Position Title: 508 Compliance Lead and Senior Solutions ArchitectLocation: Hybrid - 2 days a week in Arlington, VA Office
Other Considerations: U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (Required)
POSITION SUMMARYWe are seeking a Senior Solutions Architect and 508 Compliance Lead to join our team. You should be a highly skilled and experienced Federal IT Solutions Architect with a proven track record of working with Federal Government Agencies. You will have a deep understanding of federal IT requirements, government-specific systems, and a strong capability to design and implement innovative IT solutions that enhance operational efficiency and service delivery, particularly for the VA and/or Federal Health.
You will also lead our Section 508 accessibility practice, making sure the solutions, dashboards, documents, and deliverables that we propose and deliver are usable by Veterans and VA staff with disabilities. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about government modernization, accessible and user-centered design, and secure, scalable infrastructure.
RESPONSIBILITIESSection 508 Compliance Leadership (Multi-Product)- Lead the implementation of Section 508 compliance standards across multiple VA products, establishing a consistent program-wide approach based on the Revised 508 Standards and WCAG 2.x Level AA.
- Ensure VA's Section 508 priorities are met on every product, and drive teams toward continuous audit readiness.
- Plan and oversee 508 testing of applications, dashboards, and electronic documents using the DHS Trusted Tester process and tools such as ANDI, NVDA, JAWS, and Adobe Acrobat accessibility checks.
- Prepare Accessibility Conformance Reports (ACRs/VPATs) and other compliance evidence, and coordinate with the VA Section 508 Office on reviews, waivers, and audits.
508 Reporting & Executive Communication- Develop and maintain 508 compliance dashboards that track open, closed, and aging findings, remediation progress, and compliance status by product.
- Report progress on 508 compliance to VA leadership and program leadership, clearly demonstrating trends, risks, and improvements over time.
- Recommend priorities and resources to close compliance gaps, and escalate risks to timelines or audit readiness early.
508 Findings Management- Develop procedures and guidance for addressing 508 findings identified by internal testing teams and by the VA Section 508 Office, including triage, severity, remediation timelines, retesting, and closure evidence.
- Track findings to closure with product teams and verify that fixes are complete and sustained in future releases.
- Analyze recurring findings to identify root causes and update standards, templates, and training to prevent them.
Accessibility by Design, Coaching & Enablement- Coach developers, designers, testers, and technical teams on how to build 508 compliance into their day-to-day work, so accessibility is designed in rather than fixed late.
- Embed accessibility into requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, design reviews, and the Definition of Done.
- Review designs and prototypes for color contrast, keyboard access, focus order, screen reader support, and reflow, and recommend fixes before development.
Tools, Innovation & Legacy System Remediation- Streamline 508 tools and procedures across products to reduce duplication and make testing and reporting faster and more consistent.
- Identify and evaluate industry-standard and leading-edge accessibility technologies, including automated testing integrated into CI/CD pipelines, that can support VA systems.
- Work with legacy programs and systems that may not be fully compliant, assessing gaps and developing practical remediation, workaround, and modernization strategies to bring them into compliance.
Solution Architecture & Design- Design and develop scalable, secure, and high-performance IT solutions tailored to the needs of the VA, ensuring alignment with federal regulations, VA security policies, industry best practices, and VA-specific requirements.
- Lead the technical architecture and design for complex federal IT projects, including system integrations, cloud migrations, and enterprise solutions, aligned with the VA Enterprise Architecture and Technical Reference Model (TRM).
- Develop and present architectural documentation, including concepts of operations (CONOPS), solution design specifications, technical diagrams, and implementation plans.
Growth, Capture & Proposal Support- Lead solution development for RFIs and RFPs, working with the Proposal Management and Capture Teams.
- Develop a bottoms-up Level of Effort (LOE) for each solution, including labor categories, staffing, and assumptions.
- Translate customer requirements into compelling, compliant technical approaches, including accessibility and security approaches.
Implementation Oversight & Risk Management- Oversee the end-to-end implementation of IT solutions, ensuring adherence to project timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
- Coordinate with project managers, developers, and QA teams to ensure smooth execution of technical projects.
- Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to address potential issues during solution deployment.
- Conduct regular reviews and audits of solutions to ensure ongoing compliance and performance.
Stakeholder Engagement & Advisory- Collaborate with stakeholders, including VA program managers, IT staff, and vendors, to gather requirements, define project scopes, and develop technical solutions.
- Act as a technical advisor and consultant to VA stakeholders, offering insights and recommendations on IT strategy and solution design.
- Facilitate workshops and meetings to communicate architectural concepts and gather feedback from VA representatives.
- Foster strong relationships with VA clients, understanding their needs and ensuring solutions are delivered to their satisfaction.
Security & Federal Compliance- Ensure that all IT solutions comply with federal regulations, including FISMA and NIST, and implement security measures to protect sensitive VA data and maintain the integrity of IT systems.
- Partner with the Cyber Security Lead to build security and privacy controls into designs and support ATO activities under VA Handbook 6500.
VA-Specific Expertise- Leverage in-depth knowledge of VA IT systems, including Electronic Health Records (EHR), Financial Management System, HR, Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS), and other key applications, to design solutions that address specific challenges and enhance system functionality.
- Stay current with VA policies, guidelines, and technological advancements to ensure solutions are compliant and up to date with VA standards.
- Provide expert guidance on VA-related IT initiatives, ensuring solutions meet the needs of Veterans and VA personnel.
QUALIFICATIONS- Must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate VA background investigation and PIV credential required to perform the role
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience) and Master's degree or advanced certifications (e.g., TOGAF, AWS Certified Solutions Architect) preferred (Additional relevant experience may be substituted for education in accordance with contract guidelines)
- Minimum of 7 years of experience as an IT Solutions Architect, with significant experience working on projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and proven expertise in federal IT systems and requirements
- Minimum of 3 years leading Section 508 / WCAG compliance across multiple products, including testing, remediation of findings, and audit preparation for web applications and electronic documents
- Experience building compliance dashboards and reporting accessibility progress to senior leadership
- Experience bringing legacy systems into Section 508 compliance through remediation or modernization
- Extensive knowledge of Federal Government Agency IT systems, and proficiency in solution design, cloud computing, and enterprise architecture
- Strong understanding of federal IT regulations, including FISMA, NIST, Section 508, and other compliance standards
- Proven track record of successful project management and solution delivery, including RFI/RFP solutioning and bottoms-up LOE development
- Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to develop innovative solutions for complex challenges
- Strong communication, collaboration, and presentation skills with partners and customers
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to guide cross-functional teams; a strategic, detail-oriented thinker who anticipates future IT needs and is adaptable and resilient in a dynamic and evolving federal environment
Preferred- Experience with VA Enterprise Cloud (VAEC), the VA TRM, and the VA Section 508 Office review process
- Experience with Federal Health IT, including EHR modernization
- Experience with Microsoft Power Platform (Power Apps, Power BI) and accessible dashboard design
- Experience with automated accessibility testing tools (such as axe or Accessibility Insights) integrated into CI/CD pipelines
- DHS Trusted Tester for Section 508 certification (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire). Preferred: TOGAF, AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or IAAP CPACC / WAS
WORKING CONDITIONSStandard Business hours are Monday through Friday. Occasional extended or weekend hours may be required based on operational needs. Must have reliable internet service that allows for effective telecommuting.
PAY RANGEThe base salary range for this position is $140,000 to $170,000 annually, depending on geographic work location, relevant experience, skills, education, internal equity, security clearance, and contract requirements. Geographic salary ranges are determined in accordance with the company's compensation practices and represent a good-faith estimate of the compensation for this position at the time of posting.
BENEFITSSprezzatura offers a comprehensive and flexible benefit package to include:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Health Saving Account (when enrolled in eligible plan) with Company contribution
- Company paid Life, Accidental Death, Short-term & Long-term Disability
- Voluntary Accident, Hospital Indemnity, & Critical Care Insurance
- Voluntary Medical & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Accrued Paid Time Off & Company Paid Holidays
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company match
