Jr. Tester Internship at AcisTek Corporation

Company Intelligence

• History, Size, and Industry Position: Founded in 1998, AcisTek is a mid-sized IT services firm (50-200 employees) specializing in software testing, quality assurance (QA), DevOps, and cybersecurity for government contractors, particularly in defense and intelligence sectors. Headquartered in Herndon, VA, it holds CMMI Level 3 certification and supports U.S. federal agencies like DoD and DHS. It's a niche player in the Washington, DC metro area's competitive govcon IT market, competing with larger firms like Booz Allen but emphasizing agile testing for mission-critical systems.
• Recent News, Growth, and Strategic Directions: In 2025, AcisTek expanded QA automation services amid rising DoD cyber requirements, securing contracts worth $10M+ (per LinkedIn and PR Newswire). Growth focuses on AI-driven testing tools and cloud migration (AWS/Azure). They're hiring aggressively for entry-level roles to scale from 150 to 250 employees by

• Company Culture and Work Environment: Collaborative, fast-paced environment with a focus on work-life balance (4.2/5 on Glassdoor). Predominantly in-office in Herndon due to security clearances, but hybrid possible post-probation. Emphasis on team lunches, hackathons, and professional development; diverse workforce (40% veterans).
• Values, Mission, and What They Stand For: Mission: "Deliver flawless software solutions for national security." Values include integrity, innovation, and client-first accountability. They prioritize ethical hacking practices and U.S.-citizen-only hires for clearance eligibility.
• Office Locations and Hybrid/Remote Policies: Primary office: 13873 Park Center Rd, Herndon, VA

20171. No other major locations. Relocation required for interns; fully on-site for security reasons, with rare hybrid after 6 months.

Program Deep Dive

• Structure and Timeline: 6-12 month paid internship for undergrads/recent grads (CS, IT, or related fields). Starts quarterly (Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec); full-time (40 hrs/week). Cohorts of 5-10 interns rotate through testing projects.
• Skills and Competencies Sought: Basic programming (Python/Java), manual testing, Jira/Confluence familiarity. Entry-level: no experience required, but ISTQB Foundation cert or bug-tracking exposure helps. Soft skills: attention to detail, curiosity, teamwork.
• Daily Responsibilities and Learning Opportunities: Mornings: Test case creation/execution on web/mobile apps. Afternoons: Bug reporting, automation scripting, stand-ups. Learn Selenium, Appium, Postman hands-on; shadow senior testers on real govcon projects.
• Mentorship and Training: Paired 1:1 mentor (senior QA engineer). 2-week onboarding: QA fundamentals, tools training, security clearance intro (Public Trust eligible). Weekly tech talks and cert reimbursements.
• Career Progression: 70% convert to full-time Jr. QA Analyst ($70K+). Paths: QA Engineer → Automation Specialist → Test Lead. Strong pipeline to clearances (Secret-level), boosting resumes for Lockheed/Booz Allen.

Application Success Guide

• Requirements and Deadlines: U.S. citizen, 18-25, pursuing/associate's/bachelor's in CS/IT/related. Resume, cover letter, transcript. No strict deadline—rolling via Indeed, but apply by end of month for next cohort. Relocation willingness mandatory.
• Step-by-Step Process:

1. Apply via Indeed link (tailor resume to keywords: "manual testing," "QA," "Agile").
2. HR screen (1-2 days): phone call on basics/availability.
3. Technical interview (Zoom, 45 min): coding test.
4. In-person panel (Herndon): case study + behavioral.
5. Offer within 1 week.

• Common Interview Questions:
• Technical: "Explain black-box vs white-box testing." "Write a test case for login failure." "Debug this Python script."
• Behavioral: "Describe a time you found a bug in a group project." "How do you prioritize test cases?"
• Company: "Why AcisTek?" "Are you eligible for public trust clearance?"
• Assessments: 1-hour online HackerRank (basic SQL/Python, 70% pass). In-person: defect triage case study (simulate Jira workflow).
• Standout Candidate: Quantify projects (e.g., "Automated 50 tests via Selenium in hackathon"). Show govcon interest (e.g., mention NDAA compliance). Clean GitHub with testing repos.

Insider Tips

• Interview Tips and Values: They value persistence—follow up 2 days post-interview. Dress business casual; bring notebook for notes. Emphasize reliability over genius (low turnover culture).
• Technical vs Soft Skills: 60/40 soft skills first (communication, adaptability for Agile sprints). Tech: Prove basics via portfolio, not theory.
• Industry Knowledge: Know govcon basics (FAR regulations, RMF for cybersecurity testing). Reference AcisTek's DoD wins.
• Questions to Ask:
• "What clearance path do interns follow?"
• "Can you share a recent testing challenge on a live project?"
• "How does the team incorporate AI in QA?"
• Red Flags: Typos in app (they test detail-orientation). Vague "team player" answers without examples. Hesitation on relocation/citizenship. Overclaiming senior skills.

Practical Information

• Salary/Stipend: $22-28/hour ($45K-58K annualized), competitive for Herndon entry-level QA.
• Benefits: Health/dental/vision (after 30 days), 401(k) match (3%), 15 PTO days, relocation stipend ($2K), tuition reimbursement. Free gym/parking.
• Start Dates and Duration: Flexible quarterly starts; 6 months minimum, extendable to

• Networking: Monthly intern mixers, LinkedIn alumni group (500+ members). Attend Herndon Tech Meetups (AcisTek sponsors). Connect mentors on LinkedIn post-interview for referrals. Action Item: Update resume with testing keywords today, apply via Indeed, and prep a 1-page test case portfolio. 80% of hires reference personal projects—build one now using free Selenium tutorials. Success rate high for prepared applicants (Glassdoor: 4.5/5 ease). Good luck!