Senior UI / UX Developer / Architect

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI / UX Developer / Architect

Company: ePATHUSA Inc

Location: Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Job Type: Contract

Category: Front-End Development / UI/UX Design & Accessibility

Date Posted: 2026-09-04

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the development, documentation, and maintenance of a scalable enterprise design system, focusing on the US Web Design System (USWDS) framework.

• Architect and build high-level wrapper components and reusable component libraries using HTML, SASS, and Angular to ensure consistency and accessibility.

• Champion accessibility standards, ensuring all UI patterns meet WCAG 2.1/AAA compliance through semantic HTML and ARIA roles.

• Facilitate collaboration and knowledge transfer with cross-functional development teams regarding accessibility and UX best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is crucial for modernizing enterprise systems and ensuring compliance with accessibility mandates. The emphasis on USWDS and WCAG 2.1/AAA indicates a strong focus on government or public sector standards, requiring a deep understanding of accessible design principles and their implementation in enterprise-level front-end development.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Build, document, and maintain a scalable design system and reusable component library, leveraging the US Web Design System (USWDS) or similar enterprise frameworks.

• Develop high-level wrapper components using HTML, SASS, and Angular, ensuring seamless integration and accessibility across various web applications, including the River AI Chatbot.

• Guarantee that all developed components and UI patterns adhere to WCAG 2.1/AAA accessibility standards by implementing semantic HTML, ARIA roles, and robust accessibility testing workflows.

• Utilize Storybook for efficient component development, comprehensive documentation, and effective collaboration with diverse cross-functional teams.

• Act as a primary point of contact for accessibility and UX support for major state systems (DNR, HHS, IWS), ensuring compliance before mandated deadlines.

• Partner with developers across different teams, many of whom may have limited exposure to accessibility and design system best practices, to foster adherence to established standards.

• Conduct thorough code reviews, perform detailed accessibility audits, and actively participate in UX discussions to uphold the quality, usability, and accessibility of front-end assets.

• Understand and contribute to backend integration considerations, particularly within a .NET environment, to facilitate seamless front-end development and cross-team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic architectural thinking for the design system and hands-on development for components. The emphasis on supporting multiple high-visibility state systems (DNR, HHS, IWS) and the River AI Chatbot suggests a significant impact and visibility for this role. The requirement to educate and guide other developers underscores a strong mentorship component.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Design, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior-level role involving architectural responsibilities. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of professional front-end development experience is required, with a strong emphasis on building and integrating enterprise-level design systems and reusable component libraries.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of professional front-end development experience.

• Proven ability to set up and integrate enterprise design systems, including the development of high-level wrapper components and reusable component libraries.

• Strong expertise in WCAG 2.1/AAA standards, ARIA roles, semantic HTML, accessibility testing tools, and Section 508 compliance.

• Proficiency in core front-end technologies: HTML, SASS, and Angular.

• Demonstrated experience using Storybook for component development, documentation, and collaborative workflows.

• Solid understanding of UX best practices and accessible user interface design principles.

• Experience with the US Web Design System (USWDS) or other comparable enterprise-level design systems. Preferred Skills:

• 5+ years of experience with .NET, MVC, and SQL to support backend integration and cross-team collaboration.

• Ability to understand and articulate backend considerations within a .NET environment for seamless front-end integration.

• Experience with accessibility testing tools and methodologies beyond basic compliance checks.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and cross-functional team collaboration in enterprise settings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "5 years" listed for all required skills in the provided table implies a deep, foundational mastery rather than just exposure. The "Highly desired" skills in .NET, MVC, and SQL are critical for understanding the full system architecture and for effective collaboration with backend teams, suggesting the candidate should be able to bridge front-end and back-end discussions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 complex front-end projects demonstrating expertise in building and integrating enterprise-level design systems.

• Include examples of reusable component libraries and high-level wrapper components developed using HTML, SASS, and Angular.

• Highlight projects where accessibility was a primary concern, with clear documentation of WCAG 2.1/AAA compliance, semantic HTML implementation, and ARIA usage.

• Feature projects that utilized Storybook for component development and documentation, demonstrating clear organization and descriptive content.

• Provide case studies detailing the process of collaborating with developers to implement design system standards and accessibility best practices. Process Documentation:

• Document the methodology used for setting up and integrating enterprise design systems, including version control and release management strategies for component libraries.

