Lead Design Supervisor – HVAC Systems

Aplin has partnered with a leading global manufacturer of industrial HVAC and engineered equipment to recruit a Lead Design Supervisor for its Contract Engineering team based in Dorval, Quebec.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a highly experienced Mechanical Engineer who is passionate about technical leadership, engineering excellence, and developing high-performing design teams. Reporting to the Mechanical Engineering Team Leader, you will serve as the senior technical resource within the Contract Engineering Design group, providing leadership across complex engineering projects while driving continuous improvement, product innovation, and engineering standardization.

This role is ideal for an engineering professional who enjoys remaining technically hands-on while influencing engineering strategy, mentoring others, and improving the efficiency and quality of engineering operations.

The Opportunity
As the Lead Design Supervisor, you will provide technical leadership and oversight for the Contract Engineering Design team while ensuring the accuracy, consistency, and quality of all engineering deliverables released to manufacturing.

Beyond supervising daily design activities, you will play a key role in establishing engineering best practices, supporting new product development, improving engineering processes, and driving standardization across the organization's engineered product portfolio.

Working closely with Manufacturing, Production, Quality, Purchasing, Sales, Project Management, and Research & Development, you will help shape engineering solutions that improve product performance, manufacturing efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the daily activities of the Contract Engineering Design team.
• Provide technical leadership for complex mechanical design projects from concept through production.
• Assign, prioritize, and balance engineering workloads to meet production schedules and customer commitments.
• Review, approve, stamp, and sign production drawings prior to release for manufacturing.
• Ensure engineering documentation meets company standards, customer requirements, and applicable industry codes.
• Verify dimensional accuracy, tolerances, bills of material, fabrication details, weld symbols, and assembly documentation.
• Lead engineering reviews and oversee implementation of Engineering Change Requests (ECRs) and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, CAD best practices, and Autodesk Vault data management processes.
• Provide technical guidance during the design and development of custom-engineered and standard product solutions.
• Support new product development, product enhancements, and engineering innovation initiatives.
• Lead engineering standardization, modular design, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives that improve quality, reduce engineering effort, and increase manufacturing efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with Manufacturing to resolve technical challenges and improve product manufacturability.
• Mentor, coach, and develop engineers and designers while fostering technical excellence throughout the team.
• Support departmental planning, strategic engineering initiatives, and long-term continuous improvement objectives.
• Act as a senior technical resource for cross-functional teams and contribute to solving complex engineering challenges.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation, or eligibility for registration with the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, is considered a strong asset.
• 8–15+ years of progressive mechanical design experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Extensive experience designing industrial equipment, HVAC systems, pressure vessels, rotating equipment, or other custom-engineered products.
• Demonstrated success leading engineering teams and providing technical mentorship.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles.
• Experience supporting new product development and product lifecycle improvements is highly desirable.

Technical Expertise

• Advanced proficiency with Autodesk Inventor or comparable 3D CAD platforms.
• Autodesk Vault or similar Product Data Management (PDM) systems.
• Engineering calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA).
• Product configuration, Bills of Material (BOM), and engineering documentation control.
• ERP/MRP systems.
• Working knowledge of ASME, CSA, ASHRAE, ISO, and other applicable engineering standards.
• Strong understanding of engineering change management and configuration control processes.

What You Bring

• Exceptional technical leadership and engineering judgment.
• A passion for mentoring engineers and developing technical talent.
• A continuous improvement mindset focused on engineering efficiency, quality, and innovation.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on engineering execution.
• A customer-focused approach with a commitment to delivering practical, high-quality engineering solutions.

Why Join?
This organization is recognized globally for delivering innovative, energy-efficient industrial HVAC and engineered equipment solutions. The engineering team is collaborative, technically driven, and committed to continuous innovation and operational excellence.

In return, you can expect:

• Competitive compensation and performance incentives.
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits.
• Retirement savings program with employer contributions.
• Professional development and continuing education support.
• Opportunities to influence product development and engineering strategy.
• A collaborative environment where technical leadership is recognized and valued.
• Long-term career growth within a successful and expanding global organization.

Interested?
If you are an experienced Mechanical Engineering leader looking to influence engineering excellence while remaining technically engaged, we encourage you to apply in confidence.

Aplin is proud to partner with our client on this confidential search. All inquiries and applications will be handled with the strictest confidence.


At Aplin — together with our brands CompuStaff, Impact Recruitment, and Vantix Systems — we connect great people with great organizations across North America. We believe diverse teams build stronger companies, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We use AI tools to assist in a fair and efficient matching process, helping our recruiters connect the right people with the right opportunities. To be considered, applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, including holding any required permits. Our recruitment services are always free for job seekers.