Principal Data Scientist, Advanced ML & Optimization

Via is using technology to transform transportation around the world. From changing a single person’s daily commute to reducing humanity’s collective environmental footprint — we’ve got huge goals.

As a Principal Data Scientist - Advanced ML and Optimization , you'll utilize advanced quantitative & statistical techniques to drive business model and product innovation for Via.

What You’ll Do:

• Use optimization theory and/or reinforcement learning and/or graph-based methods to improve transportation networks.


• Own projects end-to-end, including data querying and cleaning, model/algorithm development, model/algorithm deployment, and, when necessary, building proof-of-concept web apps that leverage your models/algorithms.


• Hone your presentation and communication skills by giving regular reports on your progress and findings.

Who You Are:

• Have a Master’s or PhD degree from a top-tier university in neuroscience, physics, biology, math, economics, computer science, operations research, or other highly quantitative field, and a record of exceptional academic achievement.


• Have worked in a full-stack setting (from data to proof-of-concept application), or are eager to gain this skillset.


• Are hungry for knowledge. You enjoy reading and understanding recent scientific publications, and often build toy implementations of novel techniques to see how they function.


• Have completed 2+ projects that utilized optimization, reinforcement learning, and/or graph-based methods in either an academic or industry environment.


• Have written at least 10,000 lines of high-quality functional or object-oriented code in Python or other language suitable for data analytics.


• Are a natural relationship builder that values camaraderie, comes with a sense of humor, and doesn't take themselves too seriously.


• Can think on your feet and are curious, coachable, and self-motivated.


• Are an extraordinary communicator with demonstrated writing, editing and visualization skills

What Catches Our Eye:

• Prior experience with SQL is a plus.


• Prior experience with graph-neural networks is a plus.


• Authorship of one or more high-impact publications is a plus.


• Prior role at a startup, or successful completion of a Postdoc, or experience working in another fast-paced environment is a plus.

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: $125,000-$165,000


• We are proud to offer a generous and comprehensive benefits package, including free medical plans and 401K matching.

We’re Via, and we build technology that changes the way the world moves. We’re driven by a simple mission: to create modern and efficient public transportation systems that provide far greater access to jobs, healthcare, and education. With our best in class suite of products, we make transit thrive.

Our teams of world class engineers, data-scientists, product managers, operations specialists, marketers, transit experts and more bring cutting-edge AI-powered software and innovative technology-enabled operations to our partners across the globe. Founded in 2012, Via builds solutions to digitize, automate, and enable data-driven decision making for entire transportation networks; fixed-route buses, microtransit, paratransit, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and more.

If you’re excited to be at the forefront of modernizing the future of transportation, are up for solving tough problems, and willing to become/already are a transit nerd, we are the place for you. Even if your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description for this role, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other opportunities.

Ready to join the ride?

Via is an equal opportunity employer.