Colour Material Finish Design Manager

About the role

The Colour Material Finish (CMF) Design Manager will define the material aesthetic and tactile direction for Etihad’s guest experience across ground and aircraft cabin environments. Working with external consultants and internal stakeholders, the role translates Etihad’s brand strategy into tangible colour, material, pattern and texture solutions that enhance every touch‑point of the journey.

Key responsibilities

• Define the holistic CMF strategy and material aesthetic for all guest‑facing touch‑points.
• Lead conceptual direction for soft and hard product CMF design, including onboard amenities, seat projects and architectural environments.
• Manage material and product development with internal partners and external suppliers, overseeing new soft‑product introductions and upgrades.
• Partner with project leads across Brand, Cabin Interiors, Product & Hospitality and Cabin Crew to ensure alignment.
• Create and maintain CMF guidelines and documentation for ground, aircraft, product and service.
• Build and curate an onsite material library and digital database, managing supplier relationships and demonstrations.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Interior, Transportation, Textile or Graphic Design with a focus on colour, material and finish.
• Minimum 7 years of CMF design experience in consultancy or in‑house roles, preferably within aviation, automotive or hospitality.
• Strong knowledge of aviation material development and manufacturing realities.
• Excellent storytelling, visualisation and presentation abilities, able to convey concepts through 2D sketches and 3D renderings.

Required skills

• CMF design expertise.
• Material property analysis for soft goods, seats and architectural applications.
• 2D sketching and rapid concept illustration.
• 3D rendering of material and finish concepts.
• Knowledge of aviation‑specific material development processes.