Portfolio

Célia Gonçalves

Senior Product Owner & Test Lead

Mission-Critical Systems Defense Software Quality
LinkedIn Learn more
01

About

Mission Assurance · Software Quality · Agile Delivery

ISTQB® Certified professional with 7+ years of experience in mission-critical and regulated defense environments. Specialised in software quality, reliability, and compliance across the full product delivery lifecycle.

At Critical Software, I serve as Technical Manager and Product Owner for Defence Sector projects — leading cross-functional testing teams, defining QA strategies, and ensuring product compliance with demanding sector standards.

I work at the intersection of product ownership and quality assurance, translating stakeholder needs into reliable, compliant software for high-stakes environments.

ISTQB® CTFL Defense & Mission Assurance Agile Delivery
Célia Gonçalves
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Skills

Product & Delivery

  • Product Ownership / Agile
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Backlog & Roadmap
  • Customer Discovery

Quality & Compliance

  • Test Leadership & QA
  • Mission Assurance
  • Secure Software Testing
  • Governance & Strategy

Technical

  • HTML5 / CSS3
  • JavaScript / REST APIs
  • SQL
  • Git / Linux
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Experience

Jul 2023 – Present Full-time

Senior Engineer

Critical Software

Technical Manager and Product Owner for Defence Sector Projects, overseeing product strategy and project execution. Led testing teams and defined quality assurance strategies to meet demanding defence sector standards. Provided hands-on testing expertise to ensure product compliance and reliability.

Product Ownership Test Leadership Defense Agile / Scrum
Jan 2019 – Jun 2023 Full-time

Engineer I → Professional Engineer II

Critical Software

Progressed from Intern to Professional Engineer II, consistently taking on greater responsibilities in Product Ownership, Testing, and Quality Assurance across Defence and Government Projects. Key contributions included leading test efforts and ensuring compliance with demanding process standards.

QA & Testing Government Projects Process Compliance
Nov 2025 – Present Volunteer

Parish Assembly Member

Junta de Freguesia de Anobra

Elected member of the Anobra Parish Assembly, contributing to local governance and community decisions.

Local Governance Community
Apr 2011 – Present Volunteer

Football Referee

Associação de Futebol de Coimbra

Officiating matches across various divisions. Maintained composure and impartiality under pressure, reinforcing leadership, decision-making, and effective communication skills.

Leadership Decision-making Teamwork
Sep 2014 – Jan 2015 Internship

Web Development Intern

Streamline

Contributed to web systems development with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. Gained hands-on experience in Linux environment management, server configuration, and security practices.

HTML / CSS / JS PHP Linux
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Education & Certifications

Certification

ISTQB® CTFL

International Software Testing Qualifications Board

Certified Tester Foundation Level — test fundamentals, design techniques, test management and supporting tools.

Certification

CSSLP Cert Prep: Secure Software Testing

LinkedIn Learning

Preparation for the CSSLP certification covering secure software testing practices within the SDLC.

Certification

AI Accountability: Build Responsible Systems

LinkedIn Learning

Frameworks and practices for building transparent, responsible, and accountable AI systems.

2015 – 2021 · Paused

Licentiate Degree in Computer Engineering

Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra

Information Systems branch — software development, databases, and networks. Studies paused in 2021.

2013 – 2014

Technological Specialisation in Information Systems

Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra

Completed with an average of 15/20. Includes internship at Streamline.

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Languages

Portuguese Native / Bilingual
English Professional Working
French Limited Working
Spanish Elementary
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Contact

Open to discussions on defense systems, mission assurance, software quality, and agile delivery.

linkedin.com/in/celiaagoncalves github.com/celiaagoncalves Microsoft Learn Achievements