Databricks Data Analyst – AI/BI & FinOps – Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is hiring a Databricks Data Analyst focused on AI/BI and FinOps, based in Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways is the national airline of the UAE, operating a global network from its hub in Abu Dhabi. Like most large airlines, Etihad runs on data, from bookings and loyalty to operations and finance, and much of that data increasingly lives on modern cloud platforms such as Databricks.

The title points to two connected responsibilities. On the AI/BI side, you will build analysis and reporting on Databricks: writing SQL and Python in notebooks, building reliable datasets and dashboards, and making use of the platform’s AI-assisted BI features so business users can explore data more easily. On the FinOps side, you will analyse the cost of cloud and data platform usage itself: tracking compute and storage spend, attributing costs to teams and workloads, spotting inefficient jobs or idle clusters, and helping engineering and finance teams make informed decisions about capacity and optimisation.

That combination makes the role unusual. You need to be comfortable with the technical details of how data workloads run, and also able to translate usage and cost data into clear, business-friendly insight. Expect to work with data engineers, platform owners, finance colleagues and business stakeholders across the airline.

The role suits an analyst with hands-on Databricks or Spark experience, strong SQL, a practical understanding of cloud billing, and the curiosity to dig into why costs or numbers move. Experience in a large enterprise or aviation setting is helpful but not essential.

Airlines operate on thin margins, so both data-driven decisions and cost discipline matter. On the AI/BI side, a skilled Databricks analyst helps teams across the airline get faster, more reliable answers from data, improving decisions in areas such as commercial performance, network planning, customer experience and operations. Well-built datasets and dashboards reduce duplicated effort and give the business a single trusted view of key metrics. On the FinOps side, cloud and data platform costs can grow quickly and quietly as more teams adopt the platform. Without visibility, inefficient queries, oversized clusters and forgotten workloads add up to significant waste. An analyst who tracks usage, attributes costs to the right teams and highlights optimisation opportunities can deliver meaningful savings while keeping performance intact. Clear cost reporting also supports better planning and budgeting, and it encourages teams to use the platform responsibly. Together, these contributions help Etihad get more value from its data investment and scale analytics and AI sustainably.

This role sits at the intersection of two of the most in-demand skill sets in data today: modern lakehouse analytics and cloud cost management. Experience with Databricks in a large enterprise setting is highly valued, and FinOps expertise is increasingly sought after as organisations look to control cloud spend. Combining them gives you a distinctive profile for future roles in analytics engineering, data platform management, FinOps or cloud economics. Working at Etihad Airways exposes you to the complexity of airline data, covering commercial, operational, customer and financial domains, which builds broad analytical experience. You will collaborate with data engineers, platform teams, finance and business stakeholders, developing communication skills that help technical analysts grow into leadership roles. The aviation industry's focus on efficiency and data-driven decision-making means your work will have visible impact. Over time, this kind of role can lead to senior analyst, analytics lead, FinOps lead or data platform product roles. Certifications such as FinOps Certified Practitioner or Databricks credentials further strengthen your profile. Working with the national airline in Abu Dhabi also offers a respected employer name and a chance to be part of a large, global organisation undergoing digital transformation, with plenty of room to learn and expand your responsibilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, information systems, engineering, finance or a related field
• Hands-on experience with Databricks, including notebooks, SQL warehouses and Delta tables
• Strong SQL skills; Python or PySpark for data analysis
• Experience building dashboards in Databricks AI/BI, Power BI, Tableau or similar tools
• Understanding of cloud cost models on Azure, AWS or GCP and FinOps practices such as cost allocation, tagging and optimisation
• Familiarity with Unity Catalog, system tables or other platform usage data is an advantage
• FinOps Certified Practitioner or Databricks certifications are an advantage
• Ability to communicate technical and cost findings clearly to non-technical stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail and analytical problem solving