Faculty of Engineering typical co-op jobs

Faculty of Engineering students secure competitive co-op jobs in industries across the world.

Co-op is an opportunity to study a discipline you are interested in while trying different jobs. Regardless of engineering program or major, every student’s co-op experience is different.

Faculty of Engineering students use creative problem solving and apply technical skills in a variety of professional environments.

This list of sample co-op jobs is organized by program and includes descriptions based on real co-op work term positions held by Waterloo students. We have not included employer names to maintain employer confidentiality. This list is intended to help you understand what your co-op pathway may look like based on your program. However, you should explore diverse employment opportunities throughout your six work terms.

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Sample co-op jobs by program

Architectural Engineering

Junior

Map designer

Work with blueprints to digitize various event spaces. Learn CAD-editing software and work in collaboration with the mapping team to ensure the quality of your work.

Intermediate

Architectural assistant

Work as part of the design team in an architectural setting while preparing for a design competition. Learn and use various software like AutoCAD, Grasshopper, Photoshop and InDesign.

Senior

3D architectural artist

Organize and maintain an extensive library of 3D models. Utilize programming and scripting skills to assist in the conversion process. Assist the production team in 3D rendering of designs.

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Architecture

Junior

Architectural assistant

Work as part of the design team in an architectural setting while preparing for a design competition. Learn and use various software like AutoCAD, Grasshopper, Photoshop and InDesign.

Intermediate

Project co-ordinator

Manage various construction projects including design, cost, material procurement, administration and site coordination. Maintain a safe, comfortable and functional site. Act as a liaison between internal clients and external contractors.

Senior  

3D architectural artist

Organize and maintain an extensive library of 3D models. Utilize programming and scripting skills to assist in the conversion process. Assist the production team in 3D rendering of designs. 

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Biomedical Engineering

Junior

Molecular biology and drug delivery co-op

Support manufacturer of instruments, kits and reagents in the global nanomedicine market for drug development and cell-specific delivery to study, diagnose and treat disease. Characterize and evaluate the potency of nanoparticle formulations to support research projects and product development.

Intermediate

Soft robotics research and development

Design and create soft fluidic actuators for soft robotic applications. Test and characterize materials, design and prototype using 3D printers. Build lab features and conduct tests, develop and implement control systems for pneumatics and hydraulics.

Senior

Research student - cancer imaging

Use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve cancer diagnosis, targeted therapy and treatment monitoring by analyzing microvascular structure. Contribute to the team through the development and use of AI tools to detect tumors and identify responsiveness to therapy.

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Chemical Engineering

​​​​​​​Junior

Research lab assistant

Assist in running the lab, preparing samples and carrying out studies alongside a professor. Support research and development activities in the areas of electrochemical, process systems or sustainable systems engineering.

Intermediate

Cosmetics process engineering assistant

Assist in the installation and commissioning of automated cosmetics production and packaging equipment. Design and execute effective tests to understand processes, equipment and ingredients. Prepare necessary documentation for successful batch making and filling.

Senior

Nuclear product management assistant

Work with customers to understand needs and map requirements for future state of business processes. Develop and lead internal innovation projects to deliver quality software on time. Manage all aspects of in-life products, including customer feedback, requirements and issues.

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Civil Engineering

​​​​​​​Junior

Geomatics assistant

Utilize surveying and mapping tools. Gather and analyze spatial data to support geomatics projects. Assist geomatics experts with data analysis, report writing and map creation and help with the organization and implementation of mapping and surveying projects.

Intermediate

Construction administration field inspector

Examine building sites to ensure that rules, specifications and regulations are being followed. Keep track of and report on the safety, quality and progress of the construction project. Collaborate with project teams and contractors to resolve issues.

Senior

Bridge engineering assistant

Conduct inspections, carry out calculations and create design plans to support bridge engineering projects. Assist bridge engineers with analysis, design and construction oversight to support the creation and upkeep of effective and safe bridge structures.

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Computer Engineering

Junior

Automation developer

Create tools and scripts to automate software development, testing and deployment procedures. Collaborate with development teams to find areas for automation and input solutions to raise productivity and quality.

Intermediate

Software developer

Utilize cloud technology to create and manage scalable and dependable cloud-based software applications. Collaborate to develop and put into practice cloud architecture while guaranteeing cost effectiveness, performance and security.

Senior

Junior full-stack software developer

Utilize agile approaches in software development projects with an emphasis on iterative development and ongoing enhancement. Collaborate collectively with cross functional teams to produce software products of the highest quality.

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Electrical Engineering

Junior

Electrical assembler

Utilize circuit switched assembler techniques to assemble computer systems and components. Learn efficient operation of computer hardware. Adhere to quality standards and assembly instructions to guarantee correct construction.

