Robotics Deployment Project Manager

Who We Are:

Formic is on a mission to reshape American manufacturing by making automation accessible to every factory. As labor constraints rise, costs increase, and global competition intensifies, automation is no longer optional for manufacturers that want to stay competitive.

We deliver automation through a Robotics-as-a-Service model that combines industrial robotics, proprietary software, and full-service support into a single, integrated solution. By removing the traditional barriers of cost, complexity, and risk, we enable manufacturers to deploy automation quickly and realize measurable gains in throughput, safety, and operational efficiency without large upfront capital investment.

Backed by leading investors including Lux Capital, Initialized Capital, Blackhorn Ventures, and Mitsubishi HC Capital North America, Formic is scaling rapidly and building the foundation for a new era of high-performance, Made in America production.

The Automation Engineering Team is responsible for managing the deployment of robotics-centric automation solutions in a variety of different applications at customer sites. The ideal candidate for Robotic Deployment Project Management position is detail-oriented and has a successful track record of managing the deployment of robotic automation projects for a variety of discrete manufacturing requirements. They will strategically lead deployment projects–partnering with customers, engineering teams, and suppliers–while overseeing third party robotics integrators who perform much of the hands-on implementation work.

In this role you will:

• Strategically plan and manage robotics-centric automation solutions for a variety of different clients and applications, overseeing all aspects of deployment
• Support defining project scopes, gathering project requirements, and validating proposals in cooperation with Formic Applications/Solutions Engineers and third party robotics system integrators
• Develop and track project plans and monitor progress to ensure deadlines, standards, and cost targets are met
• Facilitate the resolution of issues that surface in the deployment process
• Play an active role in building, standardizing, and refining our internal processes and operations. This is a great opportunity to leverage your own experience and knowledge–as well as your learnings here at Formic–to make an impact by shaping our Deployment/Project Management function as we grow

What makes you a great fit:

• 5+ years of project management experience in technically complex manufacturing environments
• 3+ years of prior automation/robotics experience
• Automation experience, including end-of-line automation, robotic palletizing, de-palletizing, and/or case-packing is preferred, though not required
• Experience working with industrial robots and/or cobots including Fanuc, Kuka, Yaskawa, ABB, or Universal Robots
• Experience working with or for an industrial robotics System Integrator
• Strong communication skills (both written and spoken) and ability to influence
• Ability to skillfully manage a diverse set of team members and stakeholders
• Hunger to learn, grow, and make an impact in a fast-paced environment
• Action-oriented with strong problem-solving skills
• Willingness to travel up to 35-40% of time in this position
  • For any local travel, as needed: Valid driver's license and a reliable vehicle 
• You’re located in - or open to relocate to - either the greater Chicago, IL area and work occasionally, as needed, in our Woodridge, IL office

What we look for: 

We’re building this company from the ground up, and every person we hire has an outsized impact on our culture, performance, and trajectory. While each team member brings unique strengths and perspectives, we look for people who align with our Operating Principles and embody them in action. If this sounds like you, Formic may be the right place for you!

• Fearless Optimism: You make bold bets and default optimistic. You believe in the mission, aren’t paralyzed by risk, and fear inaction more than failure. You see ambiguity as opportunity and bring energy to building what doesn’t yet exist.
• Create the Magic: You absorb complexity so customers don’t have to. Whether your customer is external or internal, you focus on delivering experiences that are clear, fast, value-added, and outcome-driven. You don’t say “not my job.” You make things work. 
• Today, Not Tomorrow: You have a bias to action. You close the loop. You take extreme ownership. You understand that speed compounds, and you don’t confuse activity with results.
• Seek Truth: You think from first principles. You value data over ego and strong opinions loosely held. You’re willing to challenge assumptions, including your own, in pursuit of the best answer.
• Made of Rubber: You are resolute and adaptable. When things break or priorities shift, you rebound stronger. You treat setbacks as learning moments and move forward with grit.
• One Formic: You operate without silos. You practice radical helpfulness, document clearly, and make clean handoffs. You assume positive intent and prioritize team success over individual credit.

Equal Opportunity

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.

AI Use

At Formic, fairness and transparency are at the heart of our hiring process. We use AI-powered tools in some interviews to help our teams evaluate candidate responses, but all final hiring decisions are made by humans. You can learn more about how AI is used in our recruitment process by reviewing our AI Hiring Disclosure linked here.