Are you eligible for co-op at D2L?

Our co-op roles are open to applicants who are:

• Currently enrolled in a post-secondary program, and will not graduate prior to this co-op role (preference for students enrolled in an official co-op program)
• Able to work 40 hours per week
• Able to work in-person from a D2L office (office location dependent on role)

We may continue to review applications on a rolling basis, but recommend applying by May 19th at 9:00am ET to ensure you are included in initial application reviews.

About the Role

We are looking for an aspiring researcher to join our User Experience Research team. This role involves planning and conducting research on UX design projects that directly impact the experience of millions of users worldwide. We aim to gain a deep understanding of the problems users face and help others develop empathy so we can develop a product that is easy, flexible, and smart. 

At D2L, UX Research is part of the larger Product Design Team. This means we work closely with Product Designers to inform the design on product initiatives. We get involved early in development projects to conduct research about our users’ goals, motivations, and challenges. As designers work through the phases of their projects, we stay deeply engaged and execute usability research to make sure that the final product is meeting our users’ needs and expectations. 

The Product Design Team is part of our larger Technology, Engineering, and Design organization that is responsible for creating and developing all of D2L’s products. This means that we collaborate with not only designers, but also Product Managers, Developers, and many other talented D2Lers on our research projects. 

The D2L User Experience Research team is focused on providing the resources, knowledge, and data that our company needs to make our products easy to use and intuitive. Our team has many areas of expertise including qualitative and quantitative data analysis, usability testing, research planning and design, study facilitation, and more. We conduct research with real users of our software to allow our development teams to make data-informed decisions in their design processes.  

Our tight-knit team of researchers prioritizes the support and growth of all our team members. We learn from each other to develop the skills to do great work. Joining our team means joining a group that is there for you when you need help and will give you the resources you need to succeed. We believe that co-op terms are not just for work, they are also for growth and learning. 

• Participate in the experimental design process 
• Collaborate closely with Product Designers and Product Managers 
• Facilitate moderated UX Research studies 
• Lead research operations efforts for studies (recruitment, tools, materials, etc.) 
• Assist with data analysis (qualitative & quantitative) 
• Communicate research findings to cross-functional teams and leadership 
• Contribute to team meetings and level up colleagues 

• Completed at least 1 research methods course  
• Experience with research design and controlled data collection 
• Experience recruiting and testing participants 
• Experience working in a team  
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills  
• Strong critical thinking and problem solving  
• Highly motivated and able to work independently  
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills  
• Basic computer literacy 
• Familiarity and interest in AI tools (ChatGBT, CoPilot,etc.)

How will I make an Impact? 

We are looking for a seasoned Software Developer who is passionate about developing software using engineering best practices.  Senior software developers use past experiences & know-how to enable teams to be more productive & effective through the code they write, the decisions they make and knowledge they share.  Your ideas and perspectives are essential to making sure we are investing in the right technology and effectively advancing our goal.

Working on the D2L Labs team, you will lead the development and incubation of new products and features, integrate cutting-edge techniques and tools into our already advanced development processes, conduct ongoing AI research to further enhance our understanding and capabilities, and contribute to AI thought leadership through engagement with strategic clients. Your efforts will build on our strong foundation of innovation, helping the organization leverage AI opportunities while exploring its limits and understanding associated challenges. You will foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation, ensuring we remain agile and responsive to the ever-evolving technological landscape.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Strong communication skills for technical discussions and collaboration, including the ability to articulate complex AI concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Knowledge and experience built on a body of work demonstrating a consistent ability to complete technically challenging projects, particularly those involving AI and machine learning.
• Hands-on experience in building applications delivering real value to users with large language models (e.g., GPT, Claude, Llama) and/or AI agents, including their integration into enterprise software platforms.
• An alignment to AI ethics and AI practices to ensure the things you build will not only deliver value to users but not do so at the expense of others.
• Strong collaboration skills that will allow you to work with product management, product design, and key stakeholders to deliver meaningful and aligned results.
• Deep understanding of Computer Science topics including data structures, algorithms, databases, distributed systems, and machine learning.
• Experience with object-oriented design and proficient coding skills
• Experience with common full-stack languages, such as NodeJS, JavaScript, Typescript, and Python, and common frontend frameworks, such as React, Angular, and Vue.
• Familiarity with vibe coding, with experience in creating intuitive and responsive user interfaces.
• Knowledge of software development methodologies (e.g., Agile, Scrum) and best practices for AI model deployment and maintenance.

Expected Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related technical discipline; advanced degrees are beneficial but not mandatory.
• Proven experience in applying strong problem-solving skills to tackle complex technical challenges and devising innovative solutions.
• 8+ years of experience in software development, especially in developing highly scalable, cloud-based platforms or applications.
• 5+ years of experience with cloud platforms and their associated best practices (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and DevOps practices.
• Experience with AI ethics and responsible AI practices and an understanding of the ethical considerations and best practices in AI development and deployment.
• Proficiency in setting up and maintaining continuous integration and continuous deployment pipelines to increase delivery quality and velocity.
• Experience with security principles and practices in software development, particularly in the context of AI and cloud-based applications.
• Demonstrated experience in working with large language models (e.g., GPT, Claude, Llama) and applying advanced prompt engineering techniques to optimize model performance and outputs. This includes crafting effective prompts (including the use of techniques like chain of thought and retrieval augmented generation), fine-tuning models, and integrating LLMs into enterprise applications to deliver impactful solutions.
• Understanding of agent-based systems, including multi-agent systems and AI agents. This includes knowledge of agent architectures, communication protocols, and the ability to conceptualize and implement agents that can autonomously perform tasks and interact with other agents.
• Ability to lead and mentor junior developers, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.
• Demonstrated experience with working with an agile team, leveraging appropriate tools to facilitate communication and collaboration (Git, Jira, Slack, etc.)
• Familiarity with data preprocessing, ETL processes, and data pipeline management is beneficial but not a requirement.
• Familiarity with the unique challenges and opportunities in the education technology sector, whether in K-12, higher education, or corporate training environments, is beneficial but not a requirement.

This position is to fill an existing vacancy