Intermediate

Firmware engineering assistant

Create embedded software, or firmware, for electronic systems and gadgets. Collaborate with hardware engineers to create and test firmware to ensure that devices operate and perform as intended.

Senior

Electrical and power designer

Draft, conduct calculations and complete design mock-ups for various electrical specifications. Assist in project coordination, performing field investigations and inspections to prepare for studies.

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Environmental and Geological Engineering

Junior

Junior design technician

Assist with system or product development and design. Produce technical drawings, prototypes and specifications for manufacturing or construction projects.

Intermediate

Geology co-op student

Assist geologists in examining the composition, structure and history of the Earth’s crust by assisting them with field and lab research. Participate in studies pertaining to geological resources and processes.

Senior

Climate resilience specialist

Develop and implement plans to combat the impacts of climate change. Collaborate with stakeholders, provide data analysis and research to increase community resilience to climate related disasters.

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Management Engineering

​​​​​​​Junior

Operations co-ordinator

Correct errors during content digitalization and create solutions that minimize error rates. Analyze operational processes to improve quality and capacity issues during product development. Review consumer data to recommend content improvements.

Intermediate

Software engineering assistant

Analyze and innovate solutions where needed for company projects. Learn and utilize a variety of coding software, concepts, tools and technologies to design and improve software products, and creatively solve any arising problems within a team setting.

Senior

Technical product manager

Work with growth engineering teams and data scientists to develop machine learning algorithms and experiments, while learning product strategy and tactics. Identify user scenarios and experiences that drive engagement and revenue.

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Mechanical Engineering

​​​​​​​Junior

Aircraft control systems development intern

Assist in the development of aircraft control systems and participate in the development and testing of software and control algorithms by conducting research and data analysis.

Intermediate

AI robotics test engineering assistant

Create and carry out experiments on robotic systems driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Examine test data, pinpoint problems and work with engineers to enhance robotic system performance and dependability.

Senior

Additive manufacturing designer

Create products for additive manufacturing using 3D printing. To ensure the quality and manufacturability of printed items, collaborate with engineers to optimize designs for printing and create 3D models.

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Mechatronics Engineering

Junior

Aircraft control systems development intern

Assist in the development of aircraft control systems and participate in the development and testing of software and control algorithms by conducting research and data analysis.

Intermediate

High-performance battery engineering assistant

Participate in research, testing and analysis to support battery development initiatives. Collaborate with experts to develop and enhance battery systems for a range of uses, guaranteeing efficiency, performance and safety.

Senior

Senior AI robotics test engineering assistant

Create and carry out experiments on robotic systems driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Examine test data, pinpoint problems and work with engineers to enhance robotic system performance and dependability.


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Nanotechnology Engineering

Junior

Software developer

Develop end-to-end artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, including front and back-end development. Incorporate AI models into applications, collaborate with AI engineers to problem solve and innovate.

Intermediate

Compiler engineering co-op

Design and develop Clang FE, DPC++ and SYCL tools, including compiler optimizations for Intel architectures, and parallelization/vectorization features. Develop test cases to cover new functionality and to increase code coverage alongside other engineers.

Senior

Cell manufacturing

Perform in-process, finished product tests and raw material tests for tablets, capsules, soft gels, liquids and creams for natural health products and cosmetics. Monitor issuance and dispensing of raw material and help in maintaining raw material inventory.

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Software Engineering

Junior

Junior software developer

Develop and improve company software products including mobile apps and web pages. Write comprehensive documentation of codebases and workflows, engage in maintenance and bug fixing. Research new technologies with focus on problem solving and meeting requirements.

Intermediate

Full-stack web developer

Design and implement successful applications using agile software development. Use a variety of coding and development software, work on server set-up and query optimization.

Senior

Data and relevancy engineering assistant

Work in different software domains such as information retrieval algorithms, scalability infrastructure and storage solutions. Focus on solving unique and challenging problems while working with large amounts of data to create large-scale applications for web users.

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Systems Design Engineering

Junior

Automated test developer

Create automated tests for software programs. Collaborate with the team to create, execute and manage automated test scripts with development and quality assurance teams.

Intermediate

Process engineering assistant

Contribute to projects aimed at increasing productivity and efficiency. Improve operations in manufacturing and other industries by analyzing processes, designing systems and putting solutions into practice.

Senior

Senior enterprise digital engineering assistant

Encourage organizational efforts for digital transformation. Contribute to the creation and application of digital strategies, tools and procedures that enhance customer experiences and corporate operations.

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Recent engineering co-op experiences

Jordan Leis smiling in front of engineering icons
Thursday, November 14, 2024

The importance of speaking up: managing chronic illness in the workplace

By: Lauren Ballard | 4 min read

Jordan Leis (he/him) is a first-year Electrical Engineering student. He discusses the difficulties of being a co-op student with a chronic illness and how to advocate for yourself effectively during your work terms.

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