We're looking for a talented Director of Innovation (DOI) to help us with our mission of pursuing excellence and driving change through trusted software technologies within the world?s most demanding industries.

Critical Software has more than 1,000 employees and multiple lines of business and staff based in offices across different geographies, including Portugal, UK and Germany. As a company we have built a solid reputation for delivering high quality and premium value to our customers, working with high profile accounts such as NASA, ESA, Airbus and BMW just to mention a few.

Critical Software is organized in three divisions ? High Integrity Systems, Smart Technology Solutions and Digital Engineering Services where each division is focused on specific vertical markets and has its own CTO who oversees the technical and technological challenges at the division level. The DoI will work closely and support the division CTOs while providing leadership for the overall company technology strategy. The DoI focus will be on innovative and potentially disruptive technologies and know-how that can help the company keep its competitive edge for the long term.

Reporting to the Management Board, the DoI will be responsible for outlining the company's technological vision, keeping up with technology trends, researching for new potentially disruptive technologies, implementing technology strategies, and ensuring that the technological resources are aligned with the company's ambitious growth goals.

In every small step you take on your journey with us, you?ll be supported by a world-class team of engineers, structured training programs and a caring, ambitious and pioneering culture. It?s time to challenge your limits. It?s time to give your career the rocket boost it deserves. It?s time you joined Critical Software!

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Outlining the company's technological vision, implementing technology strategies, and ensuring that the technological resources are aligned with the company's business needs;
• Foster innovation from the ground up, supporting ideation, exploration and validation activities of new projects, technologies and ideas;
• Promote a vibrant Technology discussion within the company, promoting activities that gather people with same interest around a topic, such as Hackathons and Meetups, amongst others;
• Working alongside and supporting the vertical-markets Divisions CTO?s and Division technology strategies, consolidating their strategies into a corporate level strategy to leverage on common areas of interest and strength;
• Keeping up with technology trends and research for new potentially disruptive technologies that can create strategic differentiation for the company;
• Define and implement strategies to develop existing cross-division key technology (enabling) areas such as AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Cyber Security; and bootstrap others aligned with company goals (for example: blockchain, etc.);
• Define and implement the strategy for research and development (R&D) and innovation, in coordination with the divisions;
• Develop a strong ecosystems of technology innovation partners, including Universities, scientific and research entities, customers, among others;
• Collaborating with department heads, marketing, finance, people, operations, quality, security, systems as an advisor of all technologies involved with the company;
• Supervision of the Fikalab ?technology playground lab? strategy and activities;
• Implementation and management of a solid talent foundation of domain/technology experts to develop and disseminate key technical know-how within the company;
• Manage technology and innovation budgets and attract external funding sources;
• Represent the company at conferences, trade and other events;
• Support hiring efforts for key tech positions within the company;
• Promoting Critical Software values and culture.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Exceptional Engineering and Technological skills;
• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering or related field with 15+ years working in a similar role in technology and management;
• A masters in business, technology commercialization, or innovation, would be an asset;
• Solid leadership competences ? ability to unite people, inject enthusiasm, inspire action;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, natural ability to build trust and lasting relationships, mentor others, resolve conflicts and build strong teams;
• Enthusiastic and natural communicator, outspoken, evangelizer, excellent in both English and Portuguese;
• Passionate for technology and progressive tech ideas, typically an early adopter and risk taker, intensely curious about everything technology;
• Strategic, out of the box, big-picture thinker, able to align multiple strategies and ideas;
• Strong business acumen and knowledge of the industries we serve;
• Solid understanding of budgeting and operations;
• Availability to travel.