Company History

Few California engineering firms can claim as long and successful a track record as MacKay & Somps. Founded in Sunnyvale, California, in 1953 by Donald G. MacKay and George E. Somps, the firm helped drive the spectacular growth which occurred in the Santa Clara Valley after World War II. Our company created more subdivision lots in the South Bay region than all other engineering consultants combined.

Don MacKay and George Somps retired many years ago, but today’s management team retains the same successful business philosophies that have made our company one of the largest and strongest private civil engineering firms in Northern California - we are dedicated to providing the highest quality service to homebuilders, land developers and public agencies. Our goal is to see that our clients’ projects get built, efficiently and successfully.

Over the decades, the firm's expertise and reputation for success helped fuel the expansion of its professional and geographic areas of practice. Click here to see a map of our Service Area.

  • The Pleasanton office was established in 1962 and today serves as the company headquarters, directing land development projects in Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa, San Benito, Santa Clara and Solano Counties.
  • The Sacramento office was originally established (in Davis) in 1975, today serving clients with projects in Sacramento, Colusa, Glenn, Sutter and Yolo Counties.
  • The Roseville Office, established in 1989, services projects in Placer, El Dorado, Yuba, Butte and Tehema Counties.
  • The Lathrop office is MacKay & Somps’ most recent addition. It was opened in 2005 to service projects in San Joaquin County and the southern part of California’s Central Valley.

Collectively these offices have successfully completed thousands of projects for clients throughout Northern California and the Central Valley. MacKay & Somps has consistently been listed among the top 250 design firms in the United States by the Engineering News Record (ENR). Well over one third of our employees are licensed professional engineers and/or surveyors.

“In the early days, it wasn't unusual for us to bring a tentative map to a city council meeting, get their comments, run it back to our office, make the change and bring it back to the council for approval that same night. That commitment and drive to get our clients projects approved and built exists here today.”

Company Founders

MackaySomps
Don MacKayGeorge Somps