ABOUT THE ROLE
European railways are entering a new era. Train control is converging on a single, harmonized standard, communications are moving to modern digital networks, and the industry is taking its first real steps towards Automatic Train Operation. Critical Software contributes to this modernization by developing certified, safety-critical solutions that help operators run more trains, more reliably, while giving passengers a safer and smoother journey.
We are looking for a Senior Product Manager to shape our rail product portfolio and turn this transformation into products the market wants to buy. We are not looking for someone to manage the products we already have; we are looking for the person who defines the ones we don't have yet — software-defined, data-driven and connectivity-based offerings that will sit alongside our certified portfolio. You will define the product vision, own the roadmap and take each solution from concept to market, carrying commercial accountability for the outcome. This is a role for someone who wants to build, not maintain, in a sector where the products you ship keep trains and passengers safe every day. If you want your product decisions to matter, this is where they will.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Own the product roadmap, balancing certification milestones, customer commitments, and long-term product strategy
- Identify and validate new product opportunities (market and competitive analysis, technology scouting, customer discovery), translating their specific needs into product requirements and shaping the full portfolio rather than a single feature
- Own the business case, pricing and P&L for each product line, and take new products from concept through to their first paying customers
- Build the go-to-market strategy for product placement and business expansion, working with commercial and business development teams on positioning, pricing, and partnership opportunities
- Coordinate a small team with direct access to leadership — working closely with engineering, safety, and certification teams to align product decisions
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Proven track record taking new products from zero to market, ideally in a regulated or safety-critical industry
- Familiarity with certification processes in safety-critical domains (EN 50126/50129/50716, DO-178, IEC 62443, or equivalent) is a strong plus
- Experience with software-defined, connected or data-driven products; familiarity with cloud/edge, cybersecurity or AI applied to operations is a plus
- Comfort working with long product lifecycles and complex, multi-stakeholder environments (operators, regulators, notified bodies)
- Strong communication skills, able to translate technical and regulatory complexity into clear product decisions
- Fluent in English (C1/C2)
HOW YOU CAN INSPIRE
- You combine deep technical credibility with the confidence to lead a room, technical or commercial
- You spot problems early and you're not afraid to name them and propose a solution
- You build trust because you know what you're talking about, not because you're told to
- You see client relationships as long-term partnerships, not one-off wins
WHAT WE OFFER
We invest in the people who make it all possible. Here's what that looks like in practice.
- 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
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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Skills Required
- Proven track record taking new products from zero to market
- Experience in a regulated or safety-critical industry
- Familiarity with certification processes in safety-critical domains, such as EN 50126, EN 50129, EN 50716, DO-178, or IEC 62443
- Experience with software-defined, connected, or data-driven products
- Familiarity with cloud, edge computing, cybersecurity, or artificial intelligence applied to operations
- Ability to work with long product lifecycles and complex, multi-stakeholder environments
- Strong communication skills for translating technical and regulatory complexity into product decisions
- Fluent English at C1 or C2 level
What We Do
At Critical Software, we believe our people are the core of who we are. Their talent, diversity, and ability to go beyond expectations shape everything we do. Working at Critical is about being part of a community built on purpose, values, and collaboration. Our commitment to engineering excellence makes us a trusted partner for some of the world’s leading companies in Aerospace, Railway, Medical Systems, Energy, Finance, and many more. We believe that technology is nothing without a passion to use it for good. That’s why we engineer change, helping to build a better and safer world through trusted and transformative technologies. Since 1998, we’ve helped companies in global industries like aerospace, transport, energy, healthcare and finance. Across the world, people and organisations depend on what we do. And we like that. Because it means that technology isn’t just our business. It’s our chance to help change the world. More than a company, we are a community. Our togetherness, culture and values are the foundations of who we are and what we do. We are proud to hold Benefit Corporation status, reflecting our commitment to sustainability, transparency, and business for good. We’re also one of only a few tech companies in the world to have both our waterfall and agile software development processes rated at CMMI® Level 5. Just as important as our technical expertise is our strong company culture, which guides us in everything we do. We’re recruiting for all of our locations right now and, if you’d like to find out more, please take a look at the careers section of our website.