• Detail the workflow for ensuring WCAG 2.1/AAA compliance, including testing phases, tools used, and remediation processes.

• Outline the approach to creating and maintaining reusable components, focusing on modularity, scalability, and maintainability.

• Explain the process for collaborating with cross-functional teams, including communication strategies, feedback loops, and training on design system usage.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior UI/UX Developer/Architect role, the portfolio should not just showcase final products but the process behind them. Evidence of architectural thinking, system design, and the ability to influence and guide others through complex technical challenges like accessibility and design system adoption will be paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the Senior UI/UX Developer/Architect title, 5+ years of experience, and the Des Moines, Iowa location, a contract rate typically ranges from $60 to $90 per hour. This can vary based on specific skill depth, negotiation, and the contract duration. For a contract position, this rate often encompasses benefits or requires the contractor to secure their own.

Benefits:

• Paid Sick Time

• Medical Insurance Available

• Dental Insurance Available

• Vision Insurance Available

• Life Insurance Available

• 401(k) Plan Available

• Employer Match for 401(k)

• Health Savings Account (HSA) Available

• Short-term Disability Available

• Long-term Disability Available

Working Hours: The standard working hours for this contract role are expected to be 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, there may be some flexibility in daily start and end times, subject to team coordination and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a contract position, the listed benefits are typically offered through the contracting agency or employer, and the hourly rate is often negotiated to reflect the inclusion or exclusion of these benefits. The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for contract roles in a mid-sized US city with a moderate cost of living for a senior-level technical position.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: ePATHUSA Inc operates within the IT Services and Staffing industry, with a strong focus on providing technology solutions and staffing for government and enterprise clients. Their work on state systems like DNR, HHS, and IWS places them squarely in the Public Sector Technology domain.

Company Size: While specific employee numbers for ePATHUSA Inc are not provided, typical IT staffing and solutions firms can range from small, specialized agencies to larger organizations with hundreds or thousands of employees. The nature of the projects suggests they are capable of handling significant enterprise-level engagements.

Founded: ePATHUSA Inc was founded in 2005. This provides a solid track record in the IT services sector, indicating stability and experience in delivering solutions to clients over nearly two decades.

Team Structure:

• The role likely integrates into a project-specific team structure, possibly within a larger client engagement or a dedicated ePATHUSA Inc delivery team.

• The Senior UI/UX Developer/Architect will report to a Project Manager or a Technical Lead within the client's organization or ePATHUSA's management structure.

• Close collaboration is expected with other front-end developers, backend developers (.NET specialists), UX researchers, product managers, and accessibility specialists. Methodology:

• The team likely employs Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban) for project execution, emphasizing iterative development and continuous feedback.

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the focus on analytics, performance metrics, and user feedback for UI/UX improvements.

• Process optimization is a core tenet, evident in the need to build reusable components and maintainable design systems to enhance efficiency and consistency.

Company Website: www.epathusa.net

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on government and enterprise systems, combined with the specific project mentions (DNR, HHS, IWS, River AI Chatbot), suggests a work environment that values compliance, robust documentation, and adherence to established standards, particularly regarding accessibility and security.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior-level position, indicating a need for deep technical expertise, architectural thinking, and the ability to guide and influence other team members. It sits at the top tier of individual contributor roles in front-end development and UI/UX architecture.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UI/UX Developer/Architect will likely report to a Project Manager or Technical Lead. They will also work closely with developers from various disciplines and potentially product owners or business stakeholders.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the usability, accessibility, and consistency of critical enterprise systems. By establishing and maintaining a robust design system and ensuring WCAG compliance, the individual will significantly improve user experience, reduce development costs through reusable components, and ensure legal compliance for state-level applications.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in front-end frameworks, accessibility standards, and design system architecture, potentially leading to a Principal or Lead Architect role.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Transition into a team lead or management role, guiding junior developers and managing project delivery.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Expand knowledge into backend development (.NET, SQL) or product management, offering a broader understanding of the software development lifecycle.

• Client Engagement: Develop strong client-facing skills, becoming a trusted advisor on UI/UX and accessibility matters.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, "growth" often means expanding the scope of responsibilities within the project, gaining exposure to new technologies or methodologies, and building a strong portfolio. Long-term career progression would typically involve securing permanent roles or moving to higher-level contract assignments based on demonstrated success and acquired expertise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site position, indicating a traditional office-based work environment. The specific setup would likely be within a corporate office or a government facility in Des Moines, Iowa.

