Docs & Developer Tools
Writing and improving documentation and building the tools developers rely on — with training, talks, and a feedback loop back into engineering.
Porto, Portugal
João Moreira
Principal Technical Writer & Principal Engineer
I've spent more than two decades building software for advanced manufacturing — from writing code and architecting Manufacturing Execution Systems to leading engineering teams and developer advocacy. Today I focus on writing and improving the documentation and tools that help developers build on and extend the MES platform at Critical Manufacturing.
- 23+years in software
- 17+years in MES & Industry 4.0
- 6roles grown at one company
01 About
My career has followed an uncommon arc: nearly eighteen years at Critical Manufacturing, growing from Software Engineer to Senior Engineer, Technical Manager, MES Technical Architect, and Principal Engineer — Developer Advocate, and now Principal Technical Writer, where I bridge the platform's engineering with the developers who build on top of it.
That path means I've seen manufacturing software from every side: shipping features, designing system architecture for factories that can never stop, managing engineering teams for close to six years, and now writing and improving the documentation and tools that teach developers how to extend a modern MES.
Before that, I built safety- and mission-critical systems at Critical Software and engineered software and systems at DHV Tecnopor — a foundation of rigor I've carried through everything since.
02 Expertise
MES & Industry 4.0
Seventeen-plus years in Manufacturing Execution Systems for advanced manufacturing — the software layer that runs the factory floor.
Software Architecture
As MES Technical Architect and Principal Engineer: designing extensible, reliable systems for environments where downtime isn't an option.
Technical Leadership
Nearly six years as Technical Manager — growing engineers, steering delivery, and keeping technical quality and business goals aligned.
03 Career
Critical Manufacturing · 2009 — Present
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Jan 2026 — Present
Principal Technical Writer
Writing and improving the documentation and tools that help developers build on and extend the MES platform.
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Jan 2024 — Jan 2026
Developer Advocate
The voice of the developer community inside the company, and the platform's voice outside it.
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Feb 2018 — Present
Principal Engineer
Senior technical leadership across the MES platform.
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Aug 2022 — Dec 2023
MES Technical Architect
Architecture of the Manufacturing Execution System and its deployments.
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Oct 2016 — Aug 2022
Technical Manager
Led engineering teams and technical delivery for almost six years.
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Jan 2015 — Feb 2018
Senior Software Engineer
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2009 — Jan 2015
Software Engineer
Critical Software · Aug 2005 — Feb 2009
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3 yrs 7 mos
Software Engineer
Safety- and mission-critical software systems.
DHV Tecnopor · Mar 2003 — Jul 2005
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2 yrs 5 mos
Software and Systems Engineer
04 Talks & Articles
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2026
Article
Debugging Is Developer Experience
Why the quality of your worst moment — not your best demo — defines a platform's DevX.
05 Get in touch
Talking shop about MES, developer experience, or engineering careers? I'm always happy to connect.