Senior UI Developer

• We are seeking a highly skilled Sr. UI/UX Developer/Architect with extensive experience in building and maintaining enterprise design systems, deep expertise in WCAG accessibility standards, and exceptional communication skills.
• This role is critical to ensuring the development of accessible, reusable, and scalable components that meet federal WCAG 2.1 (up to AAA) accessibility requirements.
• The successful candidate will have a proven track record of creating and implementing design systems from scratch, while collaborating across teams to ensure compliance, usability, and consistency.

Purpose of the Role

• This contractor position has been created to address the immediate need for accessibility and design system expertise across multiple enterprise systems.
• These include high-visibility projects such as DNR, HHS, IWD, and the River AI Chatbot, which must meet federal WCAG compliance by the April deadline.
• The role will focus on developing, documenting, and testing reusable components using Storybook, as well as implementing high-level wrapper components that ensure accessibility and uniformity across modern applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Design System Development: Build, document, and maintain a scalable design system and reusable component library using the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) framework or similar enterprise systems.
• Accessible Component Development: Develop high-level wrapper components with HTML, SASS, and Angular to ensure consistency and accessibility across web applications and the River AI Chatbot.
• Accessibility Compliance: Ensure all components and UI patterns meet WCAG 2.1/AAA accessibility standards through semantic HTML, ARIA roles, and accessibility testing workflows.
• Storybook Integration: Use Storybook for component development, documentation, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Collaboration and Mentorship: Partner with developers from other teams, many of whom may be new to accessibility and design system best practices, to drive adherence to accessibility and UX standards.
• Project Support: Provide accessibility and UX support for major state systems, ensuring compliance by the mandated deadline.
• Code and Accessibility Reviews: Participate in code reviews, accessibility audits, and UX discussions to ensure the quality and usability of front-end assets.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of professional front-end development experience.
• Design System Expertise: Proven ability to set up and integrate enterprise design systems, including the development of high-level wrapper components and reusable component libraries.
• Accessibility Knowledge: Strong expertise in WCAG 2.1/AAA standards, ARIA roles, semantic HTML, and accessibility testing tools.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in HTML, SASS, and Angular.
• Component Documentation: Experience using Storybook for component development and collaboration.
• UX Principles: Strong understanding of UX best practices and accessible user interface design.
• Enterprise Design Systems: Experience with USWDS or other enterprise-level design systems.

Preferred Qualifications (Not Required)

• Backend Familiarity: Experience with .NET, MVC, and SQL to support backend integration and cross-team collaboration.
• Integration Awareness: Ability to understand backend considerations in a .NET environment for seamless front-end integration.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• The ideal candidate is an expert in accessibility-focused component development and enterprise design systems who thrives in a collaborative environment.
•  They are a strong communicator, capable of leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring that all front-end assets are accessible, reusable, and compliant with federal standards.
• This individual will play a pivotal role in meeting the organization’s federal accessibility requirements and supporting the long-term sustainability of the design system across multiple agencies.