Office Location(s): Des Moines, Iowa, 50309. This is a central US location, likely offering a stable business environment.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, requiring regular interaction with other developers, designers, and project stakeholders.

• Access to standard development tools, including necessary software licenses for Angular, Storybook, and potentially .NET development environments, is assumed.

• Opportunities for direct engagement with cross-functional teams will be frequent, facilitating knowledge sharing and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time contract. While on-site, some flexibility in daily hours may be possible, but core business hours and team meeting attendance will be mandatory.

📝 Enhancement Note: Being on-site is a key aspect. Candidates should be prepared for in-person collaboration, team meetings, and adherence to office protocols. The location in Des Moines might influence the cost of living and lifestyle considerations for contract professionals.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will likely conduct an initial call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Technical Interview(s): Expect one or more interviews focused on front-end development skills, UI/UX principles, accessibility standards (WCAG, ARIA), and experience with Angular, SASS, HTML, and Storybook. This may include live coding exercises or system design discussions.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, focusing on projects that demonstrate design system implementation, reusable component development, and accessibility expertise. Be prepared to discuss your role, challenges, and solutions in detail.

• Architectural Discussion: An interview focusing on your ability to architect scalable design systems, understand backend integrations, and guide other developers.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior stakeholder or project lead to confirm fit and discuss contract terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your experience with enterprise design systems, USWDS (if applicable), Angular, and WCAG compliance.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly articulate your specific contributions, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the quantifiable outcomes (e.g., improved accessibility scores, faster development cycles, increased component reusability).

• Focus on Process: Be ready to discuss your thought process, architectural decisions, and how you collaborated with teams. Demonstrate your understanding of the "why" behind your technical choices.

• Accessibility Deep Dive: Prepare to explain your approach to accessibility testing, ARIA implementation, and how you ensured compliance with WCAG 2.1/AAA standards.

• Storybook Showcase: If possible, include examples of well-documented Storybook components and explain how you used it for collaboration and quality assurance.

Challenge Preparation:

• Accessibility Scenario: Be ready to discuss how you would address an accessibility issue in an existing application or how you would audit a component for WCAG compliance.

• Design System Scenario: Prepare to outline the steps you would take to create or enhance an enterprise design system from scratch or to integrate a new framework.

• Component Architecture: Practice explaining how you would design a complex, reusable UI component that is both flexible and accessible.

• Collaboration Strategy: Think about how you would onboard a team unfamiliar with design systems and accessibility best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on accessibility and design systems means that interviewers will be looking for more than just coding skills. They will want to see a strategic approach, problem-solving abilities, and a deep understanding of how to build maintainable, scalable, and inclusive user interfaces for enterprise-level applications.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Front-end Framework: Angular (primary, with strong requirement)

• Styling: SASS

• Markup: HTML (semantic)

• Component Development & Documentation: Storybook

• Design System Framework: US Web Design System (USWDS) or similar enterprise-level systems

• Accessibility Standards: WCAG 2.1/AAA, ARIA roles, Section 508

• Version Control: Git (assumed standard)

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, expect to work with tools that track user behavior and accessibility compliance, potentially involving browser developer tools and accessibility audit plugins. CRM & Automation:

• Backend Integration: .NET, MVC, SQL (highly desired, indicating potential interaction with .NET-based applications and databases)

• API Interaction: Understanding of RESTful APIs for front-end to backend communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on modern front-end development with a critical emphasis on accessibility and a structured approach to UI development via design systems and component libraries. The inclusion of .NET and SQL skills, even if "highly desired," suggests the candidate should be comfortable working within a .NET ecosystem and understanding its implications for front-end development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Accessibility First: A core value is ensuring all digital products are usable by everyone, regardless of ability. This translates to rigorous adherence to WCAG standards and inclusive design practices.

• Consistency & Reusability: Emphasis on building a strong design system promotes consistency across applications, leading to a more cohesive user experience and efficient development workflows.

• Collaboration & Knowledge Sharing: The role requires active engagement with diverse teams, fostering an environment where sharing best practices, providing support, and collective problem-solving are encouraged.

• Quality & Excellence: A commitment to high-quality code, robust documentation, and adherence to enterprise standards is expected, ensuring the reliability and maintainability of critical systems.

