Senior Product Manager, Rail(0→1)

Description

Optibus is looking for a Senior Product Manager to take our Rail product from zero to one, and help change how the world plans and runs public transportation.

You will own the Rail product end to end: defining what we build, proving it with the first customers, and turning it into a product that scales. Rail at Optibus is not a standalone tool. It builds on our existing Planning, Scheduling and Rostering platform, extending it to rail and to bus–rail multimodal networks.

This is a builder role. There is no established playbook, user base or backlog to inherit. You will work with a small cross-functional team, our first rail design partners, and the wider Planning group to find product–market fit and shape the go-to-market strategy.

Responsibilities

• Own the Rail product from zero to one: problem definition, MVP, first customer deployments and the path to a repeatable, scalable product.
• Recruit and run a design-partner program with rail operators and transit authorities; turn their workflows into validated product bets.
• Build deep knowledge of rail planning personas (timetabling, rolling stock, crew planning, network planning) and where they meet bus planning in multimodal networks.
• Decide what to reuse from the existing Planning platform and what must be built new for rail; negotiate those trade-offs with engineering and the Planning product team.
• Translate discovery into product: wireframes, clickable prototypes, specs and user stories, tested with users and engineering before committing to build.
• Use AI tools as a core part of the workflow to accelerate discovery, analysis, prototyping and documentation.
• Define the success metrics for each stage (design-partner adoption, first paying customers, time to value) and kill or pivot ideas that don't hit them.
• Own the Rail roadmap and its OKRs, and take a leading role in quarterly planning with the wider product group.
• Shape the go-to-market: positioning, pricing input, target segments and sales narrative, working with marketing, presales and sales.
• Work hands-on with CS and Onboarding to make the first rail rollouts succeed, and feed what they learn back into the product.

Requirements

• 5–7+ years as a product manager at senior level, 3+ of them on B2B SaaS products.
• A proven 0→1 track record: took at least one new product or major product line from idea to paying customers.
• Comfortable with ambiguity: able to set direction with incomplete information, test assumptions fast and change course on evidence.
• A strategic thinker who can set a clear vision for a new product and a roadmap to get there, after weighing the alternatives.
• A problem solver with a can-do approach, who brings remedies along with the challenges.
• A true team player who works closely with engineering, CS, presales, sales and marketing.
• A strong communicator with great presentation skills, credible in front of customer executives.
• Proficient with AI tools (e.g. Claude, ChatGPT) for research, analysis, writing and rapid iteration, as a daily habit.
• Hands-on with prototyping and design: wireframes, clickable prototypes or mockups (e.g. Figma) to validate ideas before writing specs.
• Understands the development complexities of modern software architectures and negotiates trade-offs intelligently.
• Accountable and used to a high-paced agile environment, with a record of shipping on time.

About Optibus:

Optibus is a unified software platform revolutionizing public transportation planning, scheduling, and operations in over 8,000 cities worldwide. Using AI, ML, and optimization algorithms, it empowers agencies to design more efficient, equitable, and sustainable transit networks, enhancing passenger access, reducing emissions, and improving driver conditions. With offices globally and a team of 250+ employees, Optibus fosters a collaborative culture centered on innovation, determination, and impact. As the first unicorn in public transportation technology, Optibus is driving the modernization of mass transit to make it the preferred choice for cities and passengers alike.

Why Join Optibus?

• Be part of a company revolutionizing public transportation with cutting-edge technology.
• Collaborate with global teams passionate about sustainability and innovation.
• Enjoy a dynamic and inclusive workplace culture that values growth and creativity.
• We offer a hybrid work environment, with employees expected to be in the office 3 days a week. The remaining days can be worked remotely to support work-life balance and flexibility.

Optibus is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, religious beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. It is our responsibility at Optibus to provide an inclusive and accessible interview experience for all. We will provide reasonable accommodations for all candidates in need of individualised support during the hiring process.