Senior Frontend Engineer

About the role

Canva is seeking an engineer to improve the accessibility of its flagship design editor. You will focus on building inclusive interactions that allow users of all abilities to create designs effectively. This position sits within the Editing Accessibility team, which operates as part of the broader Design Experience supergroup. You will act as a key advocate for users who rely on assistive technology throughout the product development lifecycle. The successful candidate will own the implementation of robust solutions that remove barriers in the creative workflow. You will ensure that accessibility is treated as a core product requirement rather than a post-launch fix. This role requires a proactive mindset to identify opportunities for systemic improvement. Ultimately, your work will define the standard for accessible design tools in the industry.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect and implement accessible interaction patterns for the Editor, with a specific focus on keyboard navigation, focus management, and live region announcements.
• Conduct daily testing and validation of design editor features using screen readers such as VoiceOver, NVDA, and JAWS to ensure compatibility.
• Review user interface designs and source code pull requests to provide technical guidance on accessibility best practices.
• Investigate and resolve deep-seated systemic accessibility issues within the codebase, moving beyond temporary patches to sustainable solutions.
• Partner closely with product managers and designers to embed accessibility requirements into the product discovery and delivery process.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for accessibility, influencing engineering standards and shaping the technical direction of the editing surface.
• Develop and maintain reusable components and design system tokens that inherently support accessibility and compliance.
• Create and update technical documentation to ensure that accessibility patterns are understood and maintained by the wider engineering organization.
• Analyze user feedback and support data to identify recurring accessibility challenges and drive targeted improvements.
• Champion inclusive design principles by mentoring peers and promoting awareness of accessibility needs across the team.

Requirements

• You must possess commercial experience building accessible web applications, demonstrating a practical understanding of WCAG principles and their application in complex digital products.
• You must exhibit advanced proficiency in TypeScript and React, with a proven ability to write clean, type-safe, and maintainable code.
• You must be capable of navigating and contributing to large, complex frontend codebases that involve intricate state management and rendering logic.
• You must have hands-on experience using screen readers like VoiceOver, NVDA, and JAWS to test, debug, and validate software functionality.
• You must communicate technical accessibility constraints clearly and effectively to cross-functional partners, including designers and product managers.
• You must understand the fundamentals of semantic HTML and how native elements contribute to overall accessibility compliance.
• You must be comfortable working within an agile development environment that requires rapid iteration and continuous feedback.
• You must be committed to writing automated tests that verify the accessibility of critical user flows and components.

Nice to have

• You have implemented WAI-ARIA patterns for complex widgets, including grids, trees, and drag-and-drop interactions.
• You have built accessibility for real-time UI, HTML5 canvas, data visualization, or WYSIWYG editors in previous roles.
• You are familiar with browser accessibility APIs and how they interact with the accessibility tree.
• You have experience developing AI-driven accessibility features or mobile accessibility solutions using frameworks such as React Native.
• You have previously collaborated with accessibility specialists or conducted usability testing with users of assistive technology.
• You hold a strong interest in emerging standards and techniques related to digital accessibility and inclusive technology.

Skills & tools

• TypeScript
• React
• WCAG
• VoiceOver, NVDA, JAWS
• WAI-ARIA

Practical notes

• The role is based in Sydney with a hybrid work model, requiring attendance at the office for key collaboration days.
• Benefits include equity packages, inclusive parental leave, and an annual Vibe and Thrive allowance for professional development and well-being.
• Interviews for this position are conducted virtually to ensure a streamlined and accessible process for all candidates.
• Applicants are encouraged to include their pronouns and any requests for interview accommodations directly in their application.
• The selection timeline will adhere to a structured schedule, and prompt communication will be provided to all candidates regarding their status.
• This position requires the right to work in Australia without sponsorship, as the role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
• The successful candidate will be expected to integrate fully with the local team to participate in design reviews, sprint planning, and accessibility advocacy initiatives.