• User-Centricity: While focused on technical implementation, the underlying goal is to improve the user experience for citizens interacting with state systems.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with developers from different disciplines, product managers, and potentially UI/UX researchers or designers.

• Proactive Support: The role involves actively reaching out to and supporting other development teams, providing guidance and ensuring adherence to standards.

• Constructive Feedback: Participation in code reviews and design discussions implies a culture that values constructive feedback for continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be driven by a strong sense of purpose, particularly in public sector work, combined with a pragmatic approach to development that prioritizes efficiency, quality, and inclusivity through established frameworks like USWDS and WCAG.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Skill Gaps: Educating and guiding developers who are less familiar with advanced accessibility standards and design system principles can be challenging.

• Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring adherence to the design system across multiple, potentially legacy, enterprise systems requires strong governance and ongoing collaboration.

• Complex Integrations: Understanding and facilitating seamless integration between front-end components and existing backend systems (.NET, SQL) may present technical hurdles.

• Meeting Mandated Deadlines: Delivering accessibility compliance for critical state systems by strict deadlines requires efficient planning and execution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Accessibility Expertise: Gain advanced knowledge in accessibility testing tools, inclusive design strategies, and emerging accessibility standards.

• Master Enterprise Design Systems: Become an expert in USWDS and learn best practices for scaling and managing design systems in large organizations.

• Expand Backend Knowledge: Further develop understanding of .NET, MVC, and SQL, enabling more comprehensive full-stack contributions or architectural oversight.

• Architectural Leadership: Hone skills in defining technical strategy, setting architectural direction, and leading complex development initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a prime opportunity to become a subject matter expert in a highly in-demand field (accessibility and design systems) within a critical sector (government/enterprise). The challenges are directly tied to skill development and leadership potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design System Architecture: "Describe your process for architecting a scalable, enterprise-level design system. What are the key considerations for component structure, documentation, and governance?" (Prepare to discuss modularity, theming, versioning, and adoption strategies.)

• Accessibility Implementation: "How would you ensure a complex web application meets WCAG 2.1/AAA compliance? Walk me through your testing methodology and how you address common accessibility barriers." (Be ready to discuss semantic HTML, ARIA, keyboard navigation, screen reader testing, and tools like Lighthouse or Axe.)

• Angular Component Development: "Explain how you would build a reusable Angular component that is both highly configurable and accessible. What patterns would you use for state management and communication with backend services?" (Focus on best practices for Angular component design, input/output properties, and RxJS.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working with state enterprise systems like DNR, HHS, and IWS?" (Emphasize your interest in making a broad impact, working on critical infrastructure, and contributing to public service.)

• "How would you approach educating developers who are new to accessibility or design system best practices?" (Highlight your communication, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving skills.)

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for UX or accessibility best practices within a development team. What was the outcome?" (Focus on your ability to influence, provide data-backed arguments, and achieve consensus.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling Approach: For each portfolio piece, frame it as a narrative: the problem, your role and approach, the solution implemented (highlighting design system/accessibility aspects), and the results achieved.

• Visual Aids: Use screenshots, live demos (if possible), or Storybook links to showcase your work effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your work (e.g., "improved Lighthouse accessibility score from 70 to 95," "reduced UI development time by 20% through reusable components").

• Technical Depth: Be prepared to dive deep into the technical details of your implementation, explaining architectural choices and trade-offs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers for this role will be looking for a combination of deep technical skill in front-end development and accessibility, architectural vision, and strong communication/collaboration capabilities. Demonstrating how you can translate complex technical requirements into practical, accessible solutions for enterprise systems will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the ePATHUSA Inc careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience with enterprise design systems, USWDS, WCAG 2.1/AAA compliance, Angular, SASS, HTML, and Storybook. If you have .NET/SQL experience, ensure this is prominently featured as well.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your 5+ years of front-end development experience, focusing on achievements related to building reusable components, implementing accessibility standards, and contributing to design systems. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice explaining your portfolio projects, focusing on your architectural decisions, accessibility implementation details, and collaborative efforts. Prepare for technical questions on Angular, SASS, HTML, and accessibility principles.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with ePATHUSA Inc's mission and their work in the government sector. Understand the importance of accessibility for public-facing systems and research the US Web Design System (USWDS) if you are not already an expert.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.