Join industry leaders at Rapid7's Belfast Tech Talk on Thursday, November 13th
The intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity is reshaping the technology landscape at breakneck speed. For engineers, security professionals, and tech enthusiasts navigating this transformation, understanding where the industry is headed—and how to build a future-proof career—has never been more critical.
Rapid7 is opening its doors on Thursday, November 13th at 5:30 pm for an evening that promises to deliver exactly that insight. This isn't just another tech talk filled with buzzwords and abstract concepts. It's a practical, engaging exploration of how AI is revolutionising cybersecurity, delivered by the people building these solutions every day.
Why This Matters Now
Cybersecurity has evolved from a specialised niche into a fundamental pillar of modern business and society. As threats become more sophisticated and automated, the defenders must evolve too. AI has emerged as both a powerful weapon in this battle and a complex challenge requiring new skills, ethical considerations, and collaborative approaches.
The event features two compelling panel discussions designed to address the questions keeping engineers and security professionals awake at night. How do we build AI systems that are not just intelligent, but secure and ethical? How do we stay relevant as automation reshapes our roles? And crucially, how do we overcome imposter syndrome and grow confidently in this rapidly changing field?
Building Smarter Security with AI
The first panel brings together experts from across Rapid7's research, data science, engineering, and UX design teams. This diverse perspective matters because creating effective AI-driven security products isn't just about writing clever algorithms—it's about understanding threats from multiple angles.
Expect frank discussions about the challenges of building AI systems that adversaries are actively trying to outsmart. You'll hear how Rapid7 maintains data integrity at scale, balances innovation with strict privacy requirements, and designs systems that security analysts can actually trust and understand.
The conversation will explore how academic partnerships keep the company ahead of emerging attack patterns, and why explainability—helping humans understand AI recommendations—is just as important as the raw power of the models themselves. For anyone working in or aspiring to work in security engineering, these insights offer a rare glimpse into the thinking behind enterprise-grade security AI.
Engineering Your Career for Tomorrow
The second panel shifts focus to what all this means for your career. Led by Rapid7 engineers at different career stages—from Software Engineer II Anna Haley to Principal Engineer Paul Hunter and Senior Manager Fionnula Kelly—this discussion gets refreshingly practical.
How do you cultivate genuine continuous learning when there's always another framework, language, or tool demanding your attention? What does growth actually look like for senior engineers, and how do you stretch yourself beyond your daily responsibilities when you're earlier in your career?
The panel tackles imposter syndrome head-on—that nagging feeling that you're not qualified enough, especially when AI seems to be democratising skills you've spent years developing. You'll hear honest perspectives on how AI tools are changing the craft of engineering, whether they enhance creativity or risk oversimplifying complex work, and how leaders balance rapid AI innovation with maintaining quality and security standards.
Collaboration emerges as a crucial theme. In cybersecurity's AI-driven environments, the lone genius developer is a myth. Success depends on working effectively across functions—with product teams, designers, and data scientists. The panellists will share concrete practices for building these relationships and expanding your professional network in meaningful ways.
Future-Proofing Your Skills
Perhaps most valuable, the discussion will illuminate which areas engineers should invest in now to remain competitive. Automation and cloud-native systems are redefining what engineering means in security contexts. The panellists will share their perspectives on emerging technologies and the balance of technical skills, ethical reasoning, and responsible AI tool usage that tomorrow's engineers need.
This isn't about chasing every trend or fearing obsolescence. It's about understanding the trajectory of the field and making informed decisions about where to focus your energy.
Beyond the Panels
After the formal discussions, you'll have the opportunity to network with Rapid7 leaders and peers over food and refreshments. These conversations often prove just as valuable as the panels themselves—a chance to ask follow-up questions, share experiences, and make connections that could shape your career path.
Whether you're a student considering a cybersecurity career, an engineer exploring how AI fits into your work, or a security professional wanting to understand where the industry is heading, this event offers something concrete. No sales pitches, no superficial overviews—just experienced professionals sharing real insights about the challenges and opportunities in this dynamic field.
Secure Your Spot
The cybersecurity talent landscape is competitive, and organisations like Rapid7 are actively seeking people who understand both the technical and human dimensions of building secure AI systems. Events like this offer a window into that world and a chance to position yourself at the forefront of this evolution.
Thursday, November 13th at 5:30 pm. An evening of practical insights, honest conversations, and genuine connections. Your future in cybersecurity and AI starts with understanding where the field is going—and this is your invitation to find out.
Register now and take the first step toward building the future-ready engineering career you're capable of achieving. https://careers.rapid7.com/belfast-tech-talk
ead the Big Data Special Edition free online →
Stay connected with NI's tech community:
Subscribe to our newsletter – Get the latest tech news, job opportunities, and events delivered to your inbox
Visit Sync NI – Your daily source for Northern Ireland technology news
