platform rather than disconnected solutions.
Together, these capabilities enable secure, scalable, and intelligence-driven cyber operations by design. The Platform Consultant defines and drives architecture patterns, integration standards, and ecosystem strategy across AI platforms, security data, and tooling. This role ensures the environment evolves as a coherent, reusable, and governed platform ecosystem, enabling safe, scalable adoption through well-defined "paved roads." You will translate operational intent into enterprise-scale platform design, ensuring interoperability between AI systems, data platforms, and tooling while minimizing fragmentation and maximizing reuse.
Key Responsibilities
- Platform Architecture & Standards: Define architecture, design patterns, and integration standards across AI, data, and tooling. Establish APIs, data models, security controls, and observability requirements.
- Data & AI Enablement: Ensure high-quality, structured data for AI (lineage, consistency, readiness). Set standards for safe AI use (explainability, auditability, controlled actions).
- Tooling & Integration: Design unified integration across tools and platforms. Ensure tools produce consistent, high-quality, AI-ready data.
- Paved Roads & Adoption: Build scalable, reusable solutions as the default ("paved roads"). Drive standardization, reduce duplication, and guide adoption.
- Strategy & Decision-Making: Lead build vs. buy vs. integrate decisions. Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, and governance-driven.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner across teams (ACP, SD&O, T&P) for platform alignment. Influence teams to drive simplification, reuse, and consistency.
Essential Criteria
- A minimum of 5 years software engineering experience in at least 3 programming paradigms to include:
- Object-oriented (Java & Javascript required and at least one other language)
- Procedural / systems (e.g. Go, Rust, C)
- Functional (e.g. F#, Elixir, Clojure, Haskell)
- Experience using modern development tools (e.g., IntelliJ or VS Code, Git/GitHub, Spring Boot) and designing robust RESTful APIs.
- A minimum of 3 years hands-on expertise in architecting and delivering large scale distributed systems, such as cloud native microservices on Docker/Kubernetes, deployed on modern cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or equivalent), ensuring scalability, high availability, and performance.
- Demonstrated success as a high impact technical advisor to multiple engineering teams, with proven ability to influence architecture direction and mentor engineers in best practices with proven leadership responsibilities.
- Expert level knowledge of Agile/XP and DevOps methodologies, including paired programming, test driven development (TDD), and CI/CD automation, with a track record of using these practices to accelerate delivery and improve quality.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience with agentic AI platforms, governance, and safe-action design.
- Familiarity with security operations ecosystems and analyst workflows.
- Experience with:
- Telemetry and observability systems.
- Data lineage, metadata, and data quality frameworks.
- Canonical data models and analytics-ready datasets.
- Background in tooling integration and platform standardization (golden paths/paved roads).
- Experience aligning AI, data, and tooling strategies into a unified platform vision.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This job does not have supervisory duties.
Skills: Architectural Patterns, Cloud Platform, DevOps, Ecosystems, Microservices Architecture.
Why join us? Allstate NI is proud to be Allstate's European Digital Centre of Excellence, a hub for innovation and engineering excellence. We're recent winners of Best Place to Work in IT (100+ employees) and Best Use of Cloud Services at the Belfast Telegraph IT Awards, and we've been recognised for our community and sustainability impact with Platinum in the Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking Survey. We're a product-driven, cloud-first organisation delivering real outcomes through modern technology, a digital product-centric talent model, and a culture rooted in engineering excellence. Our teams work in cross-functional structures, guided by an outcome-based delivery approach that accelerates speed, agility, and value.
We also invest in you. At Allstate NI, your career growth matters. You'll have access to our Continuous Learning Hub, designed to support skills development and professional advancement through tailored learning paths, certifications, and mentoring opportunities. Whether you're deepening technical expertise or exploring leadership roles, we provide the tools and support to help you thrive.
