Software Development Manager

Etihad Airways; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading airline in the UAE is seeking an experienced Software Engineering Manager to lead high-performing teams in delivering scalable web applications. This role involves overseeing the software development lifecycle and ensuring engineering excellence. The ideal candidate has a strong technical background, leadership skills, and experience in managing enterprise-scale applications. Competitive salary and opportunities for professional growth are offered in this role.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of professional experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a managerial role.
• Proven experience managing engineering teams delivering enterprise-scale applications.
• Strong understanding of software architecture principles and modern development practices.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the software engineering strategy aligning with business objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and coach a team of software engineers.
• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of software projects.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Agile methodologies

Cloud Platforms

DevOps Practices

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Master’s degree in relevant field

Tools

Angular

Java 8+

AWS

Git

Job description

Synopsis

We’re seeking a Software Engineering Manager with a strong background in leading high-performing engineering teams and delivering scalable, enterprise-grade web applications. This role will oversee the full software development lifecycle, ensuring engineering excellence, architectural integrity, and timely delivery of complex solutions. The ideal candidate will blend hands‑on technical expertise with strong leadership and stakeholder management skills to drive innovation and continuous improvement across the engineering function.

Accountabilities

• Define and execute the software engineering strategy, aligning technical delivery with business objectives and enterprise architecture standards.
• Lead, mentor, and coach a team of software engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Partner with product and architecture teams to prioritize work, shape the roadmap, and ensure strategic alignment across programs.
• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of software projects, ensuring adherence to Agile practices, timelines, and quality standards.
• Monitor progress and proactively identify delivery risks, implementing mitigation plans to ensure project success.
• Ensure software releases meet performance, scalability, and security benchmarks.
• Provide architectural and design guidance, ensuring best practices in coding, testing, and deployment.
• Conduct periodic code reviews and technical assessments to maintain high engineering standards.
• Promote engineering governance through design reviews, reusable frameworks, and standardized delivery models.
• Drive the adoption of modern tools, frameworks, and DevOps practices to enhance productivity and delivery efficiency.
• Champion the use of automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and cloud-native solutions to improve reliability and speed.
• Contribute to the Software Engineering Community of Practice (CoP) to elevate organizational engineering maturity.
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to business stakeholders, translating complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes.
• Collaborate across cross-functional teams (Architecture, Product, QA, DevOps) to ensure smooth integration and alignment.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 12+ years of professional experience in software development, with at least 5 years in a managerial role.
• Proven experience managing engineering teams delivering enterprise-scale applications using:
  • Frontend: Angular, Angular.js, React.js, Node.js
  • Backend: Java 8+, Spring Boot, WebFlux, RESTful APIs, Microservices
  • Databases: Oracle, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, ElasticSearch
  • Cloud: AWS, Azure, or GCP
  • DevOps & CI/CD: Git, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, OpenShift
• Strong understanding of Agile delivery models, software architecture principles, and modern development practices.
• Demonstrated experience in leading distributed teams, managing performance, and building engineering capability.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and decision-making skills.

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly went on to become one of the world’s leading airlines. From its home in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Together with Etihad’s codeshare partners, Etihad’s network offers access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme and more. All this ties into Etihad’s ambitious Journey 2030 strategy. The airline plans to double its fleet size and triple the number of customers over the next six years as it sets out to be the airline everyone wants to fly!

To learn more, visit etihad.com

Recruitment Fraud Alert

Beware of fraudulent job offers from individuals or organizations claiming to represent the Etihad group. We will never ask for personal information, bank details, or payment during the recruitment process. Interviews are conducted face‑to‑face or via video/telephone before any formal offer. If you are asked for money, please treat it as fraudulent.