Senior Manager IT – Next-Gen Passenger Systems

Ready to shape the future of how passengers move through an airport? We’re looking for an experienced aviation technology leader to take ownership of next-generation passenger-processing technology at Hamad International Airport. This is a senior role with responsibility for technology supporting the passenger journey across check-in, self-service, bag drop, security and boarding, while driving the continued evolution of biometric identity, facial recognition, digital identity and single-token seamless travel. This is not purely a strategy role. We need someone who understands these technologies deeply enough to lead their strategy, implementation, integration, lifecycle and 24/7 operational performance. What you'll own Shape the 3–5 year technology strategy and roadmap for passenger-processing and next-generation identity solutions. Lead major programmes covering common-use check-in and boarding, self-service kiosks, automated bag drop, e-gates and passenger-processing technologies. Drive the evolution of facial recognition, digital identity and single-token passenger journeys across airport touchpoints. Take end-to-end ownership of major technology implementations, integrations, upgrades and lifecycle management. Ensure mission-critical passenger-processing systems remain highly available within a 24/7 airport operation. Lead the response to critical technology incidents affecting passenger processing. Work with airlines, airport stakeholders, government and border-control agencies and technology partners. Manage technology suppliers and integrations across the passenger-processing ecosystem. Evaluate emerging solutions including AI-driven queue analytics, computer vision and IoT-enabled passenger tracking. Lead cross-functional technology programmes, governance, business cases, budgets and change initiatives. Build and develop a high-performing technology team through coaching, direction and knowledge sharing. What we are looking for: This role requires more than general IT leadership. We are particularly interested in candidates who have personally led passenger-processing technology within an airport, airline or aviation technology environment and can demonstrate experience across: ✅ Common-use check-in & boarding systems ✅ Self-service check-in and bag drop ✅ Boarding and passenger self-service technologies ✅ Biometric identity verification ✅ Facial recognition / digital identity ✅ Seamless or single-token passenger journeys ✅ Departure Control System integrations ✅ Mission-critical 24/7 technology operations ✅ Large-scale systems integration ✅ Aviation technology vendor management ✅ Government and border-control stakeholder engagement Your experience You will bring: A Bachelor's Degree or equivalent with a minimum of 10 years of job-related experience. At least 10 years of IT management experience. At least 8 years focused on aviation, airport operations or passenger-processing technology. Hands-on lifecycle management experience across common-use check-in, boarding and passenger self-service systems. At least 3 years of direct experience implementing biometric identity verification, digital ID or seamless-travel/single-token solutions at an equivalent airport. Experience leading cross-functional programmes within a medium or large organisation. Experience working within the airport/aviation domain, including engagement with government and border-control agencies. Strong Agile project-management experience. Strong business and technology strategy, change-management, vendor-management and relationship-management capabilities. Excellent command of English. Exposure to ICAO, IATA or ACI standards or industry bodies would be advantageous. ITIL service-management and recognised project-management practices are also preferred. Think this sounds like you? We would particularly like to hear about: A passenger-processing platform you personally owned. A major implementation you led. And a biometric or digital-identity passenger journey you helped bring to life. If you've worked at the intersection of aviation + passenger technology + biometrics + large-scale transformation, we would like to hear from you. Apply now to help shape the next generation of passenger processing at Hamad International Airport. Show more Show less