Senior/Principal Product Designer, Public Transit Operations (Multiple Roles)

Via Transportation is a public mobility technology company that develops software and operational solutions for shared transportation networks. The company provides a comprehensive suite of products including microtransit, paratransit, student transit, corporate and campus shuttles, and health transportation services, serving cities, transit authorities, school districts, universities, healthcare providers, and corporations. Via's platform enables dynamic, on-demand routing and scheduling that maximizes vehicle utilization and reduces the number of single-occupancy trips on the road. By replacing inefficient fixed-route systems and private car trips with intelligent shared mobility, Via contributes to lower emissions and more sustainable urban transportation ecosystems. The company also offers Remix, a transit planning and scheduling platform, and has integrated Citymapper into its mobility-as-a-service offerings to help cities build more rider-centric networks. Via's mission centers on reimagining public transit to be more equitable, efficient, and accessible, ensuring that underserved communities gain reliable connections to jobs, education, and healthcare. What distinguishes Via is its combination of proprietary routing algorithms, real-time operations management tools, and in-house consulting expertise through Via Strategies, allowing it to serve both the technology and operational needs of transit agencies at scale.

Redesign the operating system for public transit.

Via is a global leader in smart public transportation, using technology to change how the world moves. Our Transit Operations platform powers on-demand, paratransit, school bus, and fixed-line service for public agencies, reaching hundreds of thousands of riders every week. For many of them, public transit isn't a convenience. It's how they get to a job, a hospital, or a classroom.

Checklists are where public-sector software starts. They shouldn't be where it stops. The real test is whether a dispatcher can fix a missed pickup in seconds, or whether a rider with a disability can book a trip without a phone call. Our users span paratransit eligibility managers, call center agents, dispatchers, and agency leaders, plus the riders, caregivers, and students on the other end. Each one deserves a product that's insights-first, obvious to use, and delightful, especially the communities with the fewest alternatives.

This is your chance to redesign a complex, mission-critical platform with usability and delight as the bar. You'll also drive how design itself can be AI-led, moving from static mockups to rapid prototypes to production-ready code, working side by side with engineers. This isn't AI for AI's sake. It's a way to democratize great design and ship better real-world outcomes for the people who rely on transit most.

The Product org is investing in Design and is looking for multiple candidates with varying degree of experience - this is a fast and growing team!

What You'll Do: 

• Lead the redesign of our dispatch and booking platform, unifying the experience across on-demand, paratransit, school bus, and fixed-line service.
• Make every workflow insights-first, so data surfaces the right decision at the right moment instead of sitting in a report.
• Design for the full cast of people who make transit work: eligibility managers, call center agents, dispatchers, riders, caregivers, and students, each with journeys that feel purposeful and efficient.
• Design around rider eligibility, special conditions, and disability aids so every trip is dignified and easy, especially for riders with the fewest alternatives.
• Drive how our design team works with AI, from synthesizing research and exploring concepts to building rapid prototypes and production-ready code.
• Work in a forward-deployed way: spend time with agencies and engineers, test ideas against real operations, and ship alongside the team.
•  Run research and usability testing, and partner with analysts to turn data into design decisions.
• Own the details, from concept to pixel-perfect execution, and make tradeoffs explicit.
• Evolve our design system deliberately as we scale.
• Partner closely with product, analytics, and engineering across the full project lifecycle.

What you Bring:

• 7+ years in digital product design, with a portfolio showing concept-to-launch leadership on complex products.
• A systems-thinking mindset and experience designing dense, data-rich, high-stakes workflows.
• A point of view on how AI changes the design process, and the curiosity to keep pushing it.
• Comfort prototyping beyond Figma and moving work toward production code (or a strong drive to learn).
• A high bar for craft and strong Figma and prototyping skills. Motion and interaction design is a plus.
• Clear communication and the ability to explain the "why" behind your decisions.
• Ownership, independence, and pragmatism about timelines, scope, and technical constraints.
• Empathy for riders who depend on public transit and a real interest in equitable mobility.
• A degree in Design, HCI, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Compensation and Benefits

• Final salary will be determined by the candidate’s experience, knowledge, and skills. Salary reflected does not include equity or variable pay, where applicable
• Salary Range: $175,000-$230,000
• Comprehensive health coverage, with low-cost dental and vision plans
• A 401(k) with a generous company match and vesting
• Fully paid parental leave for new parents, with extended leave options
• Additional benefits (mental health, pet insurance, and other wellness perks)
• 20 days of paid time off (PTO) annually