Front End Developer (3 days telework/week, TS/SCI with Polygraph required)

Red Alpha; Columbia (MD); Remote; USD 130,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 10% 401k contributions, vesting

Up to 5 weeks leave + 11 floating hols

Premium health, dental, vision for you

Gym membership

Education stipend up to $5250/year

Merchandise allowance up to $300/year

Competitive bonus programs

Job summary

Red Alpha seeks a Front End Developer to build accessible user interfaces with Section 508 compliance, partnering with an Agile team to test and remediate accessibility issues across the stack.

The role emphasizes ARIA, semantic HTML, and screen reader testing (JAWS), using tools like axe-core and Pa11y to maintain ongoing compliance. Proven Vue experience is preferred and a TS/SCI clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field or 4+ years of equivalent experience.
• Mid: 3+ years in software development/engineering; Senior: 8+ years; SME: 12+ years.
• Experience developing front-end applications using modern JavaScript frameworks (Vue preferred).
• Hands-on experience with JAWS and familiarity with other assistive technologies.
• Strong knowledge of Section 508, WCAG 2.1/2.2 (Levels A/AA), and ARIA best practices.
• Experience with semantic HTML, accessible forms, keyboard navigation, and focus management.
• Proficiency with accessibility testing and auditing tools (axe DevTools, WAVE, Pa11y, Lighthouse).
• Experience with Git version control and Agile collaboration tools (Jira, Confluence).
• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain accessible front-end components and user interfaces compliant with Section 508 and WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA standards.
• Conduct accessibility testing using JAWS and other screen readers, identifying and resolving issues with keyboard navigation, focus management, ARIA, color contrast, and semantic HTML.
• Perform manual and automated accessibility audits, document findings, and prepare compliance reports as needed.
• Collaborate with UX/UI designers, developers, and product owners to incorporate accessibility early in the design process and provide guidance on accessible design practices.
• Work with QA and DevOps to integrate automated accessibility testing tools into CI/CD pipelines for continuous compliance monitoring.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning and demos, and communicate accessibility requirements and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Front-end development

Accessibility testing

Jaws

Section 508

WCAG 2.1/2.2

ARIA

Semantic HTML

Git

Jira

Confluence

Agile

TS/SCI clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

4+ years of related experience in lieu of degree

Tools

Vue

axe DevTools

WAVE

Pa11y

Lighthouse

Git

Jira

Confluence

GitLab CI/CD

Job description

A day in the life:

We are seeking a Front End Developer to build high-quality, accessible user interfaces with a strong focus on Section 508 compliance. This role involves front-end development, accessibility testing, and remediation, using Section 508 standards and screen reader technologies to identify and resolve accessibility issues. You will work alongside an Agile team of software developers, systems engineers, and product owners to develop, test, and deliver user-friendly interfaces that are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design, develop, and maintain accessible front-end components and user interfaces compliant with Section 508 and WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA standards
• Conduct accessibility testing using JAWS and other screen readers, identifying and resolving issues with keyboard navigation, focus management, ARIA, color contrast, and semantic HTML.
• Perform manual and automated accessibility audits, document findings, and prepare compliance reports as needed.
• Collaborate with UX/UI designers, developers, and product owners to incorporate accessibility early in the design process and provide guidance on accessible design practices.
• Work with QA and DevOps to integrate automated accessibility testing tools (axe-core, Pa11y, Lighthouse) into CI/CD pipelines for continuous compliance monitoring.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning and demos, and communicate accessibility requirements and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What you bring to the table:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in Computer Science or a related technical field OR 4 additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Levels:
  • Mid: 3+ years of relevant experience in software development/engineering.
  • Senior: 8+ years of relevant experience in software development/engineering.
  • SME: 12+ years of relevant experience in software development/engineering.
• Experience developing front-end applications using modern JavaScript frameworks (Vue preferred).
• Hands-on experience with JAWS screen reader and familiarity with other assistive technologies.
• Strong knowledge of Section 508, WCAG 2.1/2.2 (Levels A/AA), and ARIA best practices.
• Experience with semantic HTML, accessible forms, keyboard navigation, and focus management.
• Proficiency with accessibility testing and auditing tools (axe DevTools, WAVE, Pa11y, Lighthouse).
• Experience with Git version control and Agile collaboration tools (Jira, Confluence).
• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph level of security clearance.

Bonus Skills:

• 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.

The total package:

Our total compensation package was strategically designed with our members in mind with the intention to reward our members for their hard work and commitment to our customers' missions; allow members to share in Red Alpha's success as we continue to grow and expand our footprint; provide long-term career opportunities through stability and internal mobility; and provide the resources our members need to support themselves and their dependents in the form of a robust benefits package. Our total compensation package includes a competitive base salary and benefits such as health, life/ disability, 401k, paid time off, professional development, and generous bonus programs. Please visit our benefits tab for additional information.

Salary Range: Disclosed pay ranges are a general guideline, and are not a guarantee of a final salary or compensation. Our approach in determining final salaries takes into consideration a number of factors such as education, certifications, total years of relevant professional experience, actual level of expertise, and the responsibilities of the role itself.

Based on the outlined roles, responsibilities, and requirements, the projected pay range for this position is: $130,000 - $220,000.

Some of our additional perks and benefits include:

• Retire sooner than planned: Get closer to retirement with up to 10% in 401k contributions, immediately vested.
• Have a career AND a life: Enjoy up to 5 weeks of leave (25 days of personal time off) and 11 paid floating holidays.
• Stay at your best: As a member, we'll pay 100% of your premiums for comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance. We'll also pay the majority of the premiums for your family. Let's not forget free access to a fully equipped state of the art gym!
• Keep current on new technologies and technological advancements: $5250 per year towards ongoing education, trainings, certifications, and maintaining professional memberships.
• Dress in style: Spend up to $300 per year on company branded merchandise featuring top quality brands such as Under Armour, Nike, Carhartt, YETI, etc.
• Enjoy the culture: Attend fun company events throughout the year such as our Oktoberfest, summer picnic, and annual holiday party! These are all in additon to your team events which may include happy hours, baseball games, snowboarding, RenFest, and more!

Every day, our elite customers are pushing through "the grind" to defeat the enemy, even putting their lives on the line for our freedom. Rise to the occasion with us to deliver engineering excellence, to match their dedication to this nation. Join us as we bring digital transformation to the fight!