What are the responsibilities and job description for the Front-End Developer/ 508 Compliance Specialist position at Shield Consulting Solutions, Inc.?
- Active TS/SCI w/Polygraph REQUIRED** Please do not apply if you do not currently possess this level of clearance.
Job Description
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Disclaimer: The salary range provided is an estimate based on current market conditions and may be adjusted based on factors such as experience, skills, and qualifications. The final salary offer will be determined after a thorough review of the candidate's background and alignment with the role. Please note that this range is subject to change and should be considered as a guideline rather than a definitive figure.
Shield Consulting Solutions is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
This is a full time position