Manual-Accessibility Tester in Columbia, Maryland at Cogent People Inc

Employment Type: Full-time, W2 position with Cogent People Inc. This is a direct hire position with full benefits.

Location: Hybrid Columbia MD 3 times a week OR Remote (as applicable to role)

Work Authorization Requirements

To comply with government contracting requirements, candidates must meet all of the following:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or valid EAD holder
• Must have lived in the United States for at least 3 of the past 5 years
• Must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship

Sponsorship (H-1B) is not available for this position (now or in the future).

Candidates who do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

Clearance Requirement

Public Trust required or ability to obtain, depending on assignment.

About Cogent People Inc.

Cogent People Inc. is a government consulting and technology services firm supporting mission-critical federal and commercial programs. We deliver secure, scalable, and modern digital solutions across complex IT environments.

Our teams thrive at the intersection of engineering excellence and mission impact, building systems that matter.

Job Overview

Cogent People Inc. is seeking a Manual/Accessibility Tester to lead functional and Section 508 accessibility testing to ensure compliance with CMS standards and usability requirements.

This role is responsible for defining and executing testing strategies, validating workflows and assistive technology compatibility, and ensuring accessibility compliance across all releases.

The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in manual testing, accessibility validation, and quality assurance within enterprise or regulated environments.

This position may be contingent upon contract award.

What You'll Do

Test Strategy & Execution

• Define and execute test strategies for functional and accessibility testing.
• Develop test cases and validate system workflows against requirements.
• Support structured testing activities across releases and iterations.

Accessibility & Compliance Testing

• Lead Section 508 accessibility testing to ensure compliance with CMS and federal standards.
• Validate compatibility with assistive technologies (e.g., screen readers, keyboard navigation).
• Ensure accessibility requirements are incorporated into testing coverage and validation activities.

Defect Management & Quality Assurance

• Identify, document, and track defects through resolution.
• Support defect triage and collaborate with development teams on remediation.
• Ensure quality standards are met prior to release.

UAT & Stakeholder Support

• Support user acceptance testing (UAT) activities and coordination.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders during testing cycles.
• Provide clear reporting on testing progress, outcomes, and risks.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in manual testing, QA, or accessibility testing.
• Experience with Section 508 accessibility standards and testing practices.
• Strong understanding of functional testing methodologies and QA processes.
• Experience validating workflows and system behavior against requirements.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills.
• Experience working in enterprise or regulated environments.
• Ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

What Will Set You Apart

• Relevant certifications
• Experience supporting federal programs
• Knowledge of Agile and DevSecOps
• Experience with CMS or healthcare environments

Why Cogent People Inc.?

At Cogent People, we combine technical excellence with a mission-driven culture. Our teams work on meaningful, high-impact projects that support government and enterprise transformation initiatives.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Career growth and professional development opportunities
• Exposure to complex, mission-critical systems
• A collaborative and supportive team environment
• Long-term client engagements with stability and continuity

We are a Certified Great Place to Work, committed to building an inclusive and high-performance culture.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (comprehensive coverage)
• 401(k) with company match
• Company-paid life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• Paid Time Off: 3 weeks annually + 10 paid holidays
• Employee assistance and wellness resources (as applicable)

Compliance Notice

Cogent People Inc. conducts employment verification for all candidates. Misrepresentation of work authorization, residency history, or professional experience will result in disqualification.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO) and evaluate all applicants based on qualifications, experience, and role requirements.

We do not engage third-party recruiters for this role unless explicitly stated.