Robotics Field Service Manager

Who We Are:

At Formic, we’re on a mission to revolutionize American manufacturing and create more abundance in the world. We believe in continuing the American legacy of innovation by making automation accessible to all manufacturers and increasing their factory productivity by 10x. 

Supporting us in our mission, with investments thus far totaling over $60 million, are backers including Lux Capital, Initialized Capital, Blackhorn Ventures, Mitsubishi HC Capital NA, and CEOs and founders of multiple Fortune 50 companies.

The Production Optimization Team is dedicated to ensuring both customer satisfaction and the seamless operation of our robots. Together, the the various sub teams, including Customer Success and Monitoring & Maintenance, work to maximize robot performance and provide ongoing support to guarantee a smooth and efficient user experience for our customers. The Robotics Maintenance Engineers works on the forefront of robotic automation using Formic’s suite of monitoring and diagnostic capabilities to guide preventative, corrective, and predictive maintenance activities across Formic’s growing fleet of deployed robotic cells. They work with a variety of robotic equipment and OEM’s, delivering innovative and value-add automation to our manufacturing sector customers. 

The Robotics Field Service Manager is responsible for managing Formic’s team of Robotics Field Service Engineers who are located in various areas of the US, as well as overseeing all maintenance operations to ensure the efficient functioning of automated production equipment in a distributed manufacturing environment. This role involves planning, directing, and coordinating maintenance activities, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and industry standards, and managing a team of maintenance professionals. The Field Service Manager will develop and implement maintenance strategies, adhere to budgets, and collaborate with other departments to support equipment performance goals.

In this role you will:

• Schedule and assign maintenance tasks; coordinate activities to minimize downtime.
• Supervise, train, mentor, and evaluate maintenance staff, and support their development.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, aligning maintenance with operational goals
• Provide technical support in PLCs, robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing
• Develop and deliver training programs; maintain critical spare parts inventory
• Oversee and document maintenance activities using CMMS
• Troubleshoot equipment issues, manage vendor coordination for repairs
• Manage maintenance budget and identify cost-saving opportunities
• Analyze maintenance metrics and drive continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, OSHA regulations, GMPs, and SOPs
• Lead safety initiatives, audits, and enforce proper PPE usage

What makes you a great fit:

• 5+ years of industrial maintenance experience in a manufacturing environment
• 3+ years of technical experience repairing, installing, and maintaining industrial 6-axis robots
• 3+ years of supervisory or leadership experience
• Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude, including knowledge of PLCs, automation systems, electrical, mechanical, pneumatic systems and 6 axis robots
• Proficiency in using Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
• Ability to read and interpret technical documents, schematics, and equipment manuals
• Excellent leadership, communication, and team management skills
• Strong problem-solving abilities and analytical skills with the ability to gather, analyze, and interpret data
• Knowledge of OSHA regulations, GMPs, SOPs, and safety standards in a manufacturing setting
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or Google Suite and other relevant software
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to motivate and develop staff
• Ability to stand, walk, and move around the facility for extended periods
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds
• Occasionally travel (approximately 10-20% of the time) to meet with suppliers or visit employees
• Ability to work flexible schedules, including occasional weekends, nights, and on-call hours to support production outages
  • Typical start time is 7:00 AM at our local office or customer site, but schedules may vary based on employee's location as well as travel or business requirements
• Current, valid drivers license and access to your own vehicle for local travel
  • Formic provides mileage and expense reimbursement for travel-related expenses within policy
• If located in, or willing to relocate to the greater Chicago area, the ability to be in-office at our Woodridge, IL, headquarters 3 days per week

Bonus points if you have:

• Experience in food manufacturing, packaging, automotive or other high speed manufacturing environments
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, or other continuous improvement methodologies
• Project management experience, including managing capital projects and equipment installations

What we look for: 

We’re building a company from the ground up, so every single person we hire has a massive impact on our team, culture, and ability to accomplish our mission. While each individual brings their own unique skills and perspectives to Formic, we look for people who share our vision and act in alignment with our Operating Principles. If this sounds like you, Formic could be the place for you!

• Fearless Optimism: You share our ambitious vision of what we can accomplish. You’re aware of the challenges we will face as a startup doing new things in an old space, but you’re energized by the incredible opportunity we have to drive change for our customers, and for the manufacturing industry at large.
• Factories First: You have a strong customer focus, no matter who your customer is. You seek to make things easier and better for our customers, even if it makes your job a little harder. 
• Today, Not Tomorrow: There are always plenty of projects to tackle in a startup, but you prioritize, take accountability for work, and have a bias toward action.
• Be Right Often: You don’t do things just because that’s how they’ve always been done. You keep looking for ways to improve, seek out feedback along the way, and back your decisions up with data. 
• Made of Rubber: Just like rubber, when you fall you bounce back up. You know there’s going to be a lot of challenge and change in our work ahead but you are adaptable, resilient, and ready to thrive through it all.
• Good Baton Passes: You work with a desire to make things easier and better for your team members. You use empathy to understand the needs and goals of others and support each other so Formic can be successful together. 

Formic is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or religious creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, family or parental status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. All employment decisions are based on a person’s merit, business needs, and role requirements. If you require further accommodations or have questions regarding accessibility of our roles, please reach out to careers@formic.co.