C

Captivation

Software engineering for mission-focused teams

Front-End Developer/508 Compliance Specialist

Full-Time
$130k - $270k/yr
Mid
Bachelor's
Annapolis Junction, MD, USA
Hybrid
Software EngineeringFrontend Engineering
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship, US Top Secret Clearance Required

About the job

Requirements
  • Must currently hold a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government security clearance with a favorable polygraph; candidates must be U.S. citizens.
  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required; a master's degree may substitute for two years of experience.
  • Proven experience developing front-end applications using modern JavaScript frameworks; Vue is preferred.
  • Hands-on expertise testing with the JAWS screen reader and working familiarity with 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 and auditing tools such as axe DevTools, WAVE, Pa11y, and Lighthouse.
  • Experience with version control systems such as Git and Agile collaboration tools such as Jira and Confluence.
Responsibilities
  • Design, develop, and maintain front-end components and user interfaces that conform to Section 508 and WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA standards.
  • Perform comprehensive accessibility testing using JAWS and other screen readers, identify and remediate issues related to keyboard navigation, focus management, ARIA implementation, color contrast, and semantic HTML structure.
  • Conduct manual and automated accessibility audits, document findings, and produce test reports as needed to support agency compliance requirements.
  • Partner with UX/UI designers, developers, and product owners early in the design process to build in accessibility and provide guidance on accessible design patterns.
  • Work with QA and DevOps to integrate automated accessibility testing tools such as axe-core, Pa11y, and Lighthouse into the CI/CD pipeline for continuous compliance monitoring.
  • Participate in Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning and demos, and communicate accessibility requirements and tradeoffs to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience producing VPATs/Accessibility Conformance Reports for federal agency review.
  • Familiarity with integrating automated accessibility checks into CI/CD pipelines, such as GitLab CI/CD.
  • Experience with Cypress or similar tools for automated UI/accessibility test scripting.
  • Familiarity with cloud-based architecture and deployment using Amazon Web Services.
  • Familiarity with domain knowledge surrounding government agency reporting and dissemination policies.

About the company

Captivation builds digital software for mission makers by delivering engineering services across a wide range of disciplines. The work is collaborative, with teams that move quickly like a small business and take pride in what they develop. The company emphasizes transparency, a flat organizational structure, and a developer-focused culture, which enables engineers to work directly and iteratively with clients. Compared with larger firms, Captivation differentiates itself through its focus on timely delivery, practical problem solving, and actively pursuing challenging projects for the Intelligence Community, using modern software technologies. The goal is to produce solutions that clients value, on time, while growing the team and empowering its engineers to take ownership of their work.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Columbia, Maryland

Founded

2014

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Greenhouse showed 72 openings in October 2026, signaling sustained program demand.
  • Recent roles target AI/ML, Rust, cloud, and 508 accessibility modernization.
  • Federal award history and active hiring suggest sticky relationships with cleared government customers.

What critics are saying

  • Captivation's dependence on classified Annapolis Junction programs creates single-contract revenue shock risk.
  • TS/SCI polygraph hiring shrinks the talent pool and slows scaling across 72 openings.
  • A 2025-2026 contract loss could force rapid headcount cuts and damage clearance trust.

What makes Captivation unique

  • Captivation serves TS/SCI-cleared mission software for DoD, USCYBERCOM, and DISA.
  • Its 72-job 2026 slate spans DSP, AI, Kubernetes, and geospatial reporting tools.
  • Direct-hire, developer-owned culture with 20% 401k and six weeks PTO differentiates recruiting.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan