Designer - Electrical

Smith-Andersen-; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Health benefits

Group Retirement Savings Plan

ESOP

Transit subsidy

Community events

Job summary

Smith + Andersen is seeking a Designer to join our Ottawa office. You will contribute to system design, technical analysis, and multidisciplinary coordination, gaining hands-on experience, supported by a mentorship-driven team focused on engineering excellence. The role emphasizes growth and learning within a collaborative culture.

You’ll work on building system layouts, BIM coordination, and QA processes while advancing your independent design capabilities in a professional services environment.

Qualifications

• Proficiency with discipline-specific design and calculation tools (e.g., photometrics, load calculations, duct sizing).
• Demonstrated ability to perform engineering design tasks with accurate calculations.

Responsibilities

• Perform discipline-specific engineering calculations and equipment selections using codes and standards.
• Design and develop layouts for building systems on small to medium projects with constructability and value engineering in mind.
• Coordinate with architects, consultants, contractors, and suppliers for design support across project phases.
• Use BIM tools to support system design, coordination, and documentation.
• Support construction administration including shop drawing review and site instructions.
• Maintain quality standards with TQM checklists and proper tagging of equipment.
• Review and mentor junior staff to support overall project delivery.

Skills

discipline-specific design tools

Tools

CAD

Revit

Bluebeam

Job description

Smith + Andersen is a trusted, Canadian engineering firm, recognized for its multi-disciplinary expertise. With more than seven hundred and fifty employees across eleven offices in five provinces, the firm delivers comprehensive solutions nationwide.

At Smith + Andersen our employees contribute to some of the most sustainable building design projects in Canada. The work we do has meaningful impact on the community by contributing to landmark projects such as hospitals, transit stations, community centres, federal and provincial government buildings and post secondary institutions.

Our values drive and define everything we do, demonstrating a deep commitment to sustainability, mentorship and quality work that spans nearly six decades in business. In addition, we are proud to have been certified as a Great Place to Work™ and selected as one of Canada’s Best Workplaces™ for the highly collaborative culture we’ve built and for empowering employees to do great work!

This Opportunity

If you want to contribute to building systems that shape how people experience the spaces where they live, work, and learn, join Smith + Andersen as a Designer at our Ottawa office. You will gain hands‑on experience across system design, technical analysis, and multidisciplinary coordination, supported by a team that values mentorship, collaboration, and knowledge‑sharing. With a focus on technical growth and continuous learning, you will gain increasing independence in your work while you continue to build your expertise within a firm committed to engineering excellence.

This posting is for an existing vacancy within our organization.

Why choose Smith + Andersen?

In addition to an exciting career filled with meaningful work, we offer:

• Flexible hours and half day Fridays (all year round)
• Comprehensive Group Health Benefits Program, including a Health Spending Account
• Group Retirement Savings Plan (Employer and Employee Contributions)
• Employee Share Ownership Program (ESOP)
• Purchase Time off Program
• Transit Subsidy Program
• Wide variety of community and social events
• Great Place to Work-Certified™
• Best Workplace ™ in Ontario
• Best Workplaces for Inclusion™
• Best Workplaces for Professional Services ™
• Best Workplaces for Mental Wellness™

What You’ll Do

• Perform discipline‑specific engineering calculations and equipment selections using standardized tools, applying relevant codes and standards to perform detailed code analyses and integrate compliant design solutions.
• Design and develop layouts for building systems on small to medium complexity projects, incorporating constructability, feasibility, and value‑engineering considerations.
• Coordinate with architects, consultants, contractors, and suppliers/manufacturers for design support and equipment selection across project phases.
• Use BIM tools to support system design, coordination, and documentation.
• Support construction administration and site activities, including shop drawing review, preparation of site instructions (SI’s), contemplated change notices (CCNs), site reviews, and surveys.
• Maintain quality standards by completing and reviewing TQM checklists, ensuring consistency in tagging, equipment designations, and documentation.
• Review and support the work of junior team members, providing technical guidance while contributing to overall team coordination and project delivery.

Who You Are:

• Proficiency with discipline‑specific design and calculation tools (e.g., photometrics, load calculations, duct sizing).
• Proficiency in CAD, Revit, and Bluebeam; able to support junior staff in their effective use.
• Working knowledge of discipline specific systems and applicable codes/standards for moderately complex assignments.
• Strong understanding of TQM processes and their application to design deliverables.
• Demonstrated technical judgment and problem solving skills for work of moderate complexity.
• Strong understanding of discipline‑specific scopes of work and typical consulting engineering deliverables.
• Effective self‑management skills; able to perform in a deadline‑driven consulting environment.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to accept direction and feedback.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills for working with internal and external stakeholders.
• Growth mindset—curious, coachable, and committed to continuous learning.

About Smith + Andersen

Founded in 1965, Smith + Andersen has organically grown from an established reputation as a trusted engineering consulting firm, reaching new levels of engineering and design excellence in the mechanical, electrical, communications, security and audiovisual fields, and providing enhanced services such as lighting, building automation systems, and intelligent integrated systems design. Thanks to our client‑focused approach, we are able to apply efficient, sustainable, and reliable design and engineering solutions on the some of the most exciting projects across Canada.

For more information about Smith + Andersen, please visit our website at www.smithandandersen.com.

Accommodation

Appropriate accommodations will be provided to candidates upon request throughout the recruitment and hiring process. If you require accommodation during any phase of the hiring process, please advise the Human Resources Specialist with whom you are in contact.

Diversity

Smith + Andersen is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates of any age, culture, subculture, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nationality, race, ethnicity, family status, religion, mental or physical status or veteran status.

Recruitment Agencies

Smith + Andersen welcomes interest by individual applicants. For resumes or applications submitted by agencies or recruiters with which Smith + Andersen does not have an agreement in place, Smith + Andersen will not pay any referral fee. Unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies or recruiters will be deemed to have been referred without fee or other charges.

Smith + Andersen does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess or select applicants.