Accessibility Engineer - Technology Solutions

University of Illinois - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Entry Level

Chicago, IL

10,001+ employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Accessibility Engineer at the University of Illinois Chicago will be responsible for promoting and ensuring digital accessibility across the university's online platforms, tools, and applications. This role involves evaluating, recommending, and implementing accessibility standards to comply with federal, state, and university guidelines, such as WCAG and ADA. The engineer will collaborate with various teams to improve accessibility for all users, particularly individuals with disabilities, and will play a key role in training and advocacy for accessibility initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive accessibility audits of UIC's digital platforms, including websites, mobile applications, and e-learning tools.
• Perform automated and manual testing to identify accessibility barriers.
• Recommend and implement solutions to resolve accessibility issues, working with developers to ensure compliance with accessibility standards.
• Ensure digital assets comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, WCAG 2.1 standards, and ADA regulations.
• Develop and deliver training materials and workshops on digital accessibility for developers, designers, and content creators.
• Maintain documentation related to accessibility standards, processes, and best practices.
• Proactively monitor digital trends and advancements in accessibility tools and techniques.
• Provide guidance to teams across the university on integrating accessibility into digital content creation, application development, and design processes.
• Act as an advocate for accessibility within the university.
• Participate in special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in Computer Science or closely related field of study.
• Minimum 1 year of professional IT experience within System Administration & Operations, including experience in configuration, installation, maintenance, backup/recovery, and upgrading multi-user computer systems hardware and software.
• Demonstrated experience with accessibility testing using assistive technologies (e.g., screen readers, voice recognition software).

Nice-to-haves

• Strong understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and ARIA attributes.
• Ability to analyze and interpret accessibility issues in both design and code.
• At least 3 years of experience working in digital accessibility or web development with a focus on accessibility testing.
• Knowledge of WCAG 2.1, ADA, Section 508, and other accessibility guidelines and laws.
• Experience with accessibility testing tools and monitoring systems such as WAVE, Axe, or similar.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills.
• Experience in user testing with individuals with disabilities.
• Experience working in higher education or a large institutional environment.
• Certifications such as Trusted Tester by Dept of Homeland Security and Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS).

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability & AD&D insurance
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Paid leave including Vacation, Holiday, and Sick
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents