Building Science Lead

Qea Tech; Markham; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

QEA Tech in Markham, Ontario is seeking a Building Science Lead to pair hands-on technical delivery with team leadership. You will guide a small team of building science specialists on envelope retrofit projects, energy modelling, and client advisory work.

You will maintain quality of deliverables, mentor analysts, manage project priorities, and engage with architects, contractors, and clients while applying Ontario Building Code and ASHRAE methodologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Building Science, Civil Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Approximately 6+ years of relevant experience in building science or envelope consulting.
• Hands-on experience with commercial, multi-unit, or institutional envelope retrofit projects.
• Strong knowledge of envelope systems, moisture behaviour, and heat transfer principles.
• Experience with whole-building energy modelling using EnergyPlus/DesignBuilder/OpenStudio.
• Ability to evaluate retrofit options from technical and business perspectives (energy, cost, payback).
• Experience with client-facing engagements and mentoring junior staff.
• Strong technical judgement and clear written/verbal communication.
• Experience with BIM, digital twins, or 3D building models and exposure to automation/AI workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex building envelope investigations and retrofit studies.
• Manage projects and serve as technical lead for defined scopes.
• Mentor junior staff and provide technical feedback.
• Coordinate with architects, contractors, and consultants throughout design, tender, and construction.
• Apply codes and standards (e.g., OBC, ASHRAE methodologies) and advise on incentives and funding.
• Review deliverables for quality and provide expert technical review.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Energy modelling

Building science

Technical review

Mentoring

Communication

BIM / digital twins

Python

Data analytics

Automation

AI/ML workflows

Education

Bachelor's degree in Building Science / Civil / Architectural / Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

P.Eng. (preferred)

Tools

EnergyPlus

DesignBuilder

OpenStudio

BIM software

Python (programming)

Photogrammetry

3D modeling software

Job description

QEA Tech

About the Role

QEA Tech is seeking a Building Science Lead to play a dual role as a strong technical contributor and team leader within the Building Science team. This is a hands‑on role for an experienced building science professional who will lead complex technical work and client engagements while providing day‑to‑day leadership, mentorship, and technical oversight to a small team of building science specialists.

The Building Science Lead will be responsible for maintaining the quality and consistency of technical deliverables, supporting the development of team members, helping coordinate priorities and workloads, and serving as a trusted technical resource for both colleagues and clients. The role will remain actively involved in project delivery, including complex building envelope investigations, energy modelling, retrofit planning, technical analysis, design support, contract administration, and client advisory work.

This role is well suited to someone who enjoys staying close to the technical work while also taking responsibility for developing a high‑performing team. The successful candidate will bring strong technical judgement, an approachable leadership style, and the ability to balance project delivery, client needs, quality assurance, and team priorities in a growing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Delivery & Building Envelope Retrofit Expertise

Lead complex building envelope investigations, enclosure rehabilitation studies, and failure analysis.

Assess existing envelope conditions, including walls, roofs, windows, curtain wall systems, air barriers, insulation, thermal bridging, and moisture behaviour, and determine where repair, upgrade, or replacement is required.

Apply advanced heat‑transfer and building‑physics knowledge to inform envelope and energy‑performance recommendations.

Run or critically review energy models, including code‑compliance and whole‑building analysis, and translate outputs into practical envelope and mechanical recommendations. Energy modelling is a core, ongoing part of this role.

Perform moisture and thermal analysis and support design development and contract administration.

Develop and compare retrofit options based on building condition, energy performance, capital cost, payback, and remaining service life.

Develop retrofit plans that sequence envelope and mechanical improvements according to building condition, operational requirements, energy performance, client priorities, and budget.

Support projects through the full retrofit lifecycle, including condition assessment, energy audit, options analysis, design, tendering, construction review, commissioning, and measurement and verification.

Work with architects, contractors, consultants, and trades during design, tender, construction, and commissioning.

Apply relevant codes, standards, audit methodologies, and approval requirements, including the Ontario Building Code, NECB, and applicable ASHRAE methodologies.

Consider relevant incentive and funding programs and the documentation required to support client applications and investment decisions.

Act as a subject‑matter expert on specialized diagnostics and provide expert technical review of team deliverables.

Project & Client Management

Act as project manager across projects ranging from small assignments to large, complex programs.

Serve as technical lead on defined and complex scopes.

Act as primary or senior client advisor on assigned projects.

Advise clients on energy‑efficiency upgrades and retrofit payback.

Team Development & Leadership

Review Analyst I/II work and approve significant technical deliverables internally.

Mentor junior and intermediate team members and provide regular technical feedback and coaching.

Execute on capacity planning, training support, onboarding assistance

Professional Responsibility

Where licensed and acting within their area of competence, may assume professional engineering responsibility in accordance with PEO requirements.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Building Science, Civil Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.

Approximately 6+ years of relevant experience in building science, building envelope consulting, energy assessment, engineering consulting, or a related field.

Hands‑on experience with commercial, multi‑unit residential, or institutional building envelope retrofit projects.

Strong knowledge of building envelope systems, including walls, roofs, windows, curtain wall systems, insulation, air barriers, thermal bridging, and moisture behaviour.

Strong understanding of heat‑transfer principles and moisture/thermal behaviour in building assemblies.

Hands‑on experience with whole‑building energy modelling, including tools such as EnergyPlus, DesignBuilder, or OpenStudio, and/or relevant ASHRAE audit methodologies. Energy modelling will form an ongoing part of this role.

Demonstrated experience with complex technical investigations, retrofit planning, design development, and/or contract administration.

Ability to evaluate retrofit recommendations from both a technical and business perspective, including energy performance, building condition, capital cost, and payback.

Experience serving as a primary or senior client contact and communicating technical recommendations clearly to clients and stakeholders.

Experience reviewing technical work and mentoring junior or intermediate staff.

Strong technical judgement, attention to detail, report‑writing ability, and written and verbal communication skills.

Strong comfort with technology and digital workflows.

Experience with BIM, digital twins, photogrammetry, point‑cloud data, or 3D building models.

Exposure to Python, data analytics, automation, or AI/ML‑enabled workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree in a related field.

P.Eng. and/or BSS designation.

LEED AP, IIBEC, or related building science credentials.

Thermography Level 1 or 2 certification.

Experience working in a startup, technology company, or fast‑growing consulting environment.