Director of Transit Technology

Ryan Mahoney

Ryan Mahoney

Director of Product, FirstWho

“Most candidates are good at managing vendors or writing code, but few can do both while dealing with public sector politics. You need someone who can explain why open data standards matter to a city council member without using confusing tech speak. They have to hold vendors accountable for delivery while remaining open to feedback when critical legacy systems break. The real test is finding a leader who takes responsibility when a fare payment integration fails during peak rush hour. This role demands a rare mix of technical skill and political backbone that standard resumes rarely show.”

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Competency Questions

1 of 18

Service Planning & Business Operations

Covers strategic planning, financial management, vendor partnerships, and compliance standards essential for service delivery and business viability at regional scale.

Demand-Responsive Transit

Designs DRT service models and integrates them with fixed-route networks.

Interview round: Hiring Manager Technical & Strategy

Recount a pilot program you managed for on-demand transit services.

Positive indicators

  • Data driven decision making
  • Clear communication strategy
  • Realistic budget management

Negative indicators

  • No clear success criteria
  • Ignores impact on fixed routes
  • No plan for post-pilot

Attitude Questions

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Accountability Mindset

The consistent willingness to accept ultimate responsibility for team outcomes, strategic decisions, and operational failures, characterized by transparent communication, immediate corrective action, and a focus on systemic improvement rather than blame assignment.

Interview round: Hiring Manager Technical & Strategy

What steps would you take if a vendor failed to meet a critical contract milestone?

Positive indicators

  • Enforces accountability firmly
  • Protects agency interests

Negative indicators

  • Ignores the breach
  • Absorbs the cost without challenge

Progression Framework

This table shows how competencies evolve across experience levels. Each cell shows competency at that level.

Service Planning & Business Operations

4 competencies

CompetencyMidSeniorPrincipal
Demand-Responsive Transit

Monitors DRT algorithm performance and adjusts service zones to optimize flexible transit service delivery.

Designs DRT service models and integrates them with fixed-route networks.

Evaluates DRT viability as a core service model and secures funding.

Micromobility Integration

Coordinates dock placement and manages vendor compliance for bikes, scooters, and last-mile mobility solutions.

Develops micromobility policies and integrates data feeds.

Shapes urban mobility policy and secures right-of-way for micromobility.

Mobility as a Service (MaaS)

Coordinates API connections with third-party mobility providers to enable integrated multi-modal transportation options.

Develops partnership agreements and manages the MaaS user experience.

Defines the regional MaaS ecosystem strategy and revenue sharing models.

Service Planning & Strategy

Analyzes ridership data to recommend schedule adjustments that optimize service delivery and meet passenger demand.

Designs network redesigns and manages public engagement processes.

Sets long-term service vision and aligns operational goals with regional land use.

Transit Technology & Infrastructure

5 competencies

CompetencyMidSeniorPrincipal
Accessibility Tech

Tests digital and physical interfaces for ADA compliance to ensure technology systems are accessible for all passengers.

Leads accessibility audits and integrates feedback into product roadmaps.

Establishes organizational accessibility policies and champions inclusive design culture.

Fare Payment & Ticketing

Oversees daily fare system operations and resolves transaction disputes to maintain revenue security and customer satisfaction.

Leads fare policy implementation and integrates new payment methods.

Defines long-term revenue collection strategy and open payment ecosystem partnerships.

Fleet Management & Telematics

Monitors fleet health dashboards and coordinates maintenance scheduling via telematics systems for operational efficiency.

Integrates telematics data with operational planning systems and manages vendor contracts.

Drives fleet electrification strategy and long-term infrastructure investment planning.

Open Data Standards

Executes data publishing workflows and ensures compliance with GTFS/GTFS-RT standards for public and partner consumption.

Designs data governance frameworks and manages API ecosystems for third-party developers.

Defines organizational data strategy and influences regional or national open data policies.

Transit Signal Priority

Configures TSP equipment and monitors intersection performance metrics to improve transit reliability.

Negotiates signal priority agreements with municipal traffic departments.

Advocates for regional signal priority standards and smart city integration.