Intern, Hardware Engineer

The Home Depot

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Looking to turn classroom learning into real-world experience? The Home Depot Canada Internship/Co-op Program is your chance to apply what you’ve studied in a dynamic, hands-on environment. Over 16 weeks, you’ll work on projects that make a real impact, sharpen your skills, and build confidence for your future career. Are you a builder at heart? Join our Technology - Hardware team as an engineer. This is a high-impact, hands-on role where you won’t just be observing—you will be designing, prototyping, and testing the next generation of electronics hardware that powers our retail ecosystem. From designing custom PCBs to writing firmware and collaborating with software engineers, you will play a key role in bringing innovative hardware solutions from the drawing board to the store floor.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a university and/or college education in Canada and enrolled in a co-op program focused on Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related field.
• Proficiency with EDA tools (Altium, KiCad, or Eagle).
• Proficiency in C/C++ for embedded systems.
• Experience with lab equipment (soldering irons, oscilloscopes).
• Strong foundational knowledge of C/C++ for embedded systems and/or Python/MicroPython
• Circuit Fundamentals: Solid understanding of analog and digital circuit design, power management, and signal integrity.
• Ability to translate complex technical hardware needs into clear documentation for non-technical stakeholders.
• The successful student will be currently enrolled in a Canadian accredited university or college throughout the period of the Internship/Co-op program.
• In addition, you must be legally entitled to work in Canada by way of Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or a valid study/work permit.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with IoT protocols (Zigbee, LoRa, Bluetooth LE, or Wi-Fi).
• Familiarity with Linux environments and Raspberry Pi/Arduino/ESP32 platforms.
• Prior experience in a "Maker" environment or personal robotics projects.
• Knowledge of industry standards for safety and compliance (CUL, FCC, CE).

Responsibilities

• Design and develop detailed electrical schematics and multi-layer PCB layouts in collaboration with senior engineers.
• Perform hands-on prototyping, including soldering, assembly, and initial bring-up of custom internal hardware tools.
• Develop and debug firmware for various microcontrollers (MCUs) to drive core hardware functionality.
• Collaborate with application teams to ensure seamless hardware/software integration and assist in developing driver and API layers.
• Build and maintain Bills of Materials (BOM) and support supply chain efforts to ensure component availability and cost-efficiency.
• Author technical documentation, including Business (BRD), Software (SRS), and Hardware (HRS) Requirement Specifications.
• Conduct rigorous stress testing (environmental and mechanical) to ensure hardware durability in high-traffic environments.
• Perform root-cause analysis and hardware debugging using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters.
• Support vendor relations by assisting in the transition of designs from initial prototypes to mass production.
• Navigate regulatory compliance by assisting with electronic device certifications according to Canadian norms (e.g., CSA, ICES).
• Participate in design reviews and provide regular project status reports to the engineering manager.

Benefits

• Real-World Impact: Your designs could be deployed in over 182 stores.
• Mentorship: Work alongside with hardware engineers who are passionate about teaching.
• Innovation: Access to our lab and cutting-edge tech stack.
• Accountability and execution for key business strategies in partnership with Manager
• Experience working in cross-functional teams
• Performance feedback, leadership, and development opportunities
• Potential for a full-time offer upon graduation

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed