Software Development Manager - SAP S/4HANA

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

Job summary

A major airline in the UAE seeks an experienced SAP Lead to manage SAP operations and drive transformation initiatives. The role involves hands-on leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement, requiring 10+ years in software engineering and proven experience in SAP S / 4HANA. Ideal candidates will possess strong technical and leadership skills, enabling them to enhance operational efficiency and collaborate across teams.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering.
• Experience leading technical SAP solution design and implementation.
• Strong understanding of Finance, Procurement, and HR processes within SAP.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage SAP BAU operations and program initiatives.
• Define and implement software engineering strategies and standards.
• Drive testing maturity through automation and standardization.

Skills

SAP S / 4HANA implementation and customization

Stakeholder management

Leadership in software engineering

System integration knowledge

Agile methodologies

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field

SAP S / 4HANA certification

Tools

DevOps practices (CI / CD)

Job description

Synopsis

Etihad Airways is driving a major transformation from SAP ECC to SAP S / 4HANA to modernize and optimize enterprise operations. We are looking for a dynamic SAP Lead with deep technical expertise and proven leadership to manage the SAP landscape and engineering team. This role combines strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and delivery oversight with hands‑on technical leadership to ensure seamless operations and successful transformation. The ideal candidate will define KPIs, report progress to senior leadership, and align SAP initiatives with business goals, bringing together technical excellence, project management, and cross‑functional collaboration for impactful results.

Accountabilities

• Lead and manage SAP BAU operations and program initiatives to ensure seamless delivery and system performance.
• Define and implement software engineering strategies, standards, and governance aligned with enterprise architecture.
• Partner with value stream owners and IT teams to plan resources, manage delivery timelines, and monitor KPIs.
• Act as the key liaison between business stakeholders and technical teams to align priorities and outcomes.
• Oversee SAP S / 4HANA design, integration, testing, and optimization across enterprise systems.
• Establish governance frameworks and guardrails for change deployment, testing, and BAU processes.
• Drive testing maturity through automation, standardization, and collaboration with the Testing Stream.
• Lead initiatives to enhance SAP integration, streamline processes, and boost operational efficiency.
• Develop training and cross‑skilling programs to build team capability and ensure knowledge continuity.
• Monitor team performance, identify improvement areas, and ensure delivery excellence.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation and ensure compliance with governance and regulatory standards.
• Mentor and lead internal teams and external consultants to deliver SAP solutions on time and within budget.
• Identify and mitigate risks, providing regular progress and issue updates to leadership.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• SAP S / 4HANA certification, along with Agile and Project Management experience, is mandatory.
• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, including at least 5 years in a leadership or management role overseeing enterprise application delivery.
• Proven experience in implementing, customizing, and supporting SAP S / 4HANA and other enterprise systems.
• Strong understanding of system integration, API management, microservices architecture, and DevOps practices (CI / CD, automation frameworks).
• Solid knowledge of enterprise data management, workflow automation, and analytics integration.
• Demonstrated ability to lead Agile teams and deliver complex enterprise software solutions in large‑scale environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management, leadership, and communication skills, with a track record of leading cross‑functional teams in dynamic environments.
• Strong functional understanding of Finance, Procurement, and HR processes within SAP, with experience leading technical SAP solution design and implementation.
• Deep understanding of SAP S / 4HANA functionalities, including configuration and integration with other business systems.

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.