Mackin Engineering Company

What Mackin Engineering Company does

Mackin Engineering Company is a family-owned, multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm founded in 1960 by Italo V. "Ody" Mackin and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The firm operates through three divisions — Transportation (structural inspection, structural engineering design, highway engineering, traffic engineering, and construction services), Land Development (civil engineering, community planning, and landscape architecture), and Buildings & Facilities (multidisciplinary mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering) — delivering planning, design, inspection, and construction support across Pennsylvania and adjacent states. Its technology stack is centered on conventional civil/structural engineering workflows augmented by an in-house drone-based small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) capability for NBIS bridge inspections, which uses top and bottom mounted gimbals with high-powered cameras to document deck, superstructure, and substructure conditions without rigging, maintenance-and-protection-of-traffic, or railroad flagging.

The firm generates revenue through fee-based professional services contracts, including open-end agreements with PennDOT district offices and the City of Pittsburgh, project-specific awards from the PA Turnpike Commission and FHWA, design-build partnerships with construction firms (notably Golden Triangle Construction), and negotiated private developer engagements (e.g., MSA, Westinghouse, Bayer, Modern Living Solutions). Customer concentration leans heavily on Pennsylvania public-sector transportation and municipal clients, supplemented by long-tenured private enterprise retainers — most notably the 25+ year engineer/landscape architect of record relationship with Mine Safety Appliances at the 326-acre Cranberry Woods campus. Pricing is project-specific and procured via competitive RFPs for public work or negotiated for private clients, with no published rate cards or price tiers.

Mackin employs 101-250 people across three offices (Pittsburgh HQ, Camp Hill/Harrisburg, and North Lima, Ohio) and reported over 1,000 highway/roadway projects and 200+ bridges per NBIS inspection cycle in disclosed case studies. The firm is privately held with no institutional investors, no public listing, and no disclosed M&A activity; Zach Olawski assumed the CEO role in 2023 following Dean Mackin's retirement, marking the first transition outside the founding family. Notable technical differentiators include the first modern roundabout in Western Pennsylvania, the first Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI) in the state, a custom Flexible Pier-Foundation System, and an FRP deck panel trail bridge design — collectively reflecting 60+ years of accumulated specialized engineering talent rather than proprietary technology platforms.

Name

Mackin Engineering Company

Legal name

The Mackin Engineering Company

Website

https://mackinengineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Mackin Engineering Company is a family-owned, multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm founded in 1960, delivering civil, structural, highway, traffic, landscape architecture, planning, and drone-based bridge inspection services to PennDOT, PA Turnpike Commission, municipalities, and private developers across Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Engineering Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE)

Keywords

• Civil engineering services
• Bridge inspection services
• Highway engineering design
• Landscape architecture planning
• Traffic engineering consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Engineering & Consulting Professional Services: Mackin generates revenue primarily through fee-based professional services contracts for planning, design, inspection, and construction management. Work is delivered via open-end contracts with agencies (e.g., City of Pittsburgh), district-level PennDOT agreements, PA Turnpike Commission assignments, design-build partnerships (with Golden Triangle Construction), and direct private developer engagements (e.g., MSA, Modern Living Solutions). Engagement structures include one-time project fees, multi-year open-end/master contracts, and construction inspection/management retainers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mackin Engineering Company is a multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm that delivers planning, design, inspection, and construction management services across transportation infrastructure, land development, and buildings and facilities. Its services span structural inspection (including drone-based NBIS bridge inspection), structural and highway engineering, traffic engineering, construction inspection and management, civil/site engineering, community planning, landscape architecture, and multidisciplinary mechanical/electrical/structural facility engineering for public agencies and private clients.

Product overview

Mackin Engineering is a family-owned, multi-disciplinary engineering and consulting firm (not a single unified software product or SaaS platform). Its service portfolio is organized into three operating divisions: Transportation (Structural Inspection, Structural Engineering Design, Highway Engineering, Traffic Engineering, and Construction Services), Land Development (Civil Engineering, Community Planning, and Landscape Architecture), and Buildings & Facilities (multidisciplinary mechanical, electrical, structural, and fall protection engineering). Together these divisional service lines form a coordinated practice that delivers planning, design, inspection, and construction support across transportation, land development, and facilities projects primarily in Pennsylvania and the surrounding region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Structural Inspection NBIS bridge inspection services for state and local bridges, including periodic and in-depth inspections of major structures, river crossings, and tunnels, with in-house drone-based sUAS visual inspection capability. Intended for state DOTs, county, and municipal clients.
• Structural Engineering Design Structural design for new bridges, bridge replacements, bridge rehabilitations, and historic bridge preservation for transportation projects. For state DOT, turnpike authority, county, and municipal clients.
• Highway Engineering Highway and roadway engineering including corridor alignment studies, new roadway design, widening/reconstruction, intersection and interchange design, ADA ramp design, drainage, and PennDOT permit plans. For state DOT, turnpike authority, and municipal clients.
• Traffic Engineering Traffic engineering services including traffic signal design and permitting, signing and pavement marking plans, bike lane and protected intersection design, transportation impact studies, traffic calming, and safety studies. For municipal, county, and state agency clients.
• Construction Services (Inspection & Management) On-site construction management and inspection including constructability reviews, documentation of quantities and project activities, project schedule reviews, and inspection of various types of construction operations. For state DOT, turnpike authority, county, and municipal clients.
• Civil Engineering (Land Development) Site/civil engineering services for municipalities, multi-use subdivisions, corporate office parks, industrial complexes, retail centers, recreation facilities, and educational campuses. Includes site development, highway occupancy permitting, utility coordination, NPDES permitting, and municipal review services. For municipalities, private developers, and corporate real estate clients.
• Community Planning Comprehensive plans, multi-municipal plans, zoning and SALDO ordinance updates, corridor studies, neighborhood and site redevelopment, and community engagement initiatives. For counties, municipalities, redevelopment authorities, and community alliances.
• Landscape Architecture Landscape architecture covering master site planning and design, site development, streetscape projects, multi-modal planning and design, trail design, land development approvals and permitting, park-recreation planning and design, and NPDES permitting. For public agencies, private developers, and corporate clients.
• Buildings & Facilities Engineering

