Senior/Principal Product Designer . Via

Design Better Podcast; New York (NY); On-site; USD 175,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health coverage

401(k) with generous match

Fully paid parental leave

Mental health support

Pet insurance and wellness perks

20 days PTO annually

Job summary

Via, a global TransitTech leader, seeks a Senior/Principal Product Designer in New York City to redesign its dispatch and booking platform for diverse users across on-demand, paratransit, school bus, and fixed-line services.

You will lead concept-to-launch design, collaborating with engineers, PMs, and analysts, while shaping the design system and accessibility standards. The role emphasizes data-informed decisions and an insights-first mindset.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in digital product design with concept-to-launch leadership.
• Systems-thinking for dense, data-rich workflows.
• Clear point of view on how AI changes the design process.
• Comfort prototyping beyond Figma toward production code.
• Strong communication and ownership of timelines and scope.
• Empathy for riders and equitable mobility.
• Degree in Design, HCI, or related field or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the redesign of the dispatch and booking platform across services.
• Make workflows insights-first to surface decisions at the right moment.
• Design for diverse users: managers, call centers, dispatchers, riders, caregivers, students.
• Address accessibility and inclusive design in every flow.
• Collaborate with engineers, PMs, and analysts; ship production-ready concepts.
• Evolve the design system as the product scales.
• Partner with product, analytics, and engineering through the full lifecycle.

Skills

Systems thinking

Leadership on complex products

Figma

Prototyping

AI in design

Communication

Ownership

Empathy for riders

Independence

Production-ready code mindset

Education

Design or HCI degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Figma

Job description

# Senior/Principal Product DesignerVia, New York City, USAPublic services## Why this work mattersVia's TransitTech software helps cities and agencies modernize public transit networks, reducing car dependency and improving equitable access to affordable transportation globally.View the full listing and apply →Listed 30 Oct 2026Applications are handled by Via, not by Hard Problems.## About ViaVia is a global technology company that builds smart public transportation software, powering on-demand, paratransit, school bus, and fixed-line transit services for public agencies. Its Transit Operations platform reaches hundreds of thousands of riders every week, including people who depend on transit to get to work, medical appointments, and school. The company is investing in its design team and hiring multiple designers at varying levels of seniority.### The roleThis role exists to redesign Via's mission-critical dispatch and booking platform, raising the bar for usability and delight across a complex, multi-user product. You would work within a growing Product and Design organisation, partnering closely with engineers, product managers, and analysts. The team is expanding and this is one of several open positions.### What you would do* Lead the redesign of the dispatch and booking platform, unifying the experience across on-demand, paratransit, school bus, and fixed-line services.* Make every workflow insights-first, so data surfaces the right decision at the right moment rather than sitting in a separate report.* Design for the full range of users who make transit work: eligibility managers, call center agents, dispatchers, riders, caregivers, and students.* Design around rider eligibility, special conditions, and disability aids so every trip is dignified and accessible, especially for riders with the fewest alternatives.* Drive how the design team works with AI, from synthesising research and exploring concepts to building rapid prototypes and production-ready code.* Spend time with agencies and engineers in a forward-deployed way, testing ideas against real operations and shipping 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, making tradeoffs explicit.* Evolve the design system deliberately as the product scales.* Partner with product, analytics, and engineering across the full project lifecycle.### What they are looking for* 7 or more 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 clear point of view on how AI changes the design process, and the curiosity to keep developing it.* Comfort prototyping beyond Figma and moving work toward production code, or a strong drive to learn.* Strong Figma and prototyping skills; motion and interaction design is a plus.* Clear communication and the ability to explain the reasoning behind design decisions.* Ownership, independence, and pragmatism about timelines, scope, and technical constraints.* Empathy for riders who depend on public transit and a genuine interest in equitable mobility.* A degree in Design, HCI, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.### Working arrangementsThe role is based in New York City. Candidates must currently live in the Greater NYC area or be open to relocating independently. Via supports visa sponsorship for candidates who require it.### Pay and benefitsSalary range: $175,000 - $230,000 (final salary determined by experience, knowledge, and skills; does not include equity or variable pay).* Comprehensive health coverage, with low-cost dental and vision plans.* 401(k) with a generous company match and vesting.* Fully paid parental leave for new parents, with extended leave options.* Additional benefits including mental health support, pet insurance, and other wellness perks.* 20 days of paid time off (PTO) annually.## DetailsLocation: New York City, USASalary: $175,000 - $230,000Sector: Public servicesRole: Product designSeniority: SeniorOrganisation: For-profitThis job is listed on the Hard Problems job board, but details come from the employer’s own listing and may have changed — always check the original posting.