Hardware Operations Intern

About P&P Optica

P&P Optica (PPO) is using brand new technology to transform an old industry that affects everyone on the planet: the food industry. We apply a complex and highly sophisticated mix of hardware, software and huge datasets to improve both the safety and quality of the food we eat.

PPO is on a mission to become the world's leading food information company. We are moving beyond simple detection to provide real-time, actionable insights that help food processors optimize yield, reduce waste, and ensure safety at a global scale.

We’re a truly diverse team in every sense of the word, and our team is incredibly smart. Our culture is respectful and caring. PPO is a well-funded, scaling company with opportunities for career growth in every part of the organization.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to tackle challenging problems that affect everyone on the planet, PPO is the place for you.

Location

This role is an in-office fixed-term contract role, where you’ll work from PPO’s office in Waterloo Ontario.

Compensation

The salary range for this fixed-term contract role is $20 - $23 per hour CAD. The final offer will be determined based on a combination of factors, including:

• Relevant skills and experience: We assess each candidate's background, achievements, and demonstrated capabilities.
• Internal equity: We strive to maintain consistency and fairness across roles within our organization, aligning compensation with existing team members in comparable roles.

We are committed to transparency and fairness in our hiring process and welcome conversations about compensation throughout the recruitment process.

What You’ll Get To Do

This posting is for a current vacancy within our hardware team.

Focused on the integrity of our production data and supply chain architecture, this role centers on migrating, organizing, and managing the critical data required to align Engineering specifications with our Production environment.

As a key member of the Hardware team, this role is heavily focused on the migration of Bills of Materials (BOMs), part numbers, and vendor data into NetSuite. You will be responsible for interpreting engineering requirements, refining data structures, and executing inventory reconciliation to ensure our digital records perfectly match our physical assets.

This is a multidisciplinary, hands-on role with time split between the production floor, inventory storage, and your desk. It is a critical part of our immediate production scaling and long-term operational success.

In this role, your responsibilities and duties will include:

Data Migration & Alignment

• Support the migration and verification of Bills of Materials (BOMs), part numbers, and vendor information into NetSuite, ensuring 100% alignment with Engineering specifications.

Inventory Systems Management

• Update and standardize part numbers within our physical inventory storage and digital tracking systems.

Inventory Reconciliation

• Perform comprehensive inventory audits and reconciliations to ensure physical stock matches digital records.

Production Support:

• Assist in the hands-on assembly and kitting of parts required to fulfill active sales orders.

Process Optimization

• Assist the Production team in identifying bottlenecks in the production reporting process and implementing more efficient data entry workflows.
• Helping the team leverage AI and automation to improve BOM and inventory management

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Hardware team to validate technical specifications and sourcing details for all components

AI Collaboration:

• Uses AI tools responsibly to improve productivity, documentation, analysis, and workflow efficiency.
• Evaluates AI-generated output critically, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and alignment with company standards.
• Demonstrates curiosity and a willingness to continuously learn and adopt new technologies that improve how work is performed.

Skills & Experience

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a college diploma or undergraduate degree program in Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, or Mechatronics) or a related technical field.
• Demonstrable organization and data management skills.
• Driven to make progress and achieve milestones in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Extreme attention to detail; ability to spot discrepancies in large datasets.
• Hands-on experience in a lab, shop, or production environment.
• Experience with Excel/Google Sheets (data cleaning and analysis); familiarity with NetSuite or similar ERPs is a significant asset.

Life at PPO

You’ll love working at PPO. Here’s why:

Open Culture: Our culture is built on openness and trust. We thrive together as a diverse team, celebrating what connects us and learning from what makes each of us unique.

Supportive Environment: We value collaboration and care, from celebrating birthdays and milestones to challenging one another to grow personally and professionally. Trust, honesty, and teamwork are at the heart of how we deliver value.

Work-life Balance: We move with urgency when it matters most, but we also know that life outside of work matters too. We make sure you have the time and flexibility you need with flex days and vacation time that help you recharge and show up as your best self.

Hybrid Work Model: Depending on your role, you might work from home, our office or both.

Ongoing Learning: Curiosity is one of our superpowers. Learning is woven into everything we do, from hands-on collaboration to formal training and education. We lead with curiosity and imagine without limits, encouraging every team member to keep growing.

P&P Optica is committed to supporting a culture of diversity across our organization. Our hiring practices align with human rights laws, guaranteeing every person equal treatment in regard to employment and opportunity for employment, regardless of race, color, creed/religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.