Antenna Control Systems Engineer

Job Title: Entry Level Electrical Engineer

Job Description

The Antenna Control Systems Engineer supports the design, development, testing, and integration of control systems for advanced fullmotion ground station antennas and related equipment. In this earlycareer role, you work closely with experienced electrical, controls, mechanical, software, and systems engineers to solve realworld engineering challenges in satellite communications and precision motioncontrol systems. You gain handson experience with motion control, embedded systems, motors, servo drives, and antenna tracking systems while contributing throughout the product lifecycle, from concept and prototype through production release and field installation.

Responsibilities

• Participate in electrical requirements, functional, and performance analysis for electrical components, equipment, and systems, including timing, power, and other systemlevel considerations.
• Design and develop electrical and control systems for fullmotion ground station antennas and related equipment, including system configuration, component selection, schematic capture, layout, and integration.
• Design, integrate, and test analog and digital electronics, wiring, harnesses, and connectorization for servo and RF systems.
• Develop, tune, and troubleshoot PID control loops and embedded C applications for motioncontrol systems.
• Support the development and documentation of electrical and control system architectures using CAN bus or similar communication protocols.
• Integrate and test brushless DC motors, servo drives, encoders, and other motioncontrol components.
• Perform system modeling, simulation, testing, data analysis, and troubleshooting to evaluate system performance and identify root causes of technical issues.
• Collaborate with electrical, controls, software, mechanical, production, and test personnel to integrate and support electrical and control systems throughout the product lifecycle.
• Participate in electrical and engineering design reviews and contribute to continuous improvement of products and engineering processes.
• Review customer requirements, design proposals, specifications, manuals, and other technical information to assess requirements and determine design or application feasibility.
• Select components and equipment based on technical specifications, performance requirements, reliability, and product requirements, and evaluate vendor capabilities as needed to support product development.
• Create and maintain engineering documentation, including schematics, specifications, test procedures, and other technical documentation.
• Support engineering projects from concept through prototype, verification, production release, production support, and field installation.
• Plan assigned engineering tasks and subtasks, coordinate with multiple work groups, and communicate technical status and issues to project leaders and program stakeholders.
• Work on problems of moderate scope under general supervision and interact with external customers to support technical discussions, installations, field support, and resolution of engineering issues.
• During initial onboarding, work in the office under the guidance of Sr. engineers, focus on documentation, review manuals, and observe test technicians to learn products and systems.
• When traveling, support onsite installation, testing, troubleshooting, and customer interface activities, representing the engineering team professionally.
• Read and interpret coding and backend files sufficiently to collaborate with software engineers, understand motor controller interactions, and discuss basic programming aspects, without being responsible for full code development.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, Controls Engineering, or a related field.
• For Engineer II level: 25 years of engineering experience.
• For Engineer I level: 02 years of engineering experience; recent graduates are encouraged to apply.
• Working knowledge of electrical engineering concepts, principles, theories, and processes.
• Foundational understanding of control systems, electrical circuits, electronics, and/or embedded systems.
• Familiarity with C or embedded C programming, including the ability to read code, understand backend files, and edit configurations to collaborate effectively with software engineers.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and engineering drawings.
• Basic understanding of motors, servo systems, sensors, and feedback control.
• Familiarity with CAN bus or other communication protocols; CAN bus and CANopen experience is a strong plus.
• Strong analytical and problemsolving skills with the ability to troubleshoot technical issues methodically.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documentation, design reviews, and customer interactions.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, learn new technologies quickly, and work effectively under the direction of Sr. engineers.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally, typically 2540% of the year, for multiweek field installations and support.
• Strong interpersonal and soft skills, including an outgoing and professional demeanor, the ability to interface with customers, and sound judgment about what to communicate in customer settings.

Skills to Give you a Leg-up

• Handson experience through academic projects, internships, coops, robotics, laboratory work, or personal projects involving motors, controls, embedded systems, electronics, or automation.
• Experience with engineering software, simulation tools, or laboratory test equipment gained through coursework or project work.
• Exposure to brushless DC motors, servo drives, PID control, motion control, or antenna tracking systems.
• Familiarity with CAN bus, CANopen, or similar communication protocols beyond basic coursework.
• Previous experience with direct and analog circuitry; ability to work primarily with digital systems while understanding supporting analog circuits.
• Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is preferred for more advanced responsibilities and growth potential.
• Internship experience in a relevant engineering environment is a significant plus.
• Ability to stand up in formal design reviews (such as CDR or PDR), explain system architecture and design decisions, and present documentation confidently.
• Comfort representing the engineering organization to customers in the field and contributing to a positive customer experience.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate across multiple projects and adapt to changing priorities in a fastpaced environment.

Work Environment

You work in a dynamic engineering environment focused on advanced ground station antenna systems that serve commercial and government customers, including traditional ground station applications such as satellite television and OEM solutions for commercial and defense markets. During the first approximately 90 days, you spend most of your time in the office, working directly under Sr. engineers, creating and reviewing documentation, reading manuals, and observing test technicians on the floor to understand how systems are tested and integrated. The team includes experienced engineers and technicians who provide guidance and mentorship while you come up to speed on products, systems, and processes. The majority of the technical work involves digital electronics and control systems, with some exposure to analog circuitry as needed. You support multiple projects simultaneously, contributing to system design, lab testing, and field deployments. Travel is a regular part of the role, with domestic and international trips typically ranging from about 2 to 6 weeks at a time, and overall travel expectations around 2540% per year. When traveling, you can expect long workdays, often around 10 hours per day and up to 6 days per week, as you support installations, testing, troubleshooting, and customer interactions on site. The culture values collaboration, continuous learning, and the energy of earlycareer engineers who bring new ideas and enthusiasm to the team. You work closely with Sr. engineers who help you select components, refine designs, prepare documentation, and present systems in formal reviews. The environment emphasizes strong soft skills, professional customer interface, and the ability to represent the engineering team confidently in the field, while maintaining a respectful and inclusive atmosphere. Typical engineering office and lab attire is appropriate, with any specific requirements for field work or customer sites communicated in advance.

This is a Permanent position based out of Plano, TX.

The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $80000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

CPI offers Personal Time Off (PTO) starting at 18 days per year. Accruals begin on your first day of employment and you will achieve the full accruals after one year of service. In addition, CPI provides 8 paid holidays, and up to 2 paid floating holidays depending on your start date. Based upon your start date, you will receive 2 floating holidays for the remainder of this calendar year. Eligibility for 401(k) participation is immediate. Company matching contributions become available after one year of employment based upon CPI company guidelines. Additional information on benefits will be provided during your onboarding experience.

This is a Permanent position based out of Plano, TX.

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 11, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in Plano,TX.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.