At a Glance
- Tasks: Support QA activities for innovative software products and contribute to user research.
- Company: Join a cutting-edge tech company focused on AI and human-centred computing.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible work environment, and exciting intern activities.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and mentorship from industry experts.
- Why this job: Gain hands-on experience in mission-relevant software QA and work with top professionals.
- Qualifications: Pursuing a degree in relevant fields with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 30 - 30 £ per hour.
Charles River Analytics, a GRVTY company, creates solutions and technology to tackle the world’s most challenging problems. Our team of technological entrepreneurs works together to push to the forefront of enhanced AI, robotics, smart sensing, and human-centered computing. The resulting research and development help to continuously advance government programs and discover new possibilities in the commercial marketplace. At Charles River, we take great pride in our success at attracting and retaining the most talented and creative problem-solvers in our field. Now, as part of GRVTY, we offer the same trusted capabilities with increased organizational depth and expanded capacity across mission-critical national security domains. Are you ready to accelerate our mission-focused innovations? We’d love to hear from you!
The Software QA Tester Intern will primarily support verification, validation, and quality assurance activities for the COA Generation Application and related UXID software products. The intern will execute manual test procedures, document defects, and contribute to test plan development under the direct mentorship of a Senior Scientist in Cognitive Systems Engineering. Secondary responsibilities include junior-level contributions across UXID activities—such as supporting user research, usability evaluations, design documentation, and human-systems integration tasks—offering broad exposure to applied CSE in a defense R&D environment.
Our interns/Co-ops work on real projects and cutting-edge technology. We believe strongly in promoting from within, which is demonstrated by the fact that we not only have hired former interns, but that several of our senior-level staff began their careers at Charles River as interns! This is an ideal opportunity for a student who wants to develop technical QA skills while gaining hands-on experience in human factors and cognitive systems engineering on mission-relevant software.
What you’ll do:
- Execute manual test cases against application features, user workflows, and UI components built in React/TypeScript
- Author, refine, and maintain test cases, test scripts, and regression test suites
- Identify, reproduce, document, and triage defects using standard defect tracking tools (e.g., Jira, GitLab)
- Validate bug fixes and perform regression testing across builds
- Participate in test planning, sprint ceremonies, and code review discussions as appropriate
- Contribute to test coverage metrics and quality reporting
- Support exploratory testing of novel interaction paradigms (e.g., human-AI teaming, mixed-initiative interfaces)
- Where appropriate, contribute to or learn automated testing using tools such as Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress, or Playwright
- Support usability studies and user research sessions (note-taking, participant logistics, data coding)
- Assist with cognitive task analyses, heuristic evaluations, and design walkthroughs
- Contribute to UI/UX design documentation, wireframe reviews, and design system maintenance
- Support preparation of demonstrations, technical briefings, and customer engagements
- Other junior-level technical tasking as assigned by UXID leadership
What you will need:
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in Human Factors, Cognitive Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Psychology, or a related discipline
- Familiarity with software development concepts and the software development lifecycle (SDLC)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail
- Ability to document defects and test results clearly and reproducibly
- Available for a full-time, 6-month commitment beginning Fall 2026, working hybrid (3 days/week onsite)
We prefer to see:
- Coursework or project experience in software testing, QA methodologies, or test automation
- Exposure to or interest in human factors, cognitive systems engineering, HCI, or user-centered design
- Programming/development experience, particularly with React and TypeScript (highly valued)
- Willingness and aptitude to learn automated testing frameworks (e.g., Jest, React Testing Library, Cypress, Playwright)
- Familiarity with Agile/Scrum methodologies
- Experience with defect tracking tools (Jira, GitLab, Bugzilla) and version control (Git)
- Interest in defense, intelligence, or national security applications
What you’ll gain:
- Hands-on experience in mission-relevant software QA for defense applications
- Direct mentorship from a Senior Scientist in Cognitive Systems Engineering
- Exposure to cutting-edge work in human-AI teaming, decision support, and operational decision-making
- Cross-functional collaboration with software engineers, human factors practitioners, UX designers, and researchers
- Portfolio-building experience applicable to careers in QA engineering, human factors, UX research, or cognitive systems engineering
Salary Range: $20 - $30 per hour
The above projected salary range is an estimate based on the internal job level(s) for which this role is being considered. The final salary will be decided after careful evaluation of the individual's work experience, education, and overall qualifications. This range does not include the substantial total rewards, as listed below, that you will also be eligible for as an employee at Charles River Analytics.
