Director of Transit Technology Programs

Ryan Mahoney

Ryan Mahoney

Director of Product, FirstWho

“Hiring for this role is tough because you need someone who speaks both tech and operations. They have to enforce data rules with vendors while explaining delays to staff without causing panic. Most candidates lean too hard one way, like managing the timeline perfectly but ignoring safety rules or knowing the tech but failing to align the system. The real test is whether they can hold the line on rules when pressure mounts to just launch the fare payment update. We need people who treat accountability as essential, not optional.”

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Competency Questions

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Transit Technology Program Management

Manages end-to-end delivery of transit technology projects including data systems, fare collection, fleet operations, and passenger information. Ensures alignment with safety regulations, budget constraints, and stakeholder expectations through effective program governance and vendor coordination.

Data Standards & Compliance

Implements data governance policies and manages vendor compliance with standards including GTFS and regulatory requirements.

Interview round: Hiring Manager Technical Deep Dive

You discover a critical regulatory gap in a system just before a major launch. What steps do you take?

Positive indicators

  • Prioritizes compliance over schedule
  • Engages subject matter experts
  • Documents the risk acceptance

Negative indicators

  • Proceeds with launch despite gap
  • Hides issue from leadership
  • Lacks urgency in response

Attitude Questions

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Accountability Mindset

The consistent commitment to accept ownership of decisions, outcomes, and systemic integrity within transit technology operations, prioritizing transparency and corrective action over defensiveness when managing public infrastructure and stakeholder trust.

Interview round: Hiring Manager Technical Deep Dive

How would you approach a situation where a vendor failed to deliver on time?

Positive indicators

  • Reviews contract terms for penalties
  • Adjusts internal plan to accommodate delay
  • Communicates impact to internal stakeholders

Negative indicators

  • Blames procurement team for vendor selection
  • Assumes vendor will catch up without intervention
  • Hides vendor failure from leadership

Progression Framework

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

Transit Technology Program Management

7 competencies

CompetencyJuniorMidSeniorPrincipal
Data Standards & Compliance

Validates data feeds against standard schemas and documents compliance gaps.

Implements data governance policies and manages vendor compliance with standards including GTFS and regulatory requirements.

Architects data compliance frameworks and negotiates standards with external partners.

Leads industry working groups on data standards and shapes regulatory compliance strategy.

Fare Payment & Revenue Systems

Processes fare data reports and supports basic system troubleshooting.

Manages fare vendor relationships and ensures revenue data accuracy through effective oversight of fare collection technology and payment integration.

Designs fare policy implementation in technology and oversees security of payment systems.

Strategizes next-generation payment ecosystems and regional fare integration.

Fleet & Operations Technology

Monitors fleet telemetry dashboards and reports operational anomalies.

Configures fleet management software and optimizes operational workflows to support efficient transit operations and maintenance scheduling.

Leads deployment of operational technology and aligns fleet tech with service plans.

Defines future state operations technology strategy including autonomous and electric fleets.

Open Data & Public Portals

Updates data portal content and responds to basic developer inquiries.

Maintains API documentation and ensures data freshness on public portals to support developer community and public transparency initiatives.

Develops open data strategy and manages community engagement with developers.

Champions open data ecosystems and drives innovation through third-party app development.

Passenger Information & MaaS

Updates passenger information displays and monitors system uptime.

Coordinates MaaS integrations and manages content for passenger apps to deliver accurate real-time information and seamless multi-modal travel experiences.

Leads customer experience technology strategy and multi-modal integration.

Defines regional mobility ecosystems and partnerships for seamless travel.

Strategic Program Governance

Assists in preparing program documentation and tracking project milestones under supervision.

Manages specific program workstreams and coordinates cross-functional teams to deliver outcomes within approved budget and timeline constraints.

Defines program strategy, manages budgets, and aligns technology initiatives with business objectives.

Sets long-term technology vision, influences organizational policy, and drives industry-level program standards.

System Architecture & Integration

Supports integration testing and documents API connections under guidance.

Designs module interfaces and troubleshoots integration issues between systems to ensure reliable data flow and system interoperability.

Defines system architecture, selects technology stacks, and ensures scalability.

Sets enterprise architecture standards and drives innovation in system integration patterns.