Brian Rice
Full Stack Software Engineer
Lisburn
Summary
A Full Stack Engineer with over 23 years of development experience in various domains and technologies. Worked for leading companies such as Allstate, First Derivatives and Intel, delivering high-quality products and solutions for different business needs.
Since July 2022, a Lead Engineer for Allstate Forward Engineering, a team that focuses on building Generative AI products for Allstate's multiple business areas. Responsible for developing and deploying a reference implementation for Allstate's Generative AI products to follow, using technologies such as Python, FastApi, Azure OpenAI, LangChain, SolrDB, ChromaDB, Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure AI Studio. Some early products delivered in this space include an Employee AI Assistant, and an ITSM Major Incident insight generator and query tool. This role also involves supporting product teams with the latest enterprise recommended development stack, which includes React, Typescript, Java Spring Boot, Kubernetes, Docker, fully automated CICD tools. Assisting new product or feature development using these technologies, ensuring best practices and standards of the enterprise are followed.
Previously a Lead Engineer for Allstate Technology R&D, exploring emerging technologies and their potential impact on the insurance industry by building proof of concepts and MVPs. Some of the topics researched included Confidential Computing, Decentralized Identity, Distributed Ledger Technology, Smart Contracts, Quantum Computing and Homomorphic Encryption. This role also involved representing Allstate in collaborations with other organizations, for example with an insurance industry blockchain consortia to identify and validate common use cases.
An inventor on 3 patents, including one that was was granted in 2020, titled “Cryptographically protecting data transferred between spatially distributed computing devices using an intermediary database” that describes how blockchain technology can be used to enable a secure and efficient data transfer protocol. The two other patent applications, published 2023 (pending grant) relate to decentralized identity ideas.
Looking for opportunities to create innovative and impactful solutions that can benefit society. Passionate about learning new technologies and becoming productive quickly with any new skill. Experienced in collaborating effectively with other developers, designers, product managers, business stakeholders and executive level leadership.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Allstate Northern Ireland - Lead Engineer
Forward Engineering Team
2022.07 - Current
- Building Generative AI products using technologies such as TypeScript, React, Python, Node.js, Java Spring Boot, Azure OpenAI, LangChain, LLM integration, ChromaDB, Solr DB, Redis, Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Artifactory, GitHub, Material UI.
- Take product concepts from PoC through to production, following Scrum methodology with TDD/BDD and automated CICD pipelines using tools such as Digital.ai Agility, Jenkins, GitHub, Artifactory, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, React Test Library, PyTest.
- Building backend microservices with Rest APIs created with Python FastAPI and tested with pytest
- Building web clients using React, TypeScript and tested with RTL.
- Implementing OAuth 2.0 Authorization code flow with PKCE for authorization between web client and REST APIs
Worked on various products, such as:
- QnA assistant, using Gen AI, for Allstate product teams to ask about licensed and developed software products within Allstate
- HR copilot, using Copilot Studio, to assist Allstate employees with HR related queries.
- Investments dashboard for Allstate Investments using React frontend with Material UI components and Java Sprint Boot backend REST API services
Allstate Northern Ireland - R&D Senior Engineer
Allstate Northern Ireland
2016.01 - 2022.06
- Researched emerging technologies and built proof of concepts to support Allstate business areas and strategic ventures
- Developed solution ideas to business problems by identifying testable hypotheses and designing experiments to prove/disprove them
- Specialised in decentralized technologies such as Blockchain, Distrubuted Ledgers, Ethereum, Corda, Hyperledger Indy/Aries, Solidity, Smart Contracts, DIDs, Verifiable Credentials and Self Sovereign Identity wallets.
- Research privacy preserving technologies such as Zero Knowledge Proofs, Homomorphic Encryption, Secure Enclaves Confidential Computing
- Other technologies such as JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Angular, Python, Java Spring Boot, Kotlin, Node.js, AWS (S3, Amazon Connect, EC2, ECS), C#, Git, Docker, Linux, Apigee, Jenkins.
Worked on projects such as
- Insurance Subrogation using distributed ledger technology, including Ethereum and Corda
- Digital identity solutions using Hyperledger Indy/Ursa/Aries, Sovrin, Evernym Agents/Wallet, Trinsic wallet.
- Voice solution using Amazon Connect, AWS S3, EC2, ECS
Allstate Northern Ireland - C# Developer
Allstate Northern Ireland
2003.08 - 2015.09
- Worked in four different teams throughout this time, building production web and backend applications to support Allstate’s insurance business
- Used .Net, C# and JavaScript
- Collaborated with other engineers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure quality and timely delivery of software products
First Derivatives - Financial Software Engineer
First Derivatives
2001.10 - 2002.08
- Built software solutions relating to financial derivatives for clients in financial sector
- Worked with Royal Bank of Scotland fixed income trading in City of London for nine months, providing software support and development
- Built solutions using Kx Systems high-performance database and analytics software, to handle real-time data processing and analysis
Intel - Manufacturing Systems Engineer
Intel
2000.03 - 2001.05
- Performed capacity planning for Intel’s new Fab24 300mm wafer technology lab, one of most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facilities.
- Spent three months in New Mexico training in Intel’s state of art Fab, learning about latest technologies and processes for chip fabrication
Education
Rapid Advancement Programme - Software Engineering
B.I.C. Systems
Belfast 2001.05 - 2002.03
Master of Science - Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Queen's University
Belfast 1997.09 - 1998.09
Bachelor's of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Queen's University
Belfast 1994.09 - 1997.06
A-Level - Achieved 3 A Grades - Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics
St Michael's College
Enniskillen 1992.09 - 1994.06
Skills
React
Javascript
Typescript
Python
Nodejs
REST APIs
Generative AI
AWS
Java
Docker
Corda
Kotlin
Blockchain
Privacy Preserving Tech - ZKP, Confidential Computing
C#
OpenAI & LangChain
SSI
Ethereum/Solidity
SQL Server
Redis
PostgreSQL
Timeline
Allstate Northern Ireland - Lead Engineer
Forward Engineering Team
2022.07 - Current
Allstate Northern Ireland - R&D Senior Engineer
Allstate Northern Ireland
2016.01 - 2022.06
Allstate Northern Ireland - C# Developer
Allstate Northern Ireland
2003.08 - 2015.09
First Derivatives - Financial Software Engineer
First Derivatives
2001.10 - 2002.08
Rapid Advancement Programme - Software Engineering
B.I.C. Systems
2001.05 - 2002.03
Intel - Manufacturing Systems Engineer
Intel
2000.03 - 2001.05
Master of Science - Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Queen's University
1997.09 - 1998.09
Bachelor's of Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
Queen's University
1994.09 - 1997.06
A-Level - Achieved 3 A Grades - Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Physics
St Michael's College
1992.09 - 1994.06