QA Automation Engineer co-op

About Flexspring

Everything connects. That's not just our tagline - it's the whole job.

Flexspring is an iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) built for one of the thornier problems in enterprise software: getting HR systems to actually talk to each other. We link payroll, recruiting, benefits, and HRIS platforms API-to-API so data moves between them cleanly and in near real-time, with no manual re-entry anywhere. The results back it up - 3,000+ integrations delivered, 800+ clients including Fortune 500 companies, ADP Marketplace Platinum Partner, and named HR Data Integration Experts of the Year 2025. And we do it all as a remote-first team spread across Canada and beyond.

The Opportunity

We're looking for a QA Developer Co-op to join our R&D team - and we'll be upfront about what that means.

This is real experience, in the fullest sense. No throwaway side project, no busywork to fill the term - from your first weeks you'll be testing our actual product, as a real part of the team, protecting data that real customers depend on. Many of our co-ops go on to join us full-time after graduation.

You'll work mainly in Java, writing automated tests around the ways real integrations break - API timeouts, mismatched data, systems drifting out of sync. Good QA here is half code, half detective work - every test exists because a real company is counting on its HR data to arrive intact. If you like asking "what could go wrong here?", and you get a little satisfaction from catching the bug everyone else missed, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Be Working On

• Writing and maintaining automated test suites in Java - and understanding the customer problem behind what you're testing
• Designing tests around the ways real integrations break - API timeouts, corrupted or mismatched data, systems falling out of sync
• Tracking failures back to their root cause, not just the symptom
• Using modern tooling, AI included, to work efficiently - and reviewing what it produces with a careful eye before you trust it
• Working closely with developers through code reviews and team discussions to keep quality high

What We're Looking For

• Strong analytical thinking. This is the heart of good QA - you can look at a feature and reason about where it might break and why that would matter, connecting each test back to the real customer on the other end.
• A thoughtful approach to new tools. You enjoy picking up unfamiliar technology, including AI tools, and using it to work faster and smarter. You also know that generating output is only the start - the real value is in reviewing it, catching what's off, and being able to stand behind the result.
• You've already completed a co-op term or have some professional work experience - this won't be your first time in a real work environment
• You're currently studying Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• A solid foundation in Java
• You've written automated tests before, even for a class project (JUnit or something similar)
• You've worked with or learned about APIs
• You're curious, motivated, and get real satisfaction from finding what others miss

Nice to Haves

• Experience with testing frameworks or tools (JUnit, Selenium, Postman, REST-assured, or similar)
• Familiarity with REST APIs and how data moves between systems
• Interest in integration platforms (iPaaS) and how systems connect
• Curiosity about how large systems talk to each other - and what happens when they don't

What You'll Walk Away With

• Real, hands-on experience protecting the quality of a production platform real customers rely on
• Mentorship from senior developers who'll invest in how you think, not just the tests you write
• A working understanding of how HR data moves between enterprise systems - and where it tends to break
• Real practice using AI and modern tooling the way strong engineers do - fast, but with judgment
• Competitive co-op pay
• Flexible hours in a remote-first environment
• A strong chance to grow into a full-time role after graduation