Service Manager, Middle East, Defence

Systematic; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 260,000 - 460,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive remuneration

Professional development

International collaboration

Direct customer interaction

SitaWare expertise

Job summary

Systematic Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates is seeking a Services Manager – Defence Services to lead complex Defence projects, delivering SitaWare across multi-domain environments in the UAE. You will manage delivery, deployment and support, coordinate with multidisciplinary teams and customers, and drive proposals and business growth while developing the team.

Based in Abu Dhabi, you will engage with Defence leadership, oversee staff development, and contribute to regional mobilisation

Qualifications

• Degree in IT/software or related field.
• 5+ years in a similar defence or security role.
• Fluent in English; Arabic is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Deliver complex Defence Services projects across SitaWare suite.
• Coordinate across multidisciplinary teams and customers.
• Manage allocated staff including recruitment and performance.
• Assist in proposals, change requests, and upsell opportunities.
• Oversee project KPIs, governance forums and management briefings.
• Engage with Defence customers at leadership level.
• Support regional delivery and mobilisation activities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/software or related field

Job description

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Services Manager, Middle East – Defence Services

About the position

Systematic is seeking a Service Manager – Defence Services to join our team in Abu Dhabi, supporting the delivery of mission‑critical solutions to Defence customers in the UAE. In this role, you will lead the delivery, deployment, and support of complex projects across the Systematic SitaWare suite, including SitaWare Headquarters, Frontline, and Maritime, alongside emerging capabilities such as SitaWare Insight (data analytics and AI‑enabled decision support) and SitaWare Aspire (simulation and training). These solutions are increasingly applied within a multi‑domain operational context, spanning land, maritime, and joint environments.

As a Manager, you will be responsible for the successful execution of complex Defence projects, ensuring delivery to scope, time, quality, and customer satisfaction. You will coordinate closely with multidisciplinary teams, customers, and development organisations to integrate and deploy operational capabilities in demanding environments.

In addition to project delivery, the role includes people management responsibility for designated Services personnel, contributing to team development, planning, and capability growth in close coordination with your line manager and Defence Services leadership.

You will also support customer engagement and business growth by contributing to proposals, change requests, and the evolution of service offerings, while playing a role in regional delivery and mobilisation activities across the Middle East as required. This position offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of modern Defence capabilities, supporting customers in adopting integrated C4I, data/AI, and simulation‑based solutions to enhance operational effectiveness.

Responsibilities and tasks

• Delivery responsibility for complex Defence Services projects across the SitaWare suite
• Coordinating activities between our multidisciplinary services, our development team(s) and the customer
• People manager for allocated staff, including recruitment, performance management, and people development
• Supporting business development, including forming and scoping solutions, estimating and writing proposals primarily for upsell and change request opportunities on existing accounts
• Managing projects through KPIs, governance forums, management briefings, and business committee meetings
• Combining your customer and business understanding with your technical insight, including across multi-domain (land, maritime, joint) operational contexts
• Can manage highly complex and agile projects together with the customer, subcontractors, and your team
• Outgoing, trustworthy, and able to inspire the customer, end-users, senior management, and your team
• Have a proven track record delivering complex IT or C4I service projects in a geographically dispersed environment
• Possess leadership experience and the ability to coach, motivate, and manage multidisciplinary teams, including people management responsibilities
• Have the will and ability to continuously develop yourself and contribute to the development of the team and the company
• Have a positive attitude and are committed, flexible, and diplomatic in your approach
• Have the confidence to interact with, communicate, and present to Defence customers
• Can establish strong, trustworthy, and constructive relationships with customers, partners, employees, and other stakeholders
• Combine customer and business understanding with technical insight, including across multi-domain (land, maritime, joint) environments
• Have experience in business capture and proposal activities, including estimation and support to sales
• Have a general understanding of data-driven, AI-enabled, and simulation-based capabilities within Defence solutions

Minimum Qualifications

• Relevant bachelor’s degree or higher within IT/software or a related field
• Project management certification, such as PMP, PRINCE2 or IPMA Level B/C
• 5 years or more experience in a similar role, ideally within the Defence and security domain
• Fluent in English; Arabic is an advantage

Practical Information

• Travel might be expected to our Headquarters in Aarhus and within the region as required
• We work with security‑classified projects; therefore, as an employee, you must have no criminal record
• It is a requirement to be eligible to obtain a UAE security clearance

Welcome to Systematic Abu Dhabi

Join our dynamic team in the UAE, where every day brings opportunities to solve complex technical challenges and deliver solutions that make a real difference. Based in Abu Dhabi, you'll work on high‑stakes projects that empower defence customers to make confident, critical decisions. Our collaborative environment values innovation, technical excellence, and direct customer engagement.

Benefits we offer include:

• Attractive remuneration package
• Professional development opportunities in cutting‑edge defence technology
• International collaboration with Defence Services teams worldwide
• Direct customer interaction and visible project impact
• Opportunity to work with world‑leading command‑and‑control systems

Systematic is Denmark's largest privately owned software company, developing innovative IT solutions since 1985. Proudly Danish, truly international, and people-centric, we create intelligent software that drives progress and improves lives. Our solutions support critical decision‑making in defence, healthcare, and utilities, with over 1 million daily users across more than 50 countries. Trusted by over 50 nations and NATO, our SitaWare software advances military operations, while our Columna solutions enhance care in hospitals worldwide. At Systematic, we never stop developing—it's not just a place to work, but a place to belong.