VDC Trades Specialist

Modern Niagara helps building owners, managers, and general contractors meet the mechanical, electrical, integrated building technology, and building services needs of their buildings across Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Southwestern Ontario, and Ottawa. We also develop custom, turnkey solutions to help reach the desired outcomes. 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.

We value passion, initiative, determination, professionalism, and teamwork and we are committed to ensuring that our teams have everything they need to succeed. Health and safety are embedded in everything we do and, as a result, our award-winning safety culture has a record that's well above industry standards.

At Modern Niagara, you will work alongside values-driven, safety-conscious, and high-impact teams in a fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative environment. Here, your knowledge, skills, and excellent service will help ensure that the buildings that make up Canada's infrastructure fulfill the needs they were set out to meet.

Modern Niagara is one of Canada's Best Managed Companies and is a recipient of SMACNA's Safety Excellence Award Program (SSEAP) – Canada and the Canadian Occupational Safety (COS) Magazine's Gold Winner for Canada's Safest Employers Award in the Building and Construction category and Excellence Winner for Canada's Best Health + Safety Culture Award as well as Canada's Best Health + Safety Leader Award.

We are seeking a VDC Trades Specialist with expertise in Mechanical Piping systems to join our Ottawa based VDC team. This is a high-impact that connects the field and office; bringing hands-on trade expertise in pressure piping and mechanical room layout into the digital coordination process.

As a key liaison between field teams and VDC designers, you'll help shape how systems like domestic water, chilled water, and heating/cooling lines are designed and installed. You'll also play a critical role in optimizing mechanical room layouts for prefabrication, accessibility, and long-term performance while mentoring junior designers and driving innovation through VDC tools.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review peer work, models, and drawings for QAQC, ensuring they meet Modern Niagara's high standards and utilize the correct parts, fabrication strategies, and system layouts.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship to VDC Designers, helping them grow in both technical and practical knowledge.
• Collaborate directly with project leads to ensure VDC support aligns with project goals and timelines.
• Use Revit (or other BIM tools) to model and coordinate pressure piping systems such as domestic water, chilled water, and heating/cooling lines, as well as detailed mechanical room layouts optimized for prefabrication and installation.
• Identify and resolve constructability issues early in the design process.
• Participate in clash detection, and field coordination meetings.
• Promote and implement software solutions that enhance field productivity and coordination.
• Support the use of tools like Navisworks, Procore, Bluebeam, and iPads for real-time collaboration.

Qualifications and Job Requirements: 

• 8+ years of hands-on experience as a journeyperson in plumbing, with deep practical knowledge and field expertise.
• At least 1 year of experience with CAD tools (Revit preferred; AutoCAD acceptable).
• Comfortable critiquing peer work, mentoring junior staff, and providing dotted-line leadership.
• Strong understanding of pressure piping systems and mechanical room design, including system sizing, routing optimization, equipment clearances, and integration with prefabrication strategies.
• Strong understanding of prefabrication, modular construction, and multi-trade coordination.
• Proven experience working on complex projects in the ICI (Institutional, Commercial, Industrial) sector
• Proficient in reading and interpreting mechanical and electrical drawings.
• Experience with design-build projects and working alongside engineers and VDC teams.
• Willingness to learn and use tools like Revit, SolidWorks, Bluebeam, etc.
• Passion for mentorship, innovation, and continuous improvement.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

At Modern Niagara, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization where everyone has access to the same opportunities, experiences equitable outcomes, and can thrive and reach their full potential. We recognize the systemic barriers faced by members of equity-seeking groups; including women, Indigenous, Black, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, and newcomers to Canada and are actively working to eliminate these barriers within the construction industry.

As part of our ongoing reconciliation efforts and DEI strategy, we acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples in Canada have historically faced systemic barriers to employment. We are committed to targeted hiring as a meaningful step toward reconciliation. This approach aligns with our obligations under the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Employment Equity Act, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action.

We value the diversity of the people we hire and serve. Modern Niagara is an equal opportunity employer. If you require accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise us so that suitable accommodations can be made. We can be reached