At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the R&D team to develop a secure AI agent platform.
- Company: Global leader in identity and data security, trusted worldwide.
- Benefits: Competitive executive package, hybrid work, generous leave, and comprehensive benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity to build a new engineering organisation from scratch.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI trust and accountability with a pioneering team.
- Qualifications: 20+ years in software development, with strong leadership and security expertise.
The predicted salary is between 81000 - 99000 £ per year.
Director of Software Development, AI Agent Security Platform (NEW FDI)
At-a-Glance
- Director-level leadership of the R&D organisation building a new platform for securing AI agents
- Domain: agent identity, delegated authorisation, policy enforcement, evidence and continuous authentication
- Hybrid, Belfast
- Competitive executive package
Build the engineering organisation that makes AI agents trustworthy for the world's most regulated enterprises.
About the Company
Our client is a global leader in identity, payments and data security, trusted by governments, banks and enterprises around the world. With decades of expertise in public key infrastructure, digital identity and cryptographic security, it protects the people, devices and transactions modern business runs on. It is now bringing that expertise to AI, building a trusted foundation for agent identity, authority, execution and assurance, and is growing a team in Northern Ireland to deliver it.
The Role
As Director of Software Development you'll lead the R&D organisation that builds and delivers this new platform. You'll turn a four-plane reference architecture (Identity, Authority, Execution and Assurance) into an executable development strategy, operating model and roadmap, and own engineering execution, talent, quality, security and delivery predictability across the platform. You'll work closely with the VP of Software Development, Product Management, the Platform Architect, Security, Cloud Operations and the wider business units. It suits a proven engineering leader who can move fast on a new platform while holding the rigour that cryptographic systems and regulated customers demand.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and execute the development strategy, organisational design, delivery model and technical roadmap for the platform
- Turn product and architecture priorities into funded plans, measurable outcomes and clear release commitments
- Own delivery predictability, quality, reliability, security, cost and engineering productivity
- Establish strong mechanisms for planning, dependency management, design review, testing and release readiness
- Guide development of cloud-native services, APIs, SDKs, authorisation components and tamper-evident evidence systems
- Embed secure development, threat modelling, privacy, observability and third-party assurance into the lifecycle
- Build a production ownership model with SLOs, incident response and root-cause analysis
- Make sound build-versus-buy decisions and manage technical debt and platform risk
- Hire, lead and develop a high-performing, inclusive engineering organisation with clear career paths and succession plans
- Communicate progress, trade-offs, dependencies and risks to executive and cross-functional stakeholders
What You'll Need
Essential:
- 20+ years' software development experience, including 10+ years leading engineering managers or multiple teams
- A track record of delivering enterprise-grade cloud or security products from concept through to production and operation
- Strong knowledge of distributed systems, APIs, cloud platforms, secure development and DevSecOps
- Experience leading products with demanding security, privacy, availability or regulatory requirements
- The ability to influence senior leaders, resolve cross-functional conflict and make clear decisions in ambiguity
- Degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
Desirable / Nice to Have:
- Experience with identity, PKI, cryptography, authorisation, policy engines, workload identity or zero-trust architectures
- Experience building AI, agentic AI, LLM, MCP or machine-to-machine platforms
- Delivery under assurance regimes such as FIPS 140-3, Common Criteria, SOC 2, FedRAMP or eIDAS
Why Apply?
- Competitive executive package (to be confirmed)
- Hybrid working from Belfast
- Generous annual leave
- Comprehensive benefits package, details on request
- Build and shape a new engineering organisation from the ground up
- Lead work on one of the defining problems in technology: trust and accountability for AI agents
- The backing and scale of a global security leader
Next Steps
For a confidential conversation, contact Phil Gamble at or connect with Phil on LinkedIn/Whatsapp.
Director Of Engineering- New Cyber Fdi employer: Ocho People Ltd.
Ocho People is an exceptional employer that champions a remote-first work culture, allowing you to thrive in a flexible environment while collaborating with top-tier brands. With a strong focus on employee growth, we offer continuous learning opportunities and the chance to lead impactful digital transformation projects, ensuring your contributions drive meaningful commercial outcomes. Join us to be part of a dynamic team that values innovation, collaboration, and personal development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director Of Engineering- New Cyber Fdi
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Ocho People Ltd. or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Ocho People Ltd..
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Ocho People Ltd..
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Ocho People Ltd. that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Director Of Engineering- New Cyber Fdi
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Ocho People Ltd..
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ocho People Ltd. and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocho People Ltd.
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Ocho People Ltd. uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
