Lead Accessibility Engineer

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you'll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together.

We are seeking a highly skilled and passionate Lead Accessibility Engineer to join our team and drive our commitment to an accessible low-code software development platform. This role is a strategic leadership position instrumental in ensuring our products are inclusive and usable by people with disabilities while establishing a sustainable, scalable framework for accessibility at Appian.

The ideal candidate will move beyond tactical firefighting to focus on strategic industry knowledge and the operationalization of accessibility across large-scale software platforms.

This role is based at our Headquarters in McLean, Virginia. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to foster that culture and ensure we continue to thrive through shared ideas and teamwork. We believe being in the office provides more opportunities to come together and celebrate working with the exceptional people across Appian. If you are not already located in the surrounding McLean, VA area, your willingness to relocate will be a contingency for this position.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the implementation of Appian's Accessibility Operations Strategy, transitioning accessibility from a manual process to a standardized, documented requirement for platform changes.
• Develop and execute an accessibility automation roadmap using AI-driven validations, automated static analysis, and regression protection.
• Provide direction to accessibility contractors and future junior engineers, ensuring alignment with delivery and support teams.
• Partner with Product, UX, QE, Developers, Customer Success, and Support to provide accessibility guidance, tools, and procedures.
• Establish SLAs/SLOs for accessibility resolution and manage repeatable VPAT updates through internal processes and third-party audits.
• Act as the accessibility subject matter expert for customer audits, legal inquiries, and accessibility-related customer conversations.
• Drive cross-functional awareness of evolving global accessibility legislation and best practices.
• Build relationships with customers to understand accessibility needs, resolve issues, and provide guidance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, HCI, Web Design/Development, or related field preferred.
• Proven accessibility engineering experience with strong knowledge of WCAG, Section 508, ADA, and related standards.
• Hands-on experience with accessibility testing tools, techniques, and assistive technologies such as screen readers, speech recognition, screen magnifiers, and alternative input devices.
• Practical knowledge of no-code or low-code platforms and accessibility implications.
• Experience with automated accessibility testing tools and frameworks.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead accessibility initiatives across cross-functional teams.
• Accessibility certifications preferred.

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Tools and Resources

• Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires.
• Growth Opportunities: Appian provides a diverse array of growth and development opportunities, including our leadership program tailored for new and aspiring managers, a comprehensive library of specialized department training through Appian University, skills based training, and tuition reimbursement for those aiming to advance their education. This commitment ensures that employees have access to a holistic range of development opportunities.
• Community: We'll immerse you into our community rooted in respect starting on day one. Appian fosters inclusivity through our 8 employee-led affinity groups. These groups help employees build stronger internal and external networks by planning social, educational, and outreach activities to connect with Appianites and larger initiatives throughout the company.

Benefits

Appian offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, wellbeing, and financial future. Benefits may include health coverage, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free mental health support, life and disability insurance, an Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), a retirement/pension plan, wellness dollars, tuition reimbursement, family-forming benefits and more. Benefits vary by country-please ask your Talent Acquisition contact for details specific to the location you are applying to.

About Appian

Appian provides process automation technology. We automate complex processes in large enterprises and governments. Our platform is known for its unique reliability and scale. We've been automating processes for 25 years and understand enterprise operations like no one else. For more information, visit appian.com. [Nasdaq: APPN]

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Appian is an equal opportunity employer that strives to attract and retain the best talent. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.


Appian provides reasonable accommodations to applicants in accordance with all applicable laws. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

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