Job Description

Synopsis
This senior role, reporting to the Head of Architecture and Technology, defines the technical and enterprise vision for solutions and ensures alignment with business needs and architectural standards. The Solution and Technology Architecture Lead drives strategic technology decisions, leading a high-performing team to deliver scalable, cost-effective, and reusable solutions. The role champions agile-aligned practices like emergent design, fostering continuous evolution of systems while meeting current user needs. It also sets architecture standards, validates solutions, and influences the broader transformation roadmap--playing a critical role in advancing agile adoption and delivering future-ready, value-driven technologies.
Accountabilities
Strategy & Governance

• Work closely with the Head of Architecture & Technology, Business Architecture Lead and Data and Information Architecture Lead to build and govern an enterprise architecture framework that underpins the DTI strategy and is aligned to organizational objectives.
• Being an integral part of the value stream, this role is responsible for developing short term & long-term roadmap along with target state architecture with clear transition steps to improve our core capabilities in Etihad group. This includes developing specific design patterns, standards, and an active architecture runway on an ongoing basis.
• Ensure solution and technology architecture standards, governance and principles are implemented effectively across all solutions.
• Evaluate existing and emerging technologies and platforms and advise how they might be leveraged to create a competitive advantage.

Chapter Leadership

• Lead and motivate a team of solution and technology architects providing line management and performance management of the team
• Define the solution and technology architecture career path, overseeing the learning and development plans for the solution architecture chapter
• Own and continuously improve the tooling, processes, methods and alignment to industry standards for solution and technology architecture
• Own the resourcing of solution and technology architects to project and scrum teams, in alignment with the Value Stream Leads and with the support of the Resource Management and Capacity Lead. Ensure the appropriate sizing of the team and drive recruitment decisions.

Digital Transformation Enablement

• Lead the design and implementation of solution architecture as part of both agile and waterfall delivery, enabling innovation, high quality, cost efficiency and speed to market.
• Responsible for ensuring solution and technology architecture assets are aligned to the DTI strategy and are compliant with the enterprise's future state architecture vision, standards and principles.
• Provide strategic consultation to the product and project delivery teams, identifying ways to apply new or existing technologies to support business initiatives, facilitating the reuse of ideas, components, services, and proven patterns across value streams.
• Work collaboratively with the product managers, scrum teams, project managers, business analysts and developers to ensure that the outcomes delivered by projects are consistent with the original technical solution design.
• Promote and support agile delivery methods, including Continuous Delivery Pipeline and DevOps capabilities leveraging modern architecture practices such as microservices, API and cloud.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field is mandatory, along with one or more Solution/Enterprise Architecture certifications (e.g., TOGAF, SAFe Architect, Well-Architected Frameworks).
• 10+ years of experience designing enterprise-grade solutions in complex IT architecture environments, with 5+ years leading cross-functional technical teams to solve business challenges.
• Proven ability to drive change, deliver new products, and lead large-scale programs across both Agile and Waterfall methodologies, with a focus on scalable, reusable architecture.
• Skilled in designing architecture assets to support Agile delivery, that evolve without rework, and experienced in Scaled Agile (SAFe) environments.
• Strong track record in business-IT alignment, stakeholder management (CxOs, VPs), and technology modernization initiatives.
• Deep expertise in the airline industry, with hands-on involvement across multiple airline domains and transformation programs.

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
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.

Skills Required