Software Development Manager

Etihad; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading airline is seeking a Software Engineering Manager to lead engineering teams and deliver scalable web applications. The ideal candidate will have over 12 years of experience in software development, including 5+ years in a managerial role, with a strong background in Agile methodologies and stakeholder management. This role offers a chance to drive innovation in a dynamic environment.

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 Agile delivery models and modern development practices.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Leading engineering teams

Stakeholder management

Agile methodologies

Software architecture principles

Cloud solutions (AWS, Azure, GCP)

DevOps practices

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Angular

Node.js

Java 8+

Spring Boot

Git

Docker

Kubernetes

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

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