Job Posting: MHE Design Engineer & Estimator

Company: MTLI Group

Division: Material Handling & Automation (MHE) Division

Department: Engineering, Design, Estimation & Pre-Construction

Pay Range: CA$75,000.00 - CA$95,000.00 per year + performance bonus

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Toronto, ON (Hybrid) | Projects Across Canada and USA

Position Overview

MTLI Group is rapidly expanding its North American industrial automation and material handling platform, delivering full turnkey systems from $250K to $100M+ mega-builds. We build massive-scale warehouse ecosystems including high-density racking configurations, high-speed conveyor networks, advanced robotics, and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS).

We are seeking a technically authoritative MHE Design Engineer & Estimator who bridges the gap between front-end digital space mapping and bottom-up financial engineering. This is an active, front-office position critical to scaling MTLI's automation capabilities. You will interpret loose conceptual dimensions or customer sketches, translate them into fully articulated 3D engineering designs, and construct bulletproof, data-driven cost and installation labor models.

We are not hiring for a seat. We are hiring a future leader who will help build our estimating division, establish pricing standards, and mentor junior staff as we expand across North America.

Core Responsibilities

1. Design Engineering & 3D Spatial Layouts

- Sketch-to-3D Execution: Take high-level concept sketches, functional parameters, and building dimensions from sales engineers and translate them into accurate, structured 3D digital space and 2D master facility layouts.
- Storage Topology Design: Develop full layouts for selective pallet racking, teardrop beam systems, pushback, pallet flow, drive-in, cantilever, and shelving configurations.
- Automation Mapping: Prepare detailed concepts and technical layout profiles for high-speed conveyor lines (belt, MDR, accumulation, sortation),



AGV/AMR pathways, robotics cells, multi-level mezzanines, and complex ASRS fields.
- Engineering Deliverables: Produce installation-ready drawing packages, shop drawings, mechanical schematics, bill of materials (BOM), and as-built documentation.
- Compliance Coordination: Factor structural loading paths, elevations, clearances, and seismic anchoring constraints into designs. Coordinate building permit drawings, Pre-Start Health and Safety Reviews (PSR), and professional engineering approvals.

2. Project Estimation & Cost Engineering

- Bottom-Up Material Takeoffs: Perform granular quantity extractions and material takeoffs directly from AutoCAD/SolidWorks files, structural blueprints, and technical RFP specifications.
- Turnkey Labor Modeling: Construct detailed, resource-leveled installation labor models calculating crew sizes, supervisor-to-trade ratios, field productivity hours, heavy equipment rentals (cranes, scissor lifts), travel logistics, and per diems/LOA.
- Cross-Border Costing: Factor complex logistics variables into multi-million dollar supply packages, including Canadian and U.S. freight routing, steel tariffs, exchange rate fluctuations, and cross-border customs risk mitigation.
- Vendor & Subcontractor Valuation: Issue RFPs/RFQs, handle technical RFIs, build vendor comparison matrices, evaluate subcontractor bids for scope alignment, and coordinate with manufacturers to validate design feasibility.
- Margin Safeguarding: Manage a strict, continuous queue of change order evaluations, manage Engineering Change Notices (ECN), track real-world cost variances,



and partner with leadership to secure target gross profit margins.

3. Strategic Sales Support & Integration

- Value Engineering: Intercept expensive inefficiencies or scope gaps in raw engineering designs early; introduce smarter material alternatives or optimized equipment path routings to drive down proposal costs without dropping compliance or performance metrics.
- Consultative Selling: Support active, long-cycle sales pitches by equipping client-facing teams with high-quality visual CAD models and precise, rapid preliminary budget estimates that give MTLI a distinct competitive edge.
- Operational Alignment: Coordinate closely with procurement, project management, and field operations to ensure quoted scopes match engineering drawings and site execution capabilities.

Technical Requirements & Background

Required Experience:

- Minimum 5 years of dedicated engineering, drafting, or cost estimation experience within the material handling, structural steel, racking, or industrial automation sectors.
- Background working directly for a racking manufacturer, conveyor supplier, automation integrator, or specialized industrial General Contractor (GC).
- Field installation tracking or field sequencing experience inside active, fast-paced distribution centers is highly preferred.

Technical Stack Proficiency:

- Advanced AutoCAD (2D layout tracking, space planning, plant layouts).
- Strong SolidWorks or Autodesk Inventor (3D mechanical assembly, parametric design, structural loading checks, exploded views).
- Master-Level Excel Capabilities (Building data-driven, formulas-heavy parametric cost models and standardized quoting calculators).
- Familiarity with architectural blueprint tools (Bluebeam/PlanSwift) and enterprise operational systems (ERP/CRM).
- Knowledge of relevant Canadian and U.S. engineering standards (such as CSA S16, NBC, IBC, or AISI guidelines).

📌 MHE (MaterialHandling Equipment) Design Engineer & Estimator (Markham)
🏢 MTLI Group
📍 Markham