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
Skills Required
- 7+ years of experience in digital product design
- Portfolio demonstrating concept-to-launch leadership on complex products
- Systems-thinking mindset and experience designing dense, data-rich, high-stakes workflows
- Understanding of how AI can change the design process
- Ability to prototype beyond Figma and move work toward production code, or strong willingness to learn
- Strong Figma and prototyping skills
- Motion and interaction design experience
- Clear communication and ability to explain design decisions
- Ownership, independence, and pragmatism regarding timelines, scope, and technical constraints
- Empathy for public transit riders and interest in equitable mobility
- Degree in Design, HCI, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
Via Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Via and has not been reviewed or approved by Via.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered fair or competitive in some roles, with mentions of high base salaries and achievable incentives. Feedback suggests equity is available and sometimes easy to exercise after vesting.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity is referenced as part of the package and viewed positively in certain cases. Feedback suggests equity terms can be favorable and contribute to overall compensation satisfaction.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare benefits are highlighted as a strong point within the benefits package. Feedback suggests health coverage is valued by some employees.
Via Insights
What We Do
We build technology that changes the way the world moves. Our guiding principle is simple: the future of transportation is dynamic, shared public mobility — the kind that reduces carbon emissions across cities, compliments existing transit infrastructure, and provides equitable access to efficient, affordable ways of getting around. For everyone.
Why Work With Us
You’ll work in an established startup that’s growing at staggering speed. We have plenty of room for the most bold among us to dream it up and make it happen. You’ll be empowered to experiment, and encouraged to challenge what we’ve already done while making stuff no one’s even thought of yet.
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