GM Careers Canada: 2027 Winter Lighting Software Co-op

General Motors is accepting applications for a 2027 Winter Co-op in Lighting Software Development & Test in Markham, Ontario. The role was posted on August 26, 2026, carries requisition JR-202618179 and is part of GM’s EXCEL student and co-op program.

This is a full-time co-op requiring 40 hours per week for a 12- to 16-month consecutive term beginning in January 2027. GM publishes a monthly salary range of CAD 4,264 to CAD 4,784.

The current employer page says the posting is open to new applications for new head count. It is therefore an active recruitment process even though GM explicitly notes that the posting is not filling a vacancy that already exists today.

What the Lighting Software Team Does

The successful student joins an Agile Scrum team of about 10 people developing exterior and interior lighting software and controls used across GM vehicles globally.

The team works across requirements, software development, testing and verification. The student’s primary focus is software development and testing, which gives the co-op substantial hands-on engineering content.

Embedded Software Development

The co-op collaborates with product managers, testers and other developers using approaches such as Behaviour-Driven Development and Test-Driven Development.

The posting specifically says students can design, implement and integrate complex embedded software systems in hand-coded C. Applicants with Embedded C experience should show code or project evidence where appropriate rather than only listing the language.

Testing and Automation

Testing is a large part of the placement. The student develops and maintains unit and multicomponent tests and performs model-to-code equivalence testing.

The role also creates and executes automated tests in simulation and hardware-in-the-loop environments to validate system and subsystem requirements.

Students can learn system-level test methodologies and work alongside CI/CD and automation teams, which makes the position relevant to candidates interested in embedded quality engineering as well as development.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must be currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering or a related field.

Students must be enrolled in a co-op program and meet that program’s eligibility requirements. They also need to be available for 40 hours per week for 12 to 16 consecutive months starting in January 2027.

GM requires students to be legally entitled to work in Canada and states clearly that it cannot consider candidates who require sponsorship now or in the future.

Preferred Technical Background

Embedded C and Python are preferred. Understanding of embedded controls software and automated software-build processes can also strengthen an application.

GM lists familiarity with automotive communication technologies such as CAN, LIN and SPI as useful, together with virtualization or software-integration experience.

Automotive clubs and competition experience, including programs such as AutoDrive or EcoCAR, are also relevant because they demonstrate applied automotive engineering interest.

Hybrid Work Arrangement

The role is hybrid. GM expects the successful student to report to the Markham Elevation Centre and/or Oshawa Elevation Centre at least three times per week, or at another frequency determined by business needs.

Candidates should therefore plan for regular in-person work in the Greater Toronto Area and should not interpret the co-op as a fully remote software internship.

Salary and Student Experience

The monthly salary range is CAD 4,264-4,784. The actual amount offered can vary based on factors relevant to the position.

GM describes the EXCEL program as a way for students to gain career-specific experience. In this team, a co-op can own deliverables end to end, learn from experienced embedded developers and work on lighting features intended for future production vehicles.

Application Status

The official GM Careers page currently shows Apply Now. The posting is a new-head-count recruitment and was published August 26, 2026.

No fixed closing date is shown in the accessible employer details, so candidates should apply while the requisition remains open rather than waiting for a presumed deadline.

How to Build a Strong Technical Student Resume

For this co-op, the most useful student projects are the ones that show software moving beyond a classroom exercise. If you built an embedded system, worked with a microcontroller, wrote automated tests or participated in an automotive design team, explain the architecture, your individual contribution and how you verified that the system worked.

GitHub or project links can be useful when they are polished and relevant, but the resume should still summarize the technical work. Mention the language, hardware or simulation environment, testing approach and outcome so a recruiter can understand the project without opening another website.

Students should also show collaboration. GM’s team uses Agile practices, so experience working in a team with shared requirements, code reviews, task planning or sprint-style delivery can help demonstrate readiness for the work environment.

How to Apply

Apply through General Motors’ official careers page for requisition JR-202618179. Make your co-op eligibility, degree program, January 2027 availability and embedded-software or testing projects obvious in the first half of the resume.

Tips for Applicants

Use a real embedded project

Explain what your code controlled, the hardware or simulation environment used and how you tested it.

Show testing depth

If you have written unit, integration, simulation or HIL tests, describe the requirements you were validating and how failures were diagnosed.

Highlight automotive communication knowledge

CAN, LIN and SPI experience is useful when supported by a project, lab or competition example.

Confirm the long work term

This is a 12-16 month co-op. Check your academic schedule and co-op office approval before applying so the term length does not become a problem later.

Final Notes

GM’s 2027 Winter Lighting Software Development & Test opportunity is a fresh Canadian co-op posted August 26 with a live Apply Now route and employer-published monthly compensation. It is one of the strongest genuine internship/co-op matches in this batch.