What do you get in return? As well as receiving a competitive annual salary, our reward package includes: Corporate bonus scheme, Pension scheme, Annual performance-related pay reviews, Life assurance and income protection, Flexible working options, Hybrid working, Private medical and dental insurance, Access to an employee assistance programme, Discounted gym membership, Two paid volunteering days each year, Cycle to work scheme.
Be part of a high-performing, socially responsible organisation where your work has purpose, and your growth is supported every step of the way.
Platform Consultant Expert - (Hybrid) in Newtownabbey employer: Allstate Northern Ireland
At Allstate, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment that empowers our employees to excel in their careers. Located in Belfast, our European Digital Centre of Excellence offers a people-first culture, competitive benefits, and extensive opportunities for professional growth through our Continuous Learning Hub. Join us to be part of a socially responsible organisation where your contributions make a meaningful impact while enjoying the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Platform Consultant Expert - (Hybrid) in Newtownabbey
✨Get Involved in the Cybersecurity Community
Diving into the cybersecurity community is key for landing that full-time gig. Join forums like Reddit's r/cybersecurity or attend local meetups to connect with industry veterans and other job seekers. Networking is everything in this field—don’t just be a passive lurker!
✨Show Off Your Skills with Capture the Flag Competitions
Participate in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions; these are not just a fun way to boost your skills but also a chance to showcase your talent to potential employers. Many companies, including Allstate Northern Ireland, love seeing candidates who actively engage in these challenges.
✨Tailor Your Online Presence
Make sure your LinkedIn and any professional profiles reflect your cybersecurity expertise. Share your projects, whether they’re personal or from a previous role, to catch the eye of hiring managers. This is how they’ll find your passion and commitment to the field!
✨Apply Directly Through Allstate Northern Ireland
Don’t forget to head straight to our website and check out any openings for cybersecurity roles at Allstate Northern Ireland. Applying directly can sometimes give you an edge, especially if you can mention that you've been following our work or engaging in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Platform Consultant Expert - (Hybrid) in Newtownabbey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your technical skills:In cybersecurity, it's crucial to highlight your technical prowess. Make sure your CV showcases specific skills like network security, penetration testing, or threat analysis. If you have relevant certifications (like CEH or CISSP), pop those on the front page to grab attention!
Tailor your portfolio for the role:Even for a full-time role, a portfolio can set you apart. If you've worked on any cybersecurity projects—be it CTF challenges, security assessments, or research papers—include these in your application. This demonstrates not just your skills, but also your hands-on experience!
Use real-world examples:When writing your cover letter, don’t just stick to your qualifications. Share real-world examples of how you’ve tackled security issues or vulnerabilities. This gives the hiring team at Allstate Northern Ireland insight into your practical problem-solving abilities and makes your application memorable.
Demonstrate your passion for cybersecurity:Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, so show us that you’re always learning! Mention any recent courses, webinars, or industry events you’ve attended. This not only exhibits your enthusiasm but also signals to Allstate Northern Ireland that you’re committed to staying ahead in the game.
How to prepare for a job interview at Allstate Northern Ireland
✨Sharpen Your Technical Skills
For a role in cybersecurity, it’s essential to be up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques. Brush up on your knowledge of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and vulnerability assessment tools. Be ready to discuss specific scenarios where you’ve applied these skills, as hands-on experience can really set us apart in interviews.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect the interviewers at Allstate Northern Ireland to throw in some hypothetical situations to see how you’d handle them. Think about common security breaches or incidents and be prepared to explain how you would respond. This not only shows your problem-solving skills but also your understanding of real-world cybersecurity challenges.
✨Highlight Your Certifications
Certifications like CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or CEH can give you a significant edge in a full-time role in cybersecurity. Make sure to mention these during your interview and be prepared to discuss what you learned through those certifications and how they relate to the position at Allstate Northern Ireland.
✨Show Your Passion for Cybersecurity
Since you’re going for a full-time gig, showing genuine enthusiasm for the field can make all the difference. Share any personal projects, blogs, or communities you’re part of that relate to cybersecurity. This not only showcases your passion but also your commitment to staying engaged in this ever-evolving field.
