THE ROLE
We are looking for a Senior Product Manager to own and drive the strategy, roadmap, and growth of a software platform. This is a dual-focus role: you will evolve the existing product for current users while identifying and capturing new market opportunities. You will work at the intersection of a deep technical engineering team, UX/UI designers, and the authorities who depend on the software in high-stakes, time-critical situations.
As the software scales and evolves, you may be expected to build and lead a larger product team, shaping the product function within the business unit from the ground up.
This position is open across our offices in Lisbon, Coimbra, Viseu, and Porto.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Product Strategy & Roadmap
- Define and own the product vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned with business objectives and end-user needs.
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Balance investment between platform evolution (new modules, UX improvements, technical debt) and growth initiatives (new scope/features, market segments, partnerships).
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Translate regulatory frameworks and operational realities into clearly-defined product requirements to be developed, tested, and maintained.
Discovery & User Research
- Conduct deep discoveries to uncover latent needs and pain points.
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Establish and maintain continuous feedback loops with operational users, leveraging both qualitative research and product analytics.
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Benchmark against competitive and adjacent solutions across the maritime safety-tech landscape.
Delivery & Execution
- Partner closely with engineering leads and UX designers to shape solutions, write clear specifications, and prioritize the backlog.
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Drive agile delivery ceremonies and ensure teams have the context they need to make autonomous, high-quality decisions.
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Define and track product metrics (adoption, operational efficiency gains, incident response time improvements, NPS)
Growth & Go-to-Market
- Collaborate with sales, pre-sales, and business development to support bids, proposals, and client demonstrations.
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Identify expansion opportunities across the product modular portfolio.
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Represent the product at industry events, conferences, and working groups to build.
Team Building & Leadership
- Recruit, mentor, and lead a team of UX/UI designers, functional analysts, and product owners.
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Establish product management best practices, frameworks, and tooling
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Foster a culture of evidence-based decision-making, user empathy, and outcome orientation.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Must-Have
- 5+ years of product management experience, with at least 3 years in a senior or lead PM role on complex B2B/B2G software platforms.
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Proven track record of owning a product end-to-end: from vision and strategy through delivery and measurable business outcomes.
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Experience with technically complex, data-intensive products (real-time systems, geospatial platforms, sensor fusion, C2/C4I, or similar).
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Strong ability to engage with and influence senior stakeholders, including government and public-sector clients.
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Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams (engineering, UX, sales) in agile environments.
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Fluent English (written and spoken). Portuguese is a strong advantage.
Strong Nice-to-Have
- Domain experience in maritime operations, defense, public safety, emergency response, or related safety-critical sectors.
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Understanding relevant regulatory frameworks and how they shape product decisions.
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Experience with GIS/mapping platforms, AIS data, or command-and-control software.
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Background in growing a product team or establishing a product function within an engineering-led organization.
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Familiarity with government/defense procurement cycles and long sales processes.
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Experience with safety-critical software development standards (CMMI, DO-178C, or similar).
HOW YOU CAN INSPIRE
- You adapt fast and turn sharp, critical thinking into good decisions for the project
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You are genuinely curious and challenge what needs to change and make bold calls
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You see AI as the biggest shift of this generation and you want to be part of shaping it
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When there is no map, you start drawing one rather than waiting for someone else to
WHAT WE OFFER
We invest in the people who make it all possible. Here's what that looks like in practice.
- Private health insurance
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Employee Assistance Programme (mental health, legal, financial support)
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Home office support
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Extra holidays: 2 additional days after year one, more as time goes on
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Extra parental leave: 2 additional months fully paid
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Gradual return-to-work support: We'll help you ease back from long breaks
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Sabbatical programme for long-term employees
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Training, mentorship, and growth opportunities: we'll invest in where you want to go next
ABOUT CRITICAL SOFTWARE
Every day we work on missions across industries as diverse as aerospace, space, defence, transport, telecoms, government, energy, finance, and healthcare. Building better and safer isn't a slogan. It's how we show up in the world.
Critical Software is a proud Benefit Corporation: a for-profit business legally committed to positive impact on society, workers, the community, and the environment — in addition to profit.
We are an equal opportunity workplace. If you need any adjustment in your recruitment process to show us what you can do, please let us know.
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