Benefits & Perks: Charles River Analytics offers an attractive benefits package & intern activities that include, but are not limited to the following:
- Casual work environment
- Free snacks and beverages
- Eligible for medical plan enrollment or opt-out incentive
- Paid sick/excused time
- Free onsite parking and easily accessible by public transportation (the MBTA)
- Intern challenge problems
- Seminars
- Company-wide outings
Software QA Tester Intern/Co-op (Fall 2026) in Cambridge employer: Charles River Analytics
Charles River Analytics, a GRVTY company, is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, making it an ideal place for aspiring Software QA Tester Interns. With a strong emphasis on mentorship and professional growth, interns gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge technology while contributing to meaningful projects in national security. The company offers a casual work environment, competitive benefits, and opportunities for networking and skill development, ensuring a rewarding internship experience.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Software QA Tester Intern/Co-op (Fall 2026) in Cambridge
✨Join Developer Communities!
Dive into online communities like GitHub or Stack Overflow. Contributing to open-source projects can really showcase your coding skills and catch the eye of hiring managers at companies like Charles River Analytics.
✨Attend Tech Meetups and Hackathons
Get your name out there by attending local tech meetups and hackathons. It's a perfect way to network with industry professionals and fellow interns, while also demonstrating your coding prowess in a collaborative setting.
✨Leverage University Career Services
Don't forget about your university's career services! They often have partnerships with companies like Charles River Analytics, and can help you access exclusive internship listings and workshops tailored for aspiring interns like us.
✨Show Off Your Work
Create a portfolio showcasing your coding projects on a platform like GitHub Pages or personal website. When applying for internships, we should link this to provide tangible proof of our skills and creativity, making us stand out to Charles River Analytics!
We think you need these skills to ace Software QA Tester Intern/Co-op (Fall 2026) in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Side Projects:If you've got any side projects or contributions to open source, make sure to highlight them in your CV. We want to see what you can create! Include links to your GitHub or any relevant platforms to give us a taste of your coding style and skills.
Tailor Your CV for Software Engineering:Make your CV pop by tailoring it specifically for software engineering. List relevant programming languages, frameworks, and tools you’ve worked with, and showcase any tech stacks you're familiar with. This will help us quickly see how you fit into the Charles River Analytics team!
Let Your Passion Shine in Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don't just list your skills—tell us why you're passionate about software engineering! We love to see candidates who are eager to learn and grow, so share what excites you about this field and how a role at Charles River Analytics can help you on your journey.
Demonstrate Your Learning Mindset:As this is an internship, focus on your willingness to learn and adapt! We’re keen to see examples of how you’ve tackled challenges or learnt new skills in the past. Bring that eagerness to your application, showing us that you're ready to dive into a real-world software environment at Charles River Analytics!
How to prepare for a job interview at Charles River Analytics
✨Showcase Your Coding Skills
Since you're aiming for a software engineering internship, be ready to code on the spot or discuss your past projects. Brush up on your problem-solving skills, and practise coding challenges on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. We want to see how you approach problems and apply your knowledge, so having a few coding examples up your sleeve will definitely help!
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Prepare a portfolio that highlights your coding projects—don't just list them! Be ready to explain your thought process, the technologies used, and any challenges you faced. It’s not just about the final product; we want to hear how you made it happen, so this narrative will show your depth of understanding and passion for software development.
✨Get Familiar with Technical Questions
Expect some technical questions or scenarios in the interview that assess your understanding of algorithms, data structures, and software design. Practise explaining your coding decisions clearly—it's less about getting the right answer and more about demonstrating your thought process and reasoning skills, which are crucial for growth in an internship.
✨Highlight Your Willingness to Learn
As an intern, your enthusiasm and eagerness to learn are key! During the interview, emphasise your willingness to tackle new challenges and pick up new skills. Companies like Charles River Analytics are often looking for candidates who can grow with them, so remind us why you're excited about opportunities to learn and contribute in a team environment.
