Building better and safer isn't a slogan, but the way we show up in the world.
It's how we make sure technology speaks not only in code, but with meaning: better technologies, better ways of working, and more inclusive communities.
We align with what matters for people and for the planet, actively nurturing it to be better and safer.
At the center, it's our people who power everything we do. It's their talent, drive and different ways of thinking that keep us moving forward, pushing the limits of what's possible.
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.
What You Will Do:
Product Strategy & Roadmap
- Define and own the product vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned with business objectives and end-user needs.
-
Balance investment between platform evolution (new modules, UX improvements, technical debt) and growth initiatives (new scope/features, market segments, partnerships).
-
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.
-
Establish and maintain continuous feedback loops with operational users, leveraging both qualitative research and product analytics.
-
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.
-
Drive agile delivery ceremonies and ensure teams have the context they need to make autonomous, high-quality decisions.
-
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.
-
Identify expansion opportunities across the product modular portfolio.
-
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.
-
Establish product management best practices, frameworks, and tooling
-
Foster a culture of evidence-based decision-making, user empathy, and outcome orientation.
Who You Are:
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.
-
Proven track record of owning a product end-to-end: from vision and strategy through delivery and measurable business outcomes.
-
Experience with technically complex, data-intensive products (real-time systems, geospatial platforms, sensor fusion, C2/C4I, or similar).
-
Strong ability to engage with and influence senior stakeholders, including government and public-sector clients.
-
Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams (engineering, UX, sales) in agile environments.
-
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.
-
Understanding relevant regulatory frameworks and how they shape product decisions.
-
Experience with GIS/mapping platforms, AIS data, or command-and-control software.
-
Background in growing a product team or establishing a product function within an engineering-led organization.
-
Familiarity with government/defense procurement cycles and long sales processes.
-
Experience with safety-critical software development standards (CMMI, DO-178C, or similar).
What We Offer
Critical Software is a company built on technical excellence, trust, and genuine care for the work we do. As a Senior Product Manager, you will:
- Shape lives-at-stake technology — your decisions will directly impact how maritime authorities save lives at sea.
-
Own a product with global reach — deployed by maritime agencies across multiple countries and continents.
-
Build from a position of strength — you inherit an award-winning platform with a proven track record and loyal client base.
-
Grow your career — with the mandate to build a product team and shape product culture within the business unit.
-
Work flexibly — across our offices in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, or Viseu, with a hybrid working model.
-
Away From Keyboard - Sabbatical programme
We also offer a competitive compensation package, health insurance, continuous learning and development support, and the opportunity to work alongside world-class engineers solving meaningful problems.
How to Apply
If this sounds like the right challenge for you, please submit your CV and a brief note explaining why this offer excites you, and what you would focus on in your first 90 days.
Every day we embrace new missions across industries as diverse as aerospace, space, defense, transport, telecoms, government, energy, finance and healthcare.
Now, the real question is: are you ready to join us and help make the world a better and safer place?
Critical Software is proud to be a Benefit Corporation. A Benefit Corporation differs from a standard corporation (C-Corporation): It is a for-profit business entity, legally defined in the US and other jurisdictions, whose legally defined goals include the positive impact on society, workers, the community and the environment, in addition to profit.
We are an equal opportunity workplace and committed to allow candidates with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions to prove their competencies to their full potential. We are willing to move the barriers that may prevent you from demonstrating that you are the right candidate for this role, so please let us know if you need some adjustment in your recruitment process.
By applying to a position at Critical Software, you are deemed to have accepted our Privacy Policy (https://www.criticalsoftware.com/en/legal).
