Working at Handling Specialty
Working at Handling Specialty means joining an innovative, forward-thinking team specializing in the design and manufacture of advanced lifting and material-handling equipment for a wide range of industries.
With more than 60 years of experience, Handling Specialty excels at engineering complex, high-capacity systems tailored to meet unique customer requirements. Team members have the opportunity to contribute to a diverse range of projects in industries such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, entertainment, rail transit, and power generation.
If you are passionate about problem-solving, technology, and making a tangible impact, Handling Specialty is a place where you can apply your talents and thrive.
Handling Specialty is seeking a full-time Senior Applications Engineer – Mechanical and Electrical Systems to join our growing team.
Job Summary
The Senior Applications Engineer – Mechanical and Electrical Systems will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to develop technical concepts, cost estimates, and proposals for custom lifting and material-handling equipment.
The ideal candidate will have a strong mechanical engineering background combined with practical knowledge of electrical systems, controls, and equipment integration. Strong mechanical design aptitude and proficiency with SolidWorks are essential.
This position is well suited to an experienced mechanical, electrical, or mechatronics professional who can evaluate complete machine systems rather than working exclusively within one engineering discipline.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to develop complex machinery, tooling, systems, and components that meet customer requirements.
- Review customer specifications, drawings, scopes of work, and other supplied documentation.
- Identify technical risks, missing information, scope gaps, and areas requiring clarification.
- Prepare technical comments, clarifications, assumptions, and exceptions for customer proposals.
- Develop preliminary mechanical concepts and equipment layouts using SolidWorks.
- Evaluate the integration of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and control systems.
- Perform preliminary engineering calculations required to size and specify equipment, including:
- Structural steel beams and frames
- Motors, gearboxes, brakes, and drive systems
- Hydraulic power units and cylinders
- Linear actuators and mechanical lifting systems
- Electrical power requirements
- Sensors, controls, and safety devices
- Develop project cost estimates for sales proposals, including:
- Engineering and production labour
- Purchased components
- Raw materials and fabricated assemblies
- Electrical and control systems
- Installation, commissioning, and testing requirements
- Consult with suppliers and obtain technical information, budget pricing, and lead times for major components.
- Maintain application engineering documents, including:
- Project estimates
- Costing data
- Design and work history
- Supplier quotations
- Historical pricing and inflation data
- Proposal assumptions and technical records
- Maintain ongoing communication with the Sales Team and provide technical support throughout the proposal process.
- Participate in customer meetings, internal reviews, and proposal development meetings.
- Present technical concepts and proposed solutions to internal stakeholders and customers.
- Support other members of the Applications Engineering Team with technical reviews, document preparation, publishing, and formatting.
- Work cross-functionally with sales, engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, project management, and service teams.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Strong mechanical aptitude with a solid understanding of machine design, structural systems, and mechanical power transmission.
- Strong working knowledge of SolidWorks is mandatory.
- Practical knowledge of electrical systems, industrial controls, instrumentation, or machine automation.
- Ability to understand the interaction between mechanical equipment, electrical power, controls, hydraulics, and safety systems.
- Ability to interpret mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, specifications, and technical documentation.
- Experience developing preliminary machinery concepts and layouts.
- Strong analytical and mathematical skills with a practical, solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving.
- Ability to develop reliable project estimates using incomplete or preliminary information.
- Ability to identify technical and commercial risks during the proposal stage.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Clear and concise technical writing and presentation skills.
- Exceptional organizational and time-management skills.
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple proposals and projects simultaneously.
- Demonstrated judgment and adaptability when priorities or project requirements change.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to communicate effectively with customers, suppliers, engineers, tradespeople, and manufacturing personnel.
Education and Experience
- Post-secondary degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Candidates must have demonstrated professional experience across both mechanical and electrical disciplines.
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics, industrial automation, custom machinery, or a related field is required.
- Strong mechanical design experience is required.
- Demonstrated experience using SolidWorks is required.
- Experience with electrical systems, industrial controls, PLC-based equipment, sensors, variable-frequency drives, servo systems, or machine safety systems is strongly preferred.
- Experience designing, specifying, estimating, or integrating custom industrial machinery is strongly preferred.
- Experience estimating project costs, production labour, materials, and purchased components is an asset.
- Experience with hydraulic and pneumatic systems is an asset.
- Experience developing and delivering technical presentations is an asset.
- Experience working in a custom equipment, machine-building, material-handling, or engineered-to-order environment is an asset.
Working Conditions
- Primarily an office-based engineering environment.
- Regular interaction with engineering and manufacturing personnel.
- Occasional visits to manufacturing and assembly areas.
- Ability to travel to customer, supplier, and manufacturing sites within Canada.
- Occasional international travel may be required depending on project needs.
- Willingness to travel - 25% (preferred)
Handling Specialty is an equal opportunity employer that embraces diversity in the workplace and encourages applications from qualified women, men, visible minorities, aboriginal peoples, and persons with disabilities. We are committed to providing accommodations throughout the interview and employment process for needs that are made known. We welcome applications from all interested and qualified individuals; however only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: $90,000.00-$120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision care
Work Location: In person
