Engineering Management In 2026: Navigating Change

Technical Leadership In The Age Of AI 

Like many careers in IT, Declan's journey wasn't a straight line either. 

It was shaped by a series of deliberate pivots, transitioning from chartered architecture and public sector project management to acting as the main contractor on his own house build. It’s this diverse background in structural design and delivery that eventually led him to engineering management at Liberty IT. 

As we navigate the engineering landscape of 2026, Declan’s experience offers a grounded perspective on how we build digital systems. 

We sat down with him to chat about what it actually means to lead in this rapidly evolving tech age, exploring how his roots help him solve complex technical challenges and build the high-performing teams behind them. 

Journey Into Tech: From Architecture To Agile And Engineering Manager 

Declan, can you talk us through your career journey and the moment you realised you wanted to move into technology? 

I graduated as an Architectural Technologist in 2004 - this path was a passion of mine until the financial crash of 2008, when I was made redundant. 

After, I got chartered, secured a public sector job and completed a part-time masters course in Project Management - all while holding down a full-time job, having two young children and starting my own house build where I acted as the client, designer and main contractor! 

A local tech company was seeking traditional project managers with no previous IT experience, so I made the jump to managing IT projects. 

How did you find the move to an IT career? 

It was daunting at first but soon became interesting. Six months later, there was an industry shift into agile methodology, which sent me on a new path of Scrum and agile coaching. Then in 2021, I joined Liberty IT as an Engineering Manager. 

What motivated your move to Engineering Manager? 

Being neurodiverse with dyslexia, technology has always been a tool that helps me move faster and focus on harder problems. In the architecture industry, I needed to customise PCs to optimise performance for 3D visualisations, so this became a hobby, which led me into networking and learning about how the technology worked. 

I led the introduction of CAD into the firm I worked for at the time, planning the networking install, procuring the hardware and software needed to run a busy practice. Jumping into the IT sector and then into my current role have been a natural steps for me. The fact that no two days are the same makes this industry a perfect fit for me and how I work.  

Engineering Management In A Fast Developing Industry 

What does a typical week look like for you as an Engineering Manager in today’s environment? 

I manage three teams, around 15 people, so it’s busy! A typical week will include agile ceremonies at both the team and platform level, running the tech leads calls, and 1:1 check-ins with team members on everything from weekly work to goals and career growth. 

I also spend time meeting with the employee group, checking in with my own mentor, and attending our weekly leadership meeting, where we discuss resourcing, issues, and company-wide updates. 

How is AI influencing the way your team designs and delivers software? 

AI is having an impact in terms of the wide array of tasks that it has the potential to help with - everything from researching complex problems in our space to creating agents which can manage the more mundane, day to day tasks. 

So much is changing so quickly, I feel I’ve only scratched the surface - but being the first person on my team to create an agent and lead the way felt good. It’s also really important to be open and honest about the process, ensuring transparency when AI is used to add value. 

Innovation And The Future Of Insurance Tech 

Looking at the next 12 months, where do you expect AI to have the most meaningful impact on insurance technology? 

Getting involved in our Ignite Global Hackathon gave me an opportunity to see the ideas teams have at firsthand – they’re using AI to monitor things like the condition of insurance customers’ roofs or overhanging trees, so they can reduce their premiums. 

At the company level, AI helps us improve response times in natural disasters, while here at Liberty IT, it frees engineers from repetitive and research heavy tasks, and helps us get new products out to market quicker. 

How do hackathons support experimentation, and why are they valuable for Engineering Managers? 

Innovation time is vital for me and across our business, so we protect this time in our teams, knowing we can then demonstrate that innovation to senior leaders. These events have led to some great success stories, whether that’s specific tech advancements or furthering other engineers' knowledge of the tools available. 

Over the past two years, I’ve also led out on the Belfast location for Liberty Mutual’s global Ignite hackathon. We’ve had great successes from the events too – last year our teams came away with three of the top prizes! 

Inclusive Leadership And Diverse Perspectives 

As a member of the ABLE employee group, how does your experience with dyslexia inform your leadership style? 

Diversity is key to putting together a high-performing team, as we have different perspectives on complex issues and ways of working. It’s my job to harness these ideas, ensure everyone has a voice and that we arrive at the best solution for Liberty IT. 

Advice For Navigating A Career Shift Into Technology 

For those looking to move into the IT sector from a non-technical background, what would your advice be? 

Don't underestimate the value of your 'traditional' experience. When I moved from architecture, my skills in project management, stakeholder delivery, and structural thinking were my strategic differentiators. 

Stay curious, be an early adopter of new tools, and remember that having a different professional background isn't a barrier; it’s a perspective that teams actually need to solve complex problems. 

Join our team

Declan’s journey reminds us that while the tools change, the core of engineering remains a human endeavour. It’s about building environments where curiosity is protected and nurtured, and where diverse ways of thinking are seen as a technical necessity rather than an optional extra.  

Explore current roles at Liberty IT and see where your skills could take you.