Digital Accessibility Engineer Lead - Technology Solutions

University of Illinois - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Chicago, IL

10,001+ employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Digital Accessibility Engineer Lead at the University of Illinois Chicago is 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 guiding staff on best practices in digital accessibility.

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.
• Work with developers to ensure the technical aspects of web design and development meet accessibility standards.
• Ensure digital assets comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, WCAG 2.1 standards, and ADA regulations.
• Stay informed on changes in accessibility guidelines and best practices via Deque Axe monitoring system and other accessibility data dashboards.
• 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.
• Collaborate with the broader Technology Solutions team to ensure continuous improvement of accessibility initiatives.
• Provide guidance to teams across the university on how to integrate accessibility into digital content creation, application development, and design processes.
• Act as an advocate for accessibility within the university.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in Computer Science or closely related field of study.
• Minimum of 6 years of professional IT experience which includes 2 years' experience at a supervisory or lead worker capacity.
• Demonstrated experience within System Administration & Operations including configuration, installation, maintenance, backup/recovery, and upgrading multi-user computer systems hardware and software.
• Experience in establishing/managing user accounts.
• Demonstrated experience with accessibility testing with 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