Quantifiable outcome

• Modern roundabout design reduces fuel usage by approximately 30%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Golden Triangle Construction CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing design-build partner with Mackin on multiple transportation projects. Performed the Baldridge Bridge Replacement over Loyalhanna Creek (Design/Build) and the I-70/I-79 South Junction Ramp G-3 Tunnel project where Golden Triangle initiated the alternative box culvert design. Mackin provided engineering while Golden Triangle provided construction, with PennDOT and FHWA coordination.
• Sofis Rigging CompanyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMackin and Sofis Rigging Company worked together to inspect the Leechburg Bridge in Westmoreland County, PA, as part of the PennDOT District 12-0 bridge inspections over Norfolk Southern Railway contract. Sofis provided inspection crane (Aspen A-62T) and 80' JLG while Mackin provided engineering inspection services.
• McCollom Design StrategiesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSubconsultant to Mackin on the Titusville Trail Town Master Plan, contributing the business and marketing plan elements of the planning process.
• EG&GminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJoint team with Mackin, hired by the City of Orrville to update their Comprehensive Plan in 2011. EG&G complemented Mackin's planning capabilities to deliver the multi-disciplinary update.
• Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor client-partner relationship since at least the 1970s (Jacob's Creek Climbing Lane Widening MP 80-87). Mackin has been awarded numerous projects including PTC Mainline Widening, PTC bridges NB 237 and 238, the Mon/Fayette Transportation Project Uniontown to Brownsville segment, and Mainline Widening MP 49-53.
• PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) - multiple districtsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing client-partner relationship across District 1-0, 8-0, 9-0, 11-0, and 12-0. Recent awards include NBIS inspection of 50 major state bridges in District 11-0 (2012-2017), ongoing NBIS inspections for over 200 local bridges in Lancaster County (District 8-0), and construction inspection contracts.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Michael Baker International: Pittsburgh-headquartered, Pennsylvania-anchored multi-disciplinary engineering firm with transportation, civil, and bridge inspection practices. Direct competitor in PennDOT, PA Turnpike, and Mid-Atlantic public infrastructure pursuits.
• GAI Consultants: Pittsburgh-based engineering and environmental consulting firm with comparable civil, structural, transportation, and planning practices. Head-to-head competitor for PennDOT district, county, and private development work in Western PA.
• Herbert, Rowland & Grubic (HRG): Pennsylvania-based multi-disciplinary engineering firm with comparable civil, structural, transportation, water, and planning services; competes directly for municipal, county, and PennDOT work across the state.
• Pennoni Associates: Pennsylvania-headquartered multi-disciplinary engineering firm offering civil, structural, transportation, and planning services with strong PennDOT and municipal client base across the Mid-Atlantic.
• Larson Design Group: Williamsport, PA-headquartered engineering, planning, and surveying firm with similar transportation, land development, and construction inspection practices; competes for PennDOT district work and private site development across PA.

Broad incumbents

• Stantec: International engineering, architecture, and environmental services firm with Pennsylvania offices; competes in transportation, community development, and water/wastewater engineering adjacent to Mackin's core markets.
• WSP USA: Global engineering and professional services platform with large Pennsylvania presence through its WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff legacy. Competes for the largest PennDOT and PA Turnpike mega-projects with broader bench and global resources.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with a large transportation practice in the Mid-Atlantic. Competes for large PennDOT design, inspection, and program management contracts where scale and full-service capabilities are required.
• Jacobs Solutions: Global engineering and program management firm with active Pennsylvania transportation practice. Competes for PennDOT, PA Turnpike, and large municipal program management contracts that exceed Mackin's scale.

Regional players

• Whitman, Requardt & Associates (WRA): Mid-Atlantic engineering firm with comparable transportation, bridge, and site development practices. Operates in adjacent geography (Maryland, Virginia) and occasionally competes with Mackin on regional corridor and trail projects.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mackin Engineering Company