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Transportation, Logistics, SaaS, Urban Tech, Public Transit

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

New York, NYOnsiteFull TimePrincipal$175,000–$230,000 /yrPosted 9 days agoVisa sponsorship available

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Required skills

  • public transit
  • transit operations
  • dispatch
  • booking platform
  • on-demand
  • paratransit
  • school bus
  • fixed-line service
  • riders
  • caregivers

Nice to have

  • motion design
  • interaction design

Role summary

Via is seeking Senior/Principal Product Designers to redesign their public transit operations platform. This role involves leading the redesign of dispatch and booking systems across various transit services, focusing on usability, delight, and equitable mobility for riders, caregivers, and students. You will drive AI-led design processes, from research and prototyping to production-ready code, working closely with engineers and product teams. The ideal candidate has 7+ years of experience in digital product design, a systems-thinking mindset, strong Figma and prototyping skills, and a passion for improving public transit.

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
    • Ready to apply?
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