An Employee-Owned Legacy Engineered for Success

Discover the proven operational model redefining civil infrastructure

 

Founded in 1969 as Delta Engineering, Parametrix has evolved into one of the most influential leaders in civil infrastructure, shaping communities across the United States.

As a 100% employee-owned firm, Parametrix operates on a profitable business model that shares its success equitably among all employees.

The firm’s leadership maintains functional transparency at all levels through regular financial reporting, leading to a well-cultivated culture of accountability.

At Parametrix, employees quite literally own their work and are consistently rewarded many times over for their contributions. The firm consistently delivers returns to its employee-owners that outpace traditional retirement plans.

As a high-performing, financially stable organization, this is just one of its many assurances for its employee-owners.

Parametrix’s growth strategy involves a calculated, gradual expansion of its presence beyond the Pacific Northwest into California, the Southwest, and Midwest.

Leadership understands that replicating its proven model in new geographies is a powerful way to secure both sustained profitability and market dominance.

To support that expansion, Parametrix is investing in high-growth sectors, namely, energy transition and data center infrastructure.

“It’s about diversification and making the overall portfolio of service offerings more stable as we continue to grow both horizontally and vertically,” says Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Roger Flint.

Meanwhile, the firm’s expertise in transportation, water, and environmental infrastructure continues to provide a steady revenue stream through large-scale, multi-agency projects.

What truly sets Parametrix apart isn’t just its financial strength or industry expertise—it’s how it ensures that its success fuels both business growth and community impact.

The firm actively engages with local educational institutions and organizations to promote STEM education and workforce development, and embraces local engagement through charity and event sponsorships.

As the firm expands into new markets and industries, the question isn’t “Will Parametrix redefine the civil infrastructure landscape?” but rather “How far will it go?”

The Expansive Influence of Employee Ownership

By 1974, Delta Engineering rebranded to Parametrix, signaling its broader ambitions in transportation, water, environmental services, and community development.

However, the most defining moment in the firm’s history came in 1992 when it transitioned to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), ensuring that every employee became a stakeholder in the company’s success.

Unlike many firms that claim employee ownership, Parametrix is 100% employee-owned, meaning every team member benefits from the company’s profitability.

“We share a portion of our profits as a percentage of base salary equally with everyone every year,” Flint explains.

This unique structure is the engine behind Parametrix’s culture of transparency, accountability, and shared success, which stands out in an industry where financial information is often restricted to senior executives.

As a result of this dynamic, Parametrix employees operate within the paradigm of ownership. They understand that individual responsibility and action lead to collective growth and benefit.

The firm’s results speak for themselves. The ESOP structure fosters a culture of accountability and translates into tangible financial benefits.

“We’ve consistently provided returns to our employee-owners that outpace a typical retirement plan,” Flint highlights, contrasting this with the more modest returns typically associated with 401(k) plans. While Parametrix does offer a 401(k), its primary focus remains on growing employee equity through the ESOP.

Regionally, Parametrix has focused its presence in the Western U.S., with offices in the Pacific Northwest,California, the Southwest, and more recent expansion to the Midwest.

While the firm’s roots are in Washington, it has a long history in Oregon, Idaho, and New Mexico, with more recent expansion to California, Nevada, Utah, and Illinois, paving the way for increased national influence.

Parametrix’s expertise spans multiple sectors, including transportation, water, and environmental services, with specialty expertise in construction management, advisory services, and oversight.

In this case, oversight is the operative word, as the firm’s leadership practices are a large part of its operational excellence.

Managing the kinds of large-scale infrastructure projects the firm takes on require a sophisticated approach to project oversight and coordination.

So, Parametrix implements rigorous best practices, combining traditional project management methodologies with modern technologies to ensure efficiency.

“When you get into larger program management, additional skill sets are required beyond traditional project management,” Flint says, emphasizing the firm’s focus on earned value management and active collaboration with clients and stakeholders.

“We always communicate that with our partners and clients and use  tools like the P6 Scheduling software to help keep track of the myriads of construction projects that we have going on, especially on these larger projects where more than one thing occurs simultaneously and lots of different teams work together,” Flint states.

This allows the firm to oversee simultaneous, multifaceted projects without compromising quality. When combined with the collective employee-ownership mentality, these practices have solidified Parametrix as one of the top-performing firms in the industry.

“We work hard to ensure we’ve got people with good communication skills. That’s everything from active listening to being clear and concise in how you communicate information to the team. These are simple things, but they’re often missing and can cause a project to get off track fairly quickly,” Flint notes.

