Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Critical Software is focused on building software for space missions, and they are seeking a Senior Product Manager to own and drive the strategy and growth of their on-board software platform, Karvel. The role involves working closely with engineering teams and mission operators to evolve the product and capture new market opportunities.
Responsibilities
- Define and own the product vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned with business objectives and end-user needs
- Translate space industry standards and operational realities into clearly-defined product requirements to be developed, tested, and maintained
- Establish continuous discovery practices with satellite engineering teams and operational users, combining qualitative research and product analytics to uncover latent needs and pain points
- Benchmark against competitive and adjacent solutions across the flight software and space systems landscape
- Partner closely with engineering leads to shape solutions, write clear specifications, prioritize the backlog and drive agile delivery ceremonies, ensuring teams have the context they need to make autonomous, high-quality decisions
- Define and track product metrics (adoption, integration and qualification time, mission reliability outcomes, customer satisfaction)
- Collaborate with sales, pre-sales, and business development to support bids, proposals, and technical demonstrations, while identifying expansion opportunities
- Represent the product at industry events, conferences, and working groups to build visibility and credibility in the space community
- Recruit, mentor, and lead a team of 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
Skills
- Strong knowledge of the space industry, including its technical, regulatory, and operational landscape
- Proven experience in product management, ideally including time 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, sales) in agile environments
- Fluent English (written and spoken). Portuguese is a strong advantage
- 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/space procurement cycles and long sales processes
- Experience with safety-critical software development standards (CMMI, DO-178C, or similar)
Benefits
- Private health insurance
- Employee Assistance Programme (mental health, legal, financial support)
- Home office support
- Extra holidays: 2 additional days after year one, more as time goes on
- Extra parental leave: 2 additional months fully paid
- Gradual return-to-work support: We’ll help you ease back from long breaks
- Sabbatical programme for long-term employees
- Training, mentorship, and growth opportunities: we'll invest in where you want to go next
Company Overview