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

New York City

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

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