Waterloo co-op students power wind energy innovation at LiftWerx
By: Christie Zeb (she/her)
LiftWerx sees co-op work terms as a four-month job interview to try out future talent.
With offices in Europe and North America, LiftWerx specializes in providing crane-less solutions for wind turbine corrective repairs. The company’s technology helps to cut costs, avoid wind delays, reduce ground impact and minimize the environmental footprint associated with these repairs.
Liftwerx thrives on ingenuity and has built its reputation on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in wind turbine maintenance. That same mindset is reflected in how it hires and mentors co-op students.
Peter Cornelisse (BASc ’22), head of account management, LiftWerx
“We’re a small, entrepreneurial company that shares a lot of synergies with Waterloo’s culture—tech-focused, problem-solving and always looking for ways to innovate. That’s why we continue to hire Waterloo students,” says Peter Cornelisse (he/him) (BASc ’22), head of account management at LiftWerx.
LiftWerx sees Waterloo co-op students as a long-term investment. Each work term is a “four-month-long job interview,” where it seeks to identify and nurture top talent.
The strategy has paid off for the company, which now employs several former co-op students in full-time roles.
We’ve seen first-hand how Waterloo students bring fresh ideas and energy that help us grow.
Waterloo co-op students take on impactful engineering and technical roles at Liftwerx. During their work terms, students contributions include designing and developing site plans, leading major design initiatives and implementing process improvements.
Many students gain hands-on experience by travelling to job sites across North America and working alongside technicians to see their designs in action. “We send co-op students on field visits where they can see our equipment in action and better understand how their work impacts real-world applications,” says Cornelisse.
Co-op students lead and innovate
Andre Larocque (he/him), a fourth-year Management Engineering student, spent a co-op work term at LiftWerx as a VR game developer.
He expected to spend his term refining virtual reality training modules for wind turbine technicians. What he didn’t expect was to completely pivot after a month and instead pioneer a new process improvement initiative that would streamline technical documentation across the organization.
“The project involved implementing a commenting and revision system for the procedure documents at the organization to facilitate continuous improvement and safety communication,” says Larocque.
Larocque’s work enhanced collaboration and improved the efficiency and accuracy of critical technical documentation, an impact that continues to benefit LiftWerx beyond his work term.
Andre Larocque, Faculty of Engineering student
The company has built a culture where co-op students don’t just contribute—they take ownership of meaningful projects that push the organization forward.
Owen Quinn (he/him) completed two work terms at LiftWerx, and each offered him opportunities to take on significant responsibilities.
Owen Quinn, Faculty of Engineering student
In his first work term, the third-year Mechanical Engineering student developed site plans for every major project that was done. “In addition, I worked on some small-scale design projects that were fabricated and are currently being used by technicians today,” says Quinn.
Quinn’s second co-op work term at Liftwerx was focused on designing a large new crane base to be installed on top of wind turbines. He was entrusted with most of the design decisions for this project—an uncommon level of responsibility for a co-op student.
Quinn led design meetings with stakeholders and senior managers and found a balance between on-site visits and critical decision-making. “It was a lot of responsibility to take on, but I handled it well and grew from it,” says Quinn
Most employers would have entrusted this project to a senior or full-time engineer because of its impact, but LiftWerx entrusted it to a co-op student—which really speaks to the company’s culture.
Investing in student success
LiftWerx’s commitment to co-op students extends beyond technical work. To help students succeed and feel connected to the organization, Liftwerx pairs each student with a senior team who acts as a mentor, guiding them through projects and professional development.
The company also encourages peer mentorship, where returning co-op students take on more senior roles to coach junior students as they take on increasingly complex projects.
From the top down, every employee is cared for and supported, which made it an easy decision to return for a second co-op term.
Liftwerx organizes team-building activities, networking events and social gatherings that help students to create lasting professional connections that extend beyond their co-op work terms. At the company’s annual general meetings, for example, co-op students spend a few days connecting with staff, participating in training and attending company dinners.
“LiftWerx provides co-op students with real-world experiences that drive innovation. Their hands-on approach to mentorship empowers students and prepares them for the future of engineering,” says Olivia Roth, University of Waterloo's co-op account manager for LiftWerx.
As LiftWerx continues to expand its operations across Europe and North America, its partnership with Waterloo co-operative education remains an essential strategy for building the next generation of engineers and innovators.