Senior Accessibility Consultant

Deque Systems Inc•Ann Arbor, MI

3d•Remote

About The Position

Deque is seeking a Sr. Accessibility Consultant that will lead accessibility across complex digital ecosystems and help organizations move from compliance driven activities to measurable accessibility outcomes. You will work directly with client teams and alongside the Deque delivery team to identify issues, guide remediation and influence how accessible products are designed and built in scale. A strong candidate for this role is proactive, a lifelong learner, and has a track record of delivering exceptional service. They are passionate about digital accessibility and have the technical depth, sharp judgment, and consulting mindset needed to challenge thinking and not just execute tasks.

Requirements

5 to 8 years of professional digital accessibility testing experience
Strong working knowledge of WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2; EN 301 549; and Section 508
Experience testing native mobile apps (iOS and Android) for accessibility
Deep experience with assistive technologies and real user interaction patterns
Intermediate to advanced proficiency in screen reader testing with at least one of: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver, or TalkBack
Ability to distinguish true accessibility barriers from general usability concerns
Experience writing clear and actionable accessibility recommendations for remediation
Intermediate to advanced knowledge of HTML5 and CSS3
Intermediate knowledge of ARIA authoring practices
Understanding of how JavaScript impacts the DOM and accessibility
Comfortable reviewing code and guiding implementation decisions such as keyboard interaction, focus management, and accessible component patterns
Clear, structured communication across technical and non-technical audiences
Confidence to challenge assumptions and guide teams toward better solutions
Ability to operate independently while managing multiple client priorities
Excellent interpersonal skills with a track record of delivering exceptional service

Nice To Haves

IAAP certifications are valued. Preferred credentials include: Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC), Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS), Accessible Document Specialist (ADS)
Experience testing digital documents (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) for accessibility
Familiarity with enterprise-scale applications and design systems
Familiarity with Agile/Scrum development processes
Detailed knowledge of Deque Software Tools: Axe, Axe DevTools, Axe Auditor, and Axe Monitor
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Responsibilities

Perform comprehensive WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 Level A/AA audits on web, mobile, and enterprise platforms, following the Deque Way methodology
Apply and interpret standards including WCAG 2.1/2.2, EN 301 549 (EU), and Section 508
Conduct advanced manual testing with assistive technologies - JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack, going beyond automated tools to identify real user impact and edge cases
Accurately identify, clearly document, and prioritize accessibility issues with precise remediation recommendations
Set up and manage test cases in Axe Auditor
Run and interpret results from the Axe DevTools browser extension
Review and act on scan results in Axe Monitor
Support clients in adopting and integrating Deque tooling into their development workflows
Partner with engineering teams to resolve accessibility issues at root-cause level
Provide clear, actionable remediation guidance across HTML, ARIA, CSS, JavaScript, and native mobile (iOS/Android)
Review code and design implementations for accessibility alignment
Ensure fixes are scalable, reusable, and aligned with design systems
Validate remediated issues to confirm closure meets accessibility intent and not just surface compliance
Serve as the accessibility lead for client engagements
Communicate effectively with designers, developers, product managers, and leadership
Answer developer, designer, and content contributor questions about accessibility requirements
Challenge assumptions and push for clarity where accessibility and usability are conflated
Influence product decisions to embed accessibility early and not retrofit later
Author VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates) when required
Maintain a high bar for issue reporting with clear, reproducible, and actionable descriptions
Handle complex scenarios and escalations with confidence
Perform quality checks on your peer’s work to maintain high quality of deliverables
Support and mentor junior consultants
Contribute to internal practices, reusable assets, and continuous improvement
Help strengthen Deque’s methodology through real project insights