Product Engineering Co-op VCycene Inc. | Markham, ON (In-Person) | 8-Month Co-op

**About VCycene** VCycene is a cleantech startup building LILA — a smart, autonomous kitchen composter that makes sustainable living effortless. We're a fast-moving team working across hardware, firmware, mobile software, and AI to bring a category-defining product to market. Our office is based at 3600 Steeles Ave East, Markham, ON. We're hiring a Product Engineering Co-op for an 8-month term (May – December 2026\) to work across hardware QA, mobile app development, and AI R\&D. **What You'll Work On** **Hardware QA \& Production (Inbound Quality Control)** * Perform end-to-end IQC on newly manufactured LILA units: firmware flashing (ESP32 \+ STM32\), post-assembly electrical testing, sensor integration testing, and OTA update verification * Use test tooling (esptool, STM32CubeProgrammer, custom test executables) to validate every unit before shipment * Identify, document, and coordinate resolution of hardware defects with the engineering team * Support unit rework, refurbishment, and production batch preparation at the MicroArt warehouse **Fulfillment \& Operations** * Prepare and ship LILA units (P50N, P100, P150\) to Canadian and US customers * Track shipments in Katana ERP and the MaxUs inventory sheet; update HubSpot CRM with delivery status * Generate customer shipping emails and manage logistics via Clickship and Freightcom * Coordinate return labels, replacement unit dispatch, and customer escalations **Mobile App Development (LILA App)** * Contribute features to VCycene's mobile-connected customer app * Build and test new product modules within the app (e.g., composting cycle monitoring, machine status, user notifications) * Work with the software team on API integration, frontend performance, and beta testing * Write clean, reviewable code and participate in PR reviews **AI R\&D — Image Recognition \& Composting Intelligence** * Develop and iterate on a food image recognition model to classify compostable inputs and estimate daily waste volumes * Support deployment of Vision AI on embedded targets (STM32N6 / STM32H7\) * Assist with data collection, labelling, and model evaluation pipelines * Collaborate with the firmware team to integrate AI inferences into the machine's decision logic **Customer Onboarding \& Support** * Conduct live video onboarding calls with new LILA customers — walk them through setup, daily operation, and troubleshooting * Manage support tickets in HubSpot: triage, resolve, escalate, and document * Track customer feedback and surface recurring issues to the product team **Who We're Looking For** You're currently enrolled in a co-op program in Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics, or a related discipline. You're comfortable working across hardware and software, and you like problems that don't fit neatly into one box. Required: * Hands-on experience or coursework in embedded systems, microcontrollers, or hardware testing * Programming proficiency in Python and/or C/C\+\+ * Familiarity with mobile development (React Native, Flutter, or similar) or strong motivation to learn * Ability to lift and move items up to 30 kg in a lab environment * Reliable daily transportation to 3600 Steeles Ave East, Markham, ON * Available for the full 8-month term (May – December 2026\) Strong assets: * Experience with ESP32, STM32, or similar MCU platforms * Machine learning or computer vision coursework (YOLO, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar) * Experience with REST APIs, Git workflows, and code review * Exposure to ERP/CRM tools (Katana, HubSpot, Shopify) * Prior co-op experience in a hardware or product company **What You'll Get** * Competitive co-op pay (open to discussion based on experience) * End-to-end ownership — you'll see the full product lifecycle from manufacturing to customer door * Rare chance to contribute across firmware, AI, mobile, and physical product in a single term * Work directly with the founding team in a lean, high-trust environment * A product that ships to real customers every week **How to Apply** Apply via Indeed with your resume and a brief note on which area you're most excited to contribute to (QA, app development, or AI R\&D). Students from the University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, and any accredited co-op program are encouraged to apply. Pay: $20\.00-$25\.00 per hour Benefits: * Flexible schedule * On-site parking Work Location: In person