Jobs · Information Technology · Maryland

Front-End Developer/ 508 Compliance Specialist

Shield Consulting Solutions, Inc. · Annapolis Junction, MD · 2 wk ago
Information TechnologyFull-time

Active TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance required. Telework: up to 3 days per week.

About the role

Front-End Developer with a strong concentration in Section 508 accessibility compliance to ensure the RAD system's interfaces are fully usable by individuals with disabilities. The ideal candidate combines solid front-end engineering skills with deep, hands-on expertise in accessibility testing and remediation, including proficiency with screen reader technology. This role involves close collaboration with a cross-functional Agile team of software developers, system engineers, and product owners to build and validate accessible, compliant, and high-quality user interfaces.

Responsibilities

  • Accessible Front-End Development: Design, develop, and maintain front-end components and user interfaces that conform to Section 508 and WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA standards.
  • 508 Testing & Remediation: Perform comprehensive accessibility testing using JAWS and other screen readers, identifying and remediating issues related to keyboard navigation, focus management, ARIA implementation, color contrast, and semantic HTML structure.
  • Audit & Documentation: Conduct manual and automated accessibility audits, document findings, and produce test reports as needed to support agency compliance requirements.
  • Collaboration: Partner with UX/UI designers, developers, and product owners early in the design process to bake accessibility in by design rather than retrofit it, and provide guidance on accessible design patterns.
  • Integration & Delivery: Work with QA and DevOps to integrate automated accessibility testing tools (e.g., axe-core, Pa11y, Lighthouse) into the CI/CD pipeline for continuous compliance monitoring.
  • Collaboration & Ceremonies: Participate actively in Agile ceremonies (sprint planning, demos) and communicate accessibility requirements and tradeoffs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Requirements

  • Proven experience developing front-end applications using modern JavaScript frameworks (Vue preferred).
  • Hands-on expertise testing with JAWS screen reader, with working familiarity of other assistive technologies.
  • Strong knowledge of Section 508 standards, WCAG 2.1/2.2 (Levels A/AA), and ARIA authoring practices.
  • Experience with semantic HTML, accessible form design, keyboard navigation patterns, and focus management.
  • Proficiency with accessibility testing/auditing tools (e.g., axe DevTools, WAVE, Pa11y, Lighthouse).
  • Experience with version control systems (Git) and Agile collaboration tools such as Jira and Confluence.

Desired Experience

  • Experience producing VPATs/Accessibility Conformance Reports for federal agency review.
  • Familiarity with integrating automated accessibility checks into CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitLab CI/CD).
  • Experience with Cypress or similar tools for automated UI/accessibility test scripting.
  • Familiarity with Cloud-based architecture and deployment (Amazon Web Services).
  • Familiarity with domain knowledge surrounding government agency reporting and dissemination policies.

Benefits

  • 25 days PTO
  • 11 paid holidays
  • 100% employer-paid healthcare for employees and dependents – available day 1
  • 8% 401(k) employer match – immediate vesting

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