Quick Summary
About Vaultes
Vaultes is a rapidly growing engineering firm focused on frictionless cybersecurity and digital government services, headquartered in the Washington DC metro area. Serving customers across the Federal government and commercial sectors, we use our broad experience and deep technical expertise to implement customized solutions that enable mission achievement and secure the world through technology.
FAST: The Vaultes Way
- Frictionless Collaboration: We lead with humility and are easy to work with. Our ego-less, one-team mindset keeps progress moving.
- Accountable and Adaptable: We do what we say we will and own our outcomes. Rooted in a growth mindset, we flex with change and stay aligned to mission needs.
- Secure by Design: We protect what matters most. Security and integrity guide our decisions, ensuring resilience and confidence for our clients and partners.
- Trusted Partners: We work side by side with clients and colleagues, earning trust through accountability, openness, and shared success.
About the Role
The Web Developer will support FEMA's Office of External Affairs (OEA) by designing, developing, and maintaining secure, accessible, and high-performing public-facing web properties including FEMA.gov and Ready.gov. This critical role serves disaster survivors, emergency managers, first responders, and the general public, translating OEA's communications mission into reliable, accessible digital experiences.
This Web Developer position is responsible for front-end architecture and implementation, CMS templating and administration, USWDS adoption, analytics instrumentation, and third-party integrations. The role operates within a complex federal technology environment, demanding technical rigor and an understanding of how public-facing digital services support FEMA's mission.
This is expected to be a full-time, remote, project-based position contingent on contract award. While most work will be conducted remotely, occasional on-site meetings at client facilities may be required. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
What You'll Do
- Design, develop, and maintain front-end code for FEMA.gov, Ready.gov, and related public-facing properties using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and modern web frameworks. Lead front-end architecture decisions aligned with the 21st Century IDEA Act and federal web standards.
- Implement and maintain the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) in alignment with DHS and FEMA brand guidance, including web functionality such as RSS feeds, widgets, forms, email integrations, and third-party API connections.
- Develop, maintain, and extend Drupal-based CMS templates, content types, views, and modules. Perform Drupal administration, including user management, workflow configuration, security patching, and support for multilingual content management.
- Implement and validate Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 Level A/AA compliance across all deliverables. Support comprehensive test plans, including regression testing and 508 validation at every deployment.
- Instrument and maintain analytics across FEMA web properties using tools such as Google Analytics and Siteimprove. Provide recommendations to improve user experience based on traffic, bounce rates, and funnel performance.
- Manage QA for every release, including test scripts, alpha/beta testing, and post-implementation review. Coordinate after-hours deployments and produce technical documentation for SELC/ATO requirements.
- Provide surge support during disaster operations, including evenings and weekends as needed.
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of web development experience with strong proficiency in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and Drupal CMS development and administration.
- Demonstrated experience implementing USWDS or an equivalent federal design system and working within the federal government contracting environment, preferably supporting DHS or FEMA.
- Experience with Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 Level A/AA compliance testing, analytics instrumentation (Google Analytics, Siteimprove), and AWS-based web environments.
- Experience supporting SELC documentation and ATO-related artifacts. Strong written communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
- U.S. citizenship required; must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- DHS Certified Trusted Tester (Section 508, Version 5.0 or successor).
- Experience with PHP, Ruby-on-Rails, MySQL, SEO best practices, or multilingual web content management.
- Background in DevSecOps, CI/CD pipelines, Agile delivery, or HCD/UX collaboration.
Perks and Benefits
- Competitive base salary
- Paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Work-from-home opportunities
- 401k with matching incentive
- Medical/dental/vision benefits
- Company provided life insurance
- Company provided short-term disability
Physical Requirements
Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Capable of operating a computer and other office productivity machinery, and frequently communicate with co-workers, management, and customers.
Vaultes provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.