Front-End Developer/ 508 Compliance Specialist

Shield Consulting Solutions, Inc.; Annapolis, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) employer match

25 days PTO

11 paid holidays

Job summary

Shield Consulting Solutions, Inc. is seeking a Front-End Developer/508 Compliance Specialist in Annapolis Junction, MD. The role requires active TS/SCI with Polygraph clearance and allows telework up to 3 days per week.

You will design and implement accessible front-end interfaces and work closely with an Agile team to ensure 508/WCAG AA compliance. Responsibilities include 508 testing with JAWS, remediation of issues, documentation, and collaboration with UX/UI, developers, and product owners.

Qualifications

• Proven experience developing front-end applications using modern JavaScript frameworks (Vue preferred).
• Hands-on expertise testing with JAWS and other screen readers.
• Strong knowledge of Section 508 standards, WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA, and ARIA practices.
• Experience with semantic HTML, accessible form design, keyboard navigation, and focus management.

Responsibilities

• Accessible Front-End Development: Design, develop, and maintain front-end components and interfaces that conform to 508/WCAG AA standards.
• 508 Testing & Remediation: Perform accessibility testing with JAWS; identify and remediate keyboard navigation, ARIA, color contrast issues.
• Audit & Documentation: Conduct audits, document findings, and produce test reports for compliance.
• Collaboration: Work with UX/UI designers, developers, and product owners to bake accessibility in by design.
• Integration & Delivery: Integrate automated accessibility testing tools (axe-core, Pa11y, Lighthouse) into CI/CD.
• Collaboration & Ceremonies: Participate in Agile ceremonies and communicate accessibility requirements to stakeholders.

Skills

Front-end development

Accessibility testing

Screen reader testing

Agile collaboration

Tools

axe-core

Pa11y

Lighthouse

Git

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Front-End Developer/ 508 Compliance Specialist (Annapolis Junction, MD)

Active TS/SCI w/Polygraph REQUIRED Please do not apply if you do not currently possess this level of clearance.

Telework: Up to 3 days/week

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.

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.

Required Experience

• 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.

Excellent benefits package including 25 days PTO, 11 paid holidays, 100% employer‑paid healthcare for employees and dependents – available day 1, 8% 401(k) employer match – immediate vesting.

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