Aircraft Maintenance Engineer — A350 / A380 / B787 at Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi (UAE)

If you hold a valid aircraft maintenance license and have years of certifying experience on wide-body Airbus or Boeing fleets, this aircraft maintenance engineer Etihad Airways role deserves a serious look. The UAE’s national airline is actively hiring experienced Aircraft Maintenance Engineers for its Abu Dhabi operations — and the position covers some of the most advanced commercial aircraft flying today.

Quick Job Overview

About Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi. Founded in 2003, it has grown into one of the most recognised carriers in the Middle East, operating a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing wide-body aircraft to destinations across six continents.

As part of its “Journey 2030” strategy, Etihad plans to double its fleet and expand its network to over 125 destinations — which means the engineering team is going to be at the centre of a significant growth phase. If you join now, you would be walking into an airline that is actively scaling, not standing still. That matters for career progression, training opportunities, and the variety of work you will be exposed to.

Etihad has a public anti-fraud notice on all its job listings: the airline will never ask applicants for payment, bank details, or personal financial information during recruitment. If someone contacts you claiming to represent Etihad and requests money, treat it as fraudulent.

What This Role Involves

This is a certifying engineer position — not a junior technician role. You would be responsible for performing and signing off on maintenance activities across Etihad’s A350, A380, and B787 fleets, in line with the airline’s authorization policy and GCAA regulatory requirements.

Day-to-day, you would be certifying your own work and the work of others after verifying that tasks have been completed according to approved data and within your scope of authorization. Documentation accuracy matters here — every task needs to be recorded properly and on time, following company procedures.

You would also be leading and guiding Aircraft Technicians, making sure maintenance is carried out safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with both regulatory and internal technical standards. That includes preparing all materials, parts, tools, equipment, and documentation before each shift, maintaining a clean and hazard-free environment to prevent Foreign Object Damage (FOD), and conducting inspections on Ground Support Equipment (GSE) when required.

Safety culture is woven through everything. You would be expected to follow and actively promote the procedures in Etihad’s Safety & Quality Management Manual (SQMM), encourage positive reporting across the team, and maintain the highest professional standards when working with colleagues, stakeholders, and customers.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Etihad has set a clear bar for this role. Here is what you need:

• A High School Leaving Certificate, Diploma, or University/College Degree.
• A valid Aircraft Maintenance License — accepted types include GCAA, EASA Part-66, or an ICAO Type License that is convertible to GCAA.
• A minimum of 7 to 10 years of aircraft maintenance experience, including at least 5 years of certifying experience in a Line or Base/Light Maintenance environment.
• A minimum of 2 to 3 years of certifying experience on at least two of Etihad’s aircraft type ratings (Level 3): Airbus A320, A350, A380, or Boeing 777, B787 — with valid company authorization.
• Strong communication skills and a genuine commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence.

If you are an experienced certifying engineer but your type ratings do not match exactly, it is still worth checking the official listing — Etihad sometimes runs talent pool campaigns alongside specific vacancy postings, and requirements can vary slightly depending on fleet needs at the time of application.

Salary, Benefits, and Relocation Support

Etihad has not published the salary for this role on its official listing. The salary field must therefore be recorded as “not specified by the employer.” Do not rely on third-party salary estimates — these are often inaccurate for licensed aircraft engineers in the UAE and can be misleading.

What is publicly known is that major UAE-based airlines typically offer tax-free salary packages, accommodation allowances or company-provided housing, annual flight benefits, medical insurance, and education support for dependants. However, since Etihad has not confirmed the specific package for this role, none of these can be stated as guaranteed. You would need to confirm exact terms directly with the Etihad recruitment team during the hiring process.

Work Permit / Visa Note

Etihad Airways has not explicitly stated visa sponsorship details in this particular job listing. The work authorization status for this role is therefore recorded as “not specified by the employer.”

As general context only: the UAE operates an employer-sponsored work permit system. When a UAE-based employer hires an overseas worker, the employer typically applies for the work permit and residency visa on the employee’s behalf. This is the standard process for most skilled professional roles in the UAE. However, this is general information about the UAE’s immigration framework — it is not a confirmation that Etihad will sponsor a visa for this specific position. You should ask the Etihad recruitment team directly about work permit arrangements if you are applying from outside the UAE.

Who This Role May Suit

This position is aimed at experienced, licensed aircraft maintenance engineers who already hold certifying privileges on wide-body Airbus or Boeing aircraft. It is not an entry-level role, and it is not suitable for engineers who have not yet obtained their aircraft maintenance license.

If you are currently working as a certifying engineer for another airline — especially one operating A350s, A380s, or B787s — and you are considering a move to the Gulf region, this could be a strong option. Abu Dhabi offers a different lifestyle from many European or Asian bases: tax-free income, year-round sunshine, and access to a rapidly expanding airline with clear fleet growth plans.

The role would also suit engineers who hold EASA Part-66 licenses and are open to converting them to GCAA equivalents, provided they meet the experience requirements. If you are unsure about license conversion, it is worth contacting GCAA directly or consulting with an aviation licensing specialist before applying.

How to Apply Officially

All applications must be submitted through Etihad Airways’ official recruitment platform on SmartRecruiters. The direct link to this vacancy is:

Apply on Etihad Airways Careers (SmartRecruiters)

Do not apply through any third-party website, WhatsApp group, Telegram channel, or social media post claiming to represent Etihad. The airline explicitly warns about recruitment fraud and states that it will never ask for payment, bank details, or personal financial information at any stage of the hiring process.

Required Documents (If Known)

Etihad has not listed specific required documents on this vacancy page. However, based on the nature of the role and standard industry practice for certifying engineer positions, you would likely need:

• Your current Aircraft Maintenance License (GCAA, EASA Part-66, or ICAO Type)
• Evidence of type ratings and company authorization for the relevant aircraft types
• Proof of certifying experience (typically logbook entries, employer letters, or CRM records)
• An up-to-date CV/resume
• A valid passport

Check the official application page for any additional document requirements before submitting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Etihad provide visa sponsorship for this role?
Etihad has not explicitly confirmed visa sponsorship in this job listing. If you are based outside the UAE, you should ask the recruitment team directly about work permit arrangements during the application process.

What salary can I expect?
The salary is not specified by the employer. Do not rely on third-party salary estimates. Confirm the package directly with Etihad during the recruitment process.

Can I apply if I hold an EASA Part-66 license but not a GCAA license?
Yes, the listing states that EASA Part-66 licenses are accepted and can be converted to GCAA. However, you should verify the conversion requirements and timeline with GCAA or the Etihad recruitment team before applying.

Is this role open to engineers without certifying experience?
No. The listing requires a minimum of 5 years of certifying experience in a Line or Base/Light Maintenance environment. This is not an entry-level or trainee position.

Where can I verify this job is legitimate?
You can verify this listing directly on Etihad Airways’ official recruitment page on SmartRecruiters. Etihad also posts its vacancies on careers.etihad.com. If you see the same role advertised elsewhere asking for payment, it is likely fraudulent.

Relevant Links

• UAE Jobs on JobsRivo
• Engineering & Construction Jobs on JobsRivo
• Visa Sponsorship Jobs on JobsRivo
• Scam Alerts — JobsRivo

Disclaimer

JobsRivo is an independent job listing portal and is not the employer. Applicants should apply only through the official employer website. JobsRivo does not charge fees, process visas, or guarantee job offers.