Quality Engineer Student Co-op

Smartrend Manufacturing Group (SMG) Inc. is one of Manitoba’s fastest-growing companies, committed to increasing safety in the school bus industry and reducing emissions in the electric vehicle charging sector through our diverse divisions. We design and develop exciting, patented, and innovative technologies that make a real and lasting impact across multiple industries.

At the heart of our success are the values that guide everything we do:

• People – our team is what makes us special
• Passion – from our hearts and minds, demonstrated through our actions
• Priority – we put the customer first, every day, in everything we do
• Partnership – with each other, our customers, and our suppliers

We provide a supportive environment where hard work, passions, and goals are recognized. Innovation and collaboration are at the heart of what we do. Share your drive and aspirations with us, and we’ll ensure that your coop experience opens doors to new opportunities and growth.

The Quality Engineer Co-op Student will support the Quality team in maintaining and improving product and process quality throughout the manufacturing lifecycle. This internship provides practical exposure to real-world quality engineering practices such as inspections, root cause investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives. The student will also gain valuable exposure to manufacturing engineering activities and mechanical engineering documentation used in production environments.

This role is ideal for an engineering student interested in manufacturing, quality systems, mechanical engineering fundamentals, and industry standards such as ISO 9001 and IATF 16949.

• Supporting the development and maintenance of inspection standards and quality documentation
• Participating in root cause investigations and corrective action activities
• Assisting with incoming material inspections, in-process checks, and final product audits
• Collecting and analyzing quality data to identify trends and improvement opportunities
• Supporting supplier quality initiatives, including documentation reviews and audit preparation
• Helping maintain compliance with ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 quality management systems
• Gaining exposure to manufacturing process improvement initiatives and shop-floor engineering practices
• Observing how work instructions, process flows, and production documentation are developed and used
• Learning how engineering changes and production updates are validated in a manufacturing environment
• Reading and interpreting mechanical drawings, specifications, and Bill of Materials (BOMs)
• Gaining familiarity with CAD tools, fixtures, gauges, and tooling concepts used in quality and production
• Working closely with engineering, production, supply chain, and quality teams
• Supporting the integration of automated inspection tools and manufacturing data systems

• Demonstrating curiosity and willingness to learn quality engineering practices
• Supporting inspections and documentation with attention to detail
• Contributing to problem-solving and continuous improvement discussions
• Gaining practical understanding of manufacturing engineering concepts through exposure
• Working effectively with cross-functional teams to support operational goals
• Delivering assigned tasks and analysis work in a timely and professional manner

• Interest in manufacturing operations, quality engineering, and continuous improvement
• Familiarity with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, Lean, or Six Sigma is an asset
• Ability to read and understand mechanical drawings and technical documentation is a strong asset
• Comfort working with data in Excel or similar analytical tools
• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Experience with CAD software or 3D printing is considered an advantage
• Prior internship, co-op, or hands-on manufacturing exposure is a plus, but not required

We would like to thank all applicants who apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.