Design assistant Jobs in Markham, ON

The Plumbing Design Development Trades Specialist will support the Design Management Team in developing functional, coordinated, and cost-effective ductwork and air distribution designs. This role works closely with project managers, engineers, VDC teams, and site teams to ensure constructability, airflow performance, and installation efficiency, while reducing coordination issues and supporting successful execution across complex mechanical projects.

Why This Role Matters to Modern Niagara

This role is critical to Modern Niagara because it brings deep trade expertise into the design phase, helping ensure plumbing systems are practical to build, code-compliant, and cost-effective from the start. By bridging design intent with field execution, the role reduces rework, improves coordination across teams, and supports smoother project delivery. It also strengthens Modern Niagara’s ability to deliver high-quality design-assist and design-build solutions that create value for clients and project teams alike.

Key Impact / Purpose

• Drive early-stage plumbing design decisions that improve constructability, coordination, and field execution.
• Reduce project risk and cost by identifying clashes, design gaps, and value engineering opportunities before installation begins.
• Support code-compliant, efficient plumbing solutions through close collaboration with engineers, VDC teams, project managers, and site teams.
• Improve delivery certainty by aligning design documents, material planning, and execution requirements across the project lifecycle.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leadership: Provide leadership in plumbing design and construction, ensuring alignment with project goals and constructability best practices.
• Pre-Construction: Participate in estimating turnover and pre-construction meetings, ensuring early trade engagement in design development.
• Design Review: Review and provide feedback on plumbing drawings, specifications, and consultant submissions (sanitary, storm, domestic water, and venting).
• Value Engineering: Collaborate with project management and engineering to assess alternative design approaches and propose value-engineered plumbing solutions.
• Coordination: Lead and participate in design development meetings, supporting coordination between field execution teams and consultants.
• VDC Integration: Interface with VDC teams to ensure 3D models and shop drawings reflect plumbing design intent, including proper slopes and clearance requirements.
• Clash Detection: Identify clash detection and constructability challenges early (, deep underground services vs. footings) and work with project teams to resolve.
• Change Management: Support scope development and pricing for Design Revision Requests (DRRs).
• Compliance: Ensure strict compliance with Building Code, CSA standards, and local municipal bylaws.
• Page-Turns: Conduct page-turn reviews of design documents with project execution teams to ensure alignment with field requirements.
• Procurement: Assist in developing accurate plumbing material take-offs and equipment procurement schedules (pumps, fixtures, etc.).
• Multi-Trade Coordination: Work closely with electrical, architectural, and structural teams to ensure coordination of sleeves, floor drains, and wall-hung fixture carriers.

Must haves:

• Certified Journeyperson Plumber or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of experience in commercial, institutional or healthcare plumbing construction, with a focus on design coordination and pre-construction.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of domestic water distribution, drainage/waste/vent systems, and backflow prevention.
• Design-Build Experience: Experience in design-assist or design-build projects is a significant asset.
• Drawing Interpretation: Ability to interpret and review mechanical, architectural, and structural drawings.
• Software: Proficiency in Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, and Navisworks (or other BIM software).
• Problem Solving: Excellent skills in assessing constructability challenges early in the design phase.

This is a new position. Expected annual compensation; $100,000 - $130,000

Modern Niagara offers a competitive total compensation package including:

• Performance based bonus opportunities
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with a generous employer contribution
• Flexible Health and Dental benefits with tiered options to meet the needs of you and your family
• An annual health spending account to support your overall wellness
• 24/7 confidential support through our Employee and Family Assistance Program with access to comprehensive resources and professional services
• A competitive vacation package with additional vacation granted throughout your tenure with the organization.
• Employer Paid Parental Leave Top Up
• Annual Community Day dedicated to volunteering and giving back to the communities where we live and work
• Corporate Discounts through various vendors across Canada for programs such as fitness, mobile phones, travel, home and auto insurance and many others

Here at Modern Niagara, because we know our people are the best in the industry, we pride ourselves on providing a total compensation package that rewards employees for their hard work and supports employees and their families in their overall wellbeing.

About Modern Niagara

Who We Are

Modern Niagara helps building owners, managers, and general contractors meet the mechanical, and electrical needs of their buildings across Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Southwestern Ontario, and Ottawa. We are committed to having a positive and meaningful impact on Canada’s infrastructure — and on the communities where we live, learn, work, and heal. We build for life.

Our Culture & Values

We value passion, initiative, determination, professionalism, and teamwork. Health and safety are embedded in everything we do, and our award-winning safety culture consistently performs well above industry standards.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Modern Niagara

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization where everyone has access to opportunity, feels a sense of belonging, and can thrive. We actively work to remove barriers faced by members of equity-seeking groups (including women, Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, and newcomers to Canada) in the construction industry. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and lived experiences and are committed to a barrier-free hiring process. If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us at so we can make appropriate arrangements.

We appreciate every applicant’s interest in joining Modern Niagara. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.