Position Overview:

MTLI Group is seeking an experienced Senior Material Handling Equipment (MHE) Design Engineer & Estimator to oversee the complete design, drafting, material takeoff, and estimating process for warehouse storage, racking, conveyor, and automation projects across North America.

This position combines technical design expertise with commercial estimating capabilities. The successful candidate must be able to independently develop warehouse layouts, detailed CAD drawings, mechanical installation drawings, material quantities, labour estimates, and complete project cost breakdowns.

The individual will work closely with MTLI’s sales, estimating, project management, procurement, and operations teams to transform customer requirements into accurate, competitive, installation-ready solutions.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Design Engineering & CAD Drafting:

- Develop full warehouse racking and storage system layouts.
- Design selective pallet racking, pushback, pallet flow, drive-in, cantilever, shelving, mezzanines, and structural storage systems.
- Prepare preliminary concepts and detailed technical designs for conveyor systems, sortation, automation, and ASRS installations.
- Produce comprehensive 2D and 3D drawings using AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor, Revit, or equivalent software.
- Prepare shop drawings, mechanical layouts, installation drawings, fabrication drawings, equipment details, and as-built packages.
- Coordinate engineering calculations, building permit drawings, PSR documentation, and professional engineering approvals where required.

2. Project Estimation & Cost Engineering:

The candidate must be capable of independently estimating complete material handling and racking installation projects.

- Prepare detailed cost estimates for warehouse racking, conveyors, mezzanines, automation, and ASRS installations.
- Estimate equipment and material costs, installation labour, machinery, rentals, freight, mobilization, and subcontractor requirements.
- Calculate installation labour hours based on project quantities, equipment types, site conditions, crew productivity, and complexity.
- Develop detailed bills of quantities (BOQs), bills of materials (BOMs), and cost breakdowns.
- Conduct material takeoffs directly from AutoCAD drawings, customer layouts, engineering specifications, and tender documents.
- Prepare budgetary estimates, conceptual estimates, and detailed fixed-price bid estimates.
- Request and review supplier and subcontractor pricing.
- Develop bid comparison sheets and evaluate vendor quotations.
- Identify project risks, exclusions, assumptions, and potential change order opportunities.
- Work with sales and leadership to develop final proposal pricing and target gross profit margins.
- Perform value engineering to reduce material and installation costs without compromising compliance or quality.
- Maintain historical costing information and develop standardized estimating templates.
- Support formal RFPs, RFQs, bid submissions, and customer pricing requests.

3. Design-to-Estimate Integration:

- Turn customer requirements into preliminary designs and project budgets.




- Compare alternative racking configurations and equipment solutions based on capacity, installation complexity, cost, and functionality.
- Optimize system designs to maximize storage capacity while controlling project costs.
- Ensure material takeoffs match the final drawings and specifications.
- Coordinate estimates with procurement, project management, and field operations to validate installation assumptions.
- Support sales teams with technical recommendations and preliminary budget pricing.
- Maintain alignment between the quoted scope, engineering drawings, material orders, and installation execution plans.

4. Installation & Project Engineering Support

- Prepare complete installation-ready drawing packages for field crews.
- Provide technical support to project managers and onsite supervisors.
- Review field conditions and identify potential layout or installation conflicts.
- Manage technical drawing revisions and documentation.
- Support engineering reviews, permit submissions, and required approvals.
- Assist with project change order pricing and material revisions.
- Participate in project closeout reviews to compare estimated costs against actual project performance.

Technical RequirementsRequired Experience

- Minimum 5 years of experience in material handling system design, warehouse racking design, mechanical drafting, or related industrial engineering.
- Demonstrated experience preparing detailed project cost estimates and material takeoffs.
- Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD.
- Strong experience with Excel-based estimating models and cost calculations.
- Ability to interpret architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical drawings.
- Strong understanding of racking components, conveyor assemblies, structural steel, installation methods, and MHE equipment.
- Ability to independently prepare material lists, installation estimates, and technical drawing packages.
- Familiarity with relevant Canadian and U.S. engineering and material handling standards.

Preferred Qualifications

- Mechanical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering Technology degree/diploma.
- SolidWorks, Inventor, Revit, Navisworks, or similar drafting experience.
- Experience working for a racking manufacturer, conveyor supplier, automation integrator, or industrial installation contractor.
- Experience with Bluebeam, PlanSwift, or other takeoff and estimating software.
- Knowledge of ASRS, automated conveyors, sortation systems, and industrial warehouse design.
- Previous involvement in large-scale distribution centre construction and automation projects.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- Estimate Turnaround: Meet agreed bid submission deadlines.
- Material Takeoff Accuracy: Target 98%+ quantity accuracy.
- Estimation Accuracy:



Target actual direct costs within ±10% of approved estimates, adjusted for scope changes.
- Drawing Turnaround: Complete drawing packages within approved schedules.
- Drawing Accuracy: Minimize revisions caused by internal design errors.
- Project Readiness: Complete required drawings before installation mobilization.
- Cost Optimization: Identify measurable value engineering opportunities.
- Bid Support: Provide accurate technical and costing information to the sales team.
- Project Closeout: Review estimated versus actual quantities, labour hours, and costs.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a technically experienced MHE design skilled who understands both how to design material handling systems and how much they cost to build and install.

We are seeking someone who can independently complete CAD layouts, technical drawings, material takeoffs, labour estimates, and detailed costing while supporting MTLI’s sales and operational teams.

This position will play a key role in developing a scalable internal engineering, drafting, and estimating function to support MTLI Group’s continued expansion throughout North America.

Pay: $85,000.00-$105,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- Dental care
- Extended health care
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance

Application question(s):

- Please provide your current email address and phone number.
- Please describe your professional experience in material handling equipment (MHE) design, warehouse racking systems, mechanical drafting, and project estimation. Include your total years of experience and the types of projects you have handled.
- Describe your experience using AutoCAD and other CAD software to develop warehouse layouts, racking configurations, conveyor systems, and installation drawings. Please specify the software you use and the types of drawings you can independently produce.
- Explain how you independently prepare detailed cost estimates for MHE, warehouse racking, conveyor, mezzanine, or automation installation projects. Include your experience estimating materials, labour hours, equipment rentals, freight, and subcontractor costs.
- Describe your process for conducting material takeoffs from engineering drawings, customer layouts, and tender documents. How do you prepare bills of quantities (BOQs) and bills of materials (BOMs), and how do you ensure quantity accuracy?
- Explain how you calculate installation labour hours and crew requirements for warehouse racking or material handling projects. Please provide an example of a project you estimated and the factors you considered.
- Describe your experience with warehouse racking systems, conveyors, ASRS, sortation systems, mezzanines, and structural steel. Include any relevant knowledge of Canadian and U.S. engineering, safety, and material handling standards.
- Describe a material handling design or estimating project you completed from initial customer requirements through final drawings and cost estimation. What was your role, what tools did you use, and how accurate was your estimate compared with the actual project cost?
- What is your earliest availability to start?

Work Location: On the road

📌 Senior Industrial Engineer & Estimator (Greater Toronto Area)
🏢 MTLI Group of Companies
📍 Greater Toronto Area