To reinforce those highly valued skills, Parametrix’s employee-owners also benefit from an internal training program that ensures project managers at all levels receive continuous professional development, from entry-level training to advanced leadership workshops.

Prominent Projects by Parametrix

If there’s anything that showcases Parametrix’s capability to handle large-scale infrastructure improvements, it’s certainly the firm’s impressive lineup of major projects.

Among these is the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, a multi-billion-dollar initiative connecting Washington and Oregon via the Columbia River.

“Our Interstate bridge was originally built in 1917 and seismically needs to be replaced, and so as part of that, we’re 50/50 partners with WSP, a large international engineering firm… That project basically consists of the bridge itself and the addition of light rail transit that’ll go from Portland over to Vancouver, Washington. Then, 28 additional projects will be improved as part of the overall corridor. It’s a multi-billion dollar program or so at the moment,” Flint explains, marking the bridge as a “critical lifeline” that needs to be prioritized.

The firm is also leading significant environmental and wastewater initiatives, such as the Mouth of Duwamish Project in King County.

“It’s part of their wet weather program and basically deals with the treatment facilities for all their outfalls and their conveyance as part of their combined sewer overflow system. And so we’re acting as their project management office,” Flint says.

Acting as the program management office, Parametrix oversees regulatory compliance, long-term sustainability efforts, and construction performed by other partnering firms.

“Right now, we also have Kennedy Jenks, TY Lin, Tetra Tech, Stantec, and  around 20 plus other subs that are supporting that work activity as part of our team,” Flint clarifies.

Lastly, at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Parametrix’s collaboration with Jacobs Project Management Group has played a pivotal role in managing concourse renovations, baggage claim revamps, and terminal improvements.

Their leadership in construction oversight guarantees seamless project execution while maintaining strict safety and efficiency standards.

While these projects emphasize the firm’s project capabilities, they further illustrate the firm’s commitment to community engagement and corporate responsibility.

Parametrix’s commitment to the communities it serves extends beyond infrastructure projects.

The firm also actively engages with local educational institutions and organizations to promote STEM education and workforce development.

“We participate in mentorship programs, sponsor community initiatives, and invest in local events that matter to the people where we operate,” Flint shares.

In Seattle, the firm supports the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, which helps students explore careers in high-demand fields such as engineering and infrastructure.

The company also embraces local engagement through event sponsorships. A prime example is its involvement in Spokane’s annual three-on-three basketball tournament, the largest of its kind in the world.

“We sponsor a court, not just for visibility, but because we care about what the community cares about,” Flint says.

This emphasis on local engagement reinforces Parametrix’s brand as more than just an infrastructure firm—it is a community partner that genuinely invests in the places where it works.

Creating a Future of Regional Brand Growth

As Parametrix looks ahead, strategic geographic expansion remains a top priority.

“We’re focused on extending our presence beyond the Pacific Northwest into the Midwest and Southwest,” Flint states, noting that the firm’s goal is to replicate its success in new markets while maintaining the high-quality services it’s known for.

The firm is also actively exploring opportunities in emerging sectors such as energy transition and data center infrastructure. While Parametrix does not build the data centers themselves, it specializes in the transportation and utility infrastructure needed to support them.

This diversification strategy stabilizes the company’s business model and ensures resilience against industry fluctuations. If one sector experiences a downturn, the firm knows that it has business opportunities in other sectors.

Additionally, by expanding both horizontally and vertically, Parametrix is protecting its operation and creating more stability and long-term value for its employee-owners.

A strategy like this is just one of the many reasons why Seattle Business Magazine recently ranked Parametrix among the top three best companies to work for in Washington State based on employee feedback and workplace satisfaction.

“We’ve consistently ranked in the top ten for several years,” Flint says proudly. “It’s a testament to our commitment to our people.”

The firm’s foundation is built on employee ownership, operational excellence, and community engagement, so Parametrix is well-positioned for continued growth.

Its expansion into new markets, commitment to innovation, and investment in people set it apart as a leader in civil infrastructure.

As the firm scales its operations and explores new opportunities, one thing remains constant: its dedication to fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, and long-term impact.

Parametrix isn’t just building infrastructure—it’s building itself up as a community and regional pillar that will last generations.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Parametrix

What: A 100% employee-owned civil infrastructure consulting firm that delivers sustainable infrastructure solutions across the United States, managing complex, multi-agency projects in transportation, water, environmental services, and construction oversight

Where: Parametrix operates throughout the U.S., with offices in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Illinois.

Website: www.parametrix.com