Lead User Interface Designer

ACL Digital; Des Moines (IA); Remote; USD 96,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

ACL Digital seeks a UI/Accessibility Expert to lead the front-end tech direction for the Des Moines project. You will own architecture, coding standards, and accessibility across Angular, SASS, and HTML. The role emphasizes implementing USWDS across the project and ensuring WCAG 2.2 AA compliance.

The candidate will mentor developers, drive CI/CD improvements, and collaborate with Java teams to integrate APIs while maintaining secure development practices for government-related data handling.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Front-End Tech Lead or senior front-end engineer.
• Experience with Angular, SASS, and HTML.
• Experience implementing a design system; USWDS experience preferred.
• Formal accessibility certification (CPACC, WAS, or equivalent).
• Hands-on accessibility testing with automated tools, screen readers, and keyboard navigation.

Responsibilities

• Lead front-end codebase architecture, direction, and coding standards for Angular, SASS, and HTML.
• Develop and maintain high-quality front-end code for Staff MIUI screens.
• Implement and enforce USWDS and State Design System usage across the project.
• Own accessibility strategy and ensure WCAG 2.2 AA, Section 508, Title I/II compliance.
• Perform accessibility validation with automated tools, screen readers, and manual navigation.

Skills

Technical leadership

Front-end architecture

Accessibility strategy

Mentoring

Tools

Angular

SASS

HTML

USWDS

CI/CD

Job description

Title: UI/Accessibility Expert - Front-End Tech Lead

Location: Des Moines, IA 50319 - Remote

Duration: 10/26/2026 - 06/30/2027

Interview: Either Web Cam or In Person

Need only local candidates be submitted to this position.

Pay Rate - $70 to $74 per hour on W2

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead for the front-end codebase (Angular, SASS, HTML), setting architecture, direction, and coding standards.
• Develop, review, and maintain high-quality front-end code for Staff MIUI screens.
• Implement and enforce the U.S. Web Design System and State Design System across the project.
• Own accessibility strategy and ensure compliance with WCAG 2.2 AA, Section 508, Title I, and Title II requirements.
• Perform accessibility validation using automated testing tools, screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver), and manual keyboard/tabbing navigation.
• Lead code reviews, design reviews, and mentor front-end developers.
• Improve and maintain front-end CI/CD processes and pipelines.
• Identify architectural gaps and define the front-end technical roadmap.
• Collaborate with Java backend teams to integrate APIs and services (no Java development required).
• Produce technical documentation, decision records, and process documentation.
• Apply secure development practices aligned with government security and sensitive data handling requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Front-End Tech Lead or senior-level front-end engineer.
• Expert knowledge of Angular, SASS, HTML.
• Experience implementing a design system; USWDS experience strongly preferred.
• Formal accessibility certification (CPACC, WAS, or equivalent).
• Hands‑on accessibility testing experience using automated tools, screen readers, and manual navigation.
• Strong understanding of CI/CD and front-end deployment workflows.
• Ability to work effectively with Java backend teams.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, mentoring ability, and experience driving engineering best practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including documentation.
• Understanding of government security and sensitive data handling requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Section 508 and Title I/Title II accessibility compliance.
• Prior work in government or public-sector environments.
• Experience defining engineering standards and leading process improvements.
• Familiarity with enterprise-scale front-end architectures and component libraries.
• Experience writing technical documentation, runbooks, or engineering process guides.