Engineering The Future: How We’re Driving Innovation

At Liberty IT, innovation is part of our culture Few people embody that culture more than Rory, a Solutions Engineer who’s spent the past five years at the heart of Liberty IT’s Incubator unit. From AI-powered fraud detection to championing engineering excellence, Rory’s career has been shaped by a passion for problem-solving and a drive to stay at the forefront of emerging technology. 

We sat down with Rory to learn more about what a typical day looks like in his role, what drives his love for innovation, and how he and his team are embracing AI to build the future of insurance technology. 

Rory’s Path to Technical Leadership in Software Engineering 

Rory, tell us a little about your journey to Solutions Engineering. How did you get here? 

I’ve been with Liberty IT for 13 years now, and over that time, I’ve moved through various engineering and leadership roles. What’s kept me engaged is the constant evolution, both of the work and of the technology itself. I’ve always had a strong curiosity for how things work, which led me naturally toward engineering. 

But more than just building things, I’ve always been drawn to why we build them. That’s what makes being in the Incubator so rewarding — we’re constantly asking: “What’s next? What new tech or capability can we bring in to solve a real-world problem?” 

Inside Liberty IT’s Incubator: A Culture of Innovation and Experimentation 

You’ve been part of the Incubator for five years now. What makes that team special? 

When I joined the Incubator, I told our Managing Director: “This is exactly where I want to be.” And I still feel that way today. 

The Incubator is all about exploring the potential of emerging technologies and figuring out how we can apply them to create value for the business. Whether working with AI or piloting new product concepts, every project has an experimental edge. 

The team here is fantastic. We have a culture that values technical excellence, curiosity, and collaboration. We push ourselves to do great work, not just because it’s expected, but because we care. 

A Day In The Life Of A Solution Engineer in the Incubator 

What does a “day in the life” look like for a Solutions Engineer in the Incubator?  

It varies quite a bit. Some days I’m deep in code, validating a proof-of-concept or exploring a new tool. Other times, I’m working with architects or business stakeholders to shape a technical roadmap. I also spend time mentoring other engineers, which is really important to me. 

Leadership is a big part of the role. I help set engineering standards, advocate for well-architected practices, and drive adoption of new approaches across our teams. I also make time to stay hands-on, ideally at least 20% of my time in the codebase. 

That keeps me grounded in the realities of the tech and helps me stay connected with the engineering challenges our teams face every day. 

Finding Energy in Innovation 

You mentioned a passion for innovation — where does that come from? 

I’ve always been fascinated by technology. As a kid, I was the one taking apart gadgets just to see how they worked. That curiosity never really left. Innovation, to me, is about possibility. 

It’s about asking: “Could we do this better? Could we try something new that really changes the game?” I get a lot of energy from that kind of thinking. And being in the Incubator gives me the space and support to explore those possibilities. 

How AI is Powering Innovation and Transformation 

AI is clearly a big part of that. How is it shaping the way you work? 

AI has had a huge impact. It’s a powerful tool that’s helping us build smarter, faster, and more personalised solutions. It doesn’t replace critical thinking, but it does supercharge it. We’re also using AI in our products. But we’re mindful of the risks too — things like bias, data privacy, and the need to keep a “human in the loop.” 

T-Shaped Engineers: The Key to Versatile and Collaborative Tech Teams 

You’ve been described as a T-Shaped Engineer. Can you explain what that means and why it matters? 

A T-Shaped Engineer is someone with broad knowledge across multiple areas, but with deep expertise in one or two specific domains. My deep area is probably engineering excellence, but I make a conscious effort to learn across disciplines. 

That might mean exploring UX principles, cloud architecture, or emerging AI trends. This breadth makes collaboration easier and allows me to contribute across more areas. 

And at Liberty IT, we actively encourage this mindset. We promote internal movement and learning, because being adaptable is how we stay ahead. 

Advice for Aspiring Software Engineers 

What advice would you give to someone early in their software engineering career? 

Technology changes constantly, so the best engineers are those who keep learning. Don’t be afraid of not knowing something — imposter syndrome is real, but it doesn’t have to define you. Ask questions. Make mistakes. And focus on the impact you can make, not just the code you can write. 

Also, remember that engineering is as much about people as it is about tech. The best solutions come from collaboration, creativity, and understanding your users. That’s the sweet spot where innovation really happens. 

The Future of Engineering and AI at Liberty IT 

Finally, what excites you most about the future of engineering at Liberty IT? 

The pace of change is incredible, and we’re right in the middle of it. From AI and automation to better cloud-native practices, the possibilities are endless. What excites me most is the opportunity to keep solving meaningful problems. At the end of the day, we’re not just building software, we’re creating tools that improve people’s lives and make businesses stronger. 

Interested in solving big problems with cutting-edge technology? Explore careers in engineering and innovation at Liberty IT.