OceanSound backs Burns Engineering to scale critical infra growth

OceanSound Partners has taken a strategic growth position in Burns Engineering, the Philadelphia-based provider of mechanical, electrical and technology systems engineering. The private equity move is aimed at accelerating Burns’ role in electrification, grid modernization and other infrastructure programmes where demand for specialist engineering is rising. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Founded in 1960, Burns Engineering serves air transport, rail, power and mission-critical facilities from a network of 13 offices with more than 360 employees. The firm is recognised in industry rankings—named a top electrical design practice and placed on the MEP Giants list—which underscores its position in the market for complex engineering work.

Management will remain heavily involved. Brothers Matthew Burns (President & CEO) and John Burns (SVP & COO) retained a significant ownership stake and will continue to run day-to-day operations. Their continued stewardship matters: operators and public-sector clients increasingly prefer vendors who combine deep technical capability with institutional continuity.

Joe Benavides, CEO and founder of OceanSound Partners, framed the investment around two structural trends: rising public and private investment into US infrastructure and a scarcity of specialised M&E engineering talent. OceanSound views Burns as a platform to scale services that enable electrification and support the rollout of digital and transportation infrastructure.

Addison Nordin, Principal at OceanSound, signalled that the firm expects to pursue both organic initiatives and targeted add-on acquisitions to broaden Burns’ geographic footprint and technical scope. That playbook mirrors other PE-led roll-ups in professional services where consolidation drives margin improvement and creates a wider national delivery capability.

Market context favours this strategy. Federal and state infrastructure programmes, along with private sector investments in data centres, higher‑education campuses and healthcare facilities, have created multi-year pipelines for electrical and mechanical design services. At the same time, sector participants report shortages of licensed engineers and project managers—an industry challenge Burns can monetise through staffing scale and M&A.

The deal was supported by legal and financial advisers on both sides. For Burns, the partnership with OceanSound Partners represents a transition from a long-standing, privately held engineering practice to a growth platform positioned to capture a larger slice of the US infrastructure market. For clients, the likely outcome is a broader set of services and deeper bench strength; for the market, it is another sign that specialised engineering firms are attractive targets for growth-oriented private equity.