Critical Software

Critical Software, founded in 1998 in Coimbra, Portugal, engineers mission-critical, safety-critical and business-critical software and systems for industries in which failure is not an option. Its work spans spacecraft operating continuously in orbit, aircraft and avionics, railway systems, vehicles with passenger safety systems, medical systems, embedded systems, smart metering networks, energy, defence and finance. The company employs more than 1,400 people across seven global offices and has been in continuous operation for over 25 years.

Process discipline is a defining feature of the firm. Critical Software is one of a small number of technology companies worldwide to hold CMMI Level 5 ratings for both its waterfall and its agile development processes, the highest level of the capability maturity model. The company applies these processes across the full range of its technical domains, from space and avionics software to embedded and business-critical systems, working with clients in aerospace, railway, medical, energy, automotive, defence and utilities markets.

Critical Software is a certified Benefit Corporation and structures its governance around a commitment to People, Planet and Profit. Five per cent of annual profits are directed to community impact, and the ratio between the highest and lowest earners is capped at 10 to 1. The company invests in renewable energy across its facilities, runs carbon-neutral initiatives and operates neurodiversity talent programmes.