Robotics Software Product Manager @ Formic

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.

Built upon deep expertise in robotics and manufacturing, our unique full service automation solutions combine the best automation technology, software, and analysis tools for manufacturers with best in class uptime, support, and maintenance services. We are creating a new era of supercharged efficiency and competitiveness for US manufacturers.

As the world faces growing pressure from tariffs, rising costs, and labor shortages, Formic is uniquely positioned as the industry leading solution to overcome these challenges. Fueled by our vision for a re-industrialized domestic supply chain, everything we do is aimed at growing “Made in America” products. And we’re growing fast - achieving 7x growth in production hours YoY.

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.

About the Software Engineering team:

The Software Engineering team helps Formic define and build the User Experience for the next generation of industrial automation robotic systems. At Formic, we are revolutionizing how these systems are built, maintained, and operated, driving our vision for industrial automation to be as easy to deploy and operate as a printer.

We are seeking a Product Manager who is unafraid to challenge the current status quo in industrial automation user experience. You will bring the latest innovations from IoT--consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and/or mobile device apps--into the manufacturing, deployment, operation, and support processes for our Robotic systems. You'll ensure the continued the safety, usability, and simplicity required in these environments.

This person will support Formic’s mission to develop industry-leading software and user experience, and will have the opportunity not only to drive current product management activities but to develop and drive roadmaps from scratch. This is a high-impact opportunity to deliver truly innovative products at the forefront of Robotics-as-a-Service.

Check out some of our recent software projects here and here to learn more about what we are working on.

As Product Manager, you will:

Define the roadmap and maintain Product backlog for suite of Formic Software products (both internal and customer-facing)
Define, validate, and communicate requirements derived from customer feedback, collaboration with Formic’s Marketing, Sales, Product & Solutions, Deployment, and Production Optimization teams, and your own career experience
Conduct studies, interviews, and focus groups to hear the voice of the customers on all levels: Operators, Engineers, Managers, Executives
Work closely with Engineers to find innovative solutions to bring required features to the products with lean and efficient engineering efforts
Work closely with UI/Ux/Cx designer to define App and HMI experience
Participate in Scrum ceremonies as Product Owner

What makes you a great fit:

3+ years of relevant experience as a User Experience-focused Product Manager
Required: Previous experience working with physical products and embedded software (e.g. consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, autonomous vehicles, automotive and electric vehicles, etc.)
Previous experience engaging with and collecting feedback from end users and operators of physical products
Preferred: software Product Management experience in Manufacturing, Industrial Automation, Food & Beverage, Packing, Production operations, or similar industries
Experience with Software Development lifecycle, Scrum process, and project management tools such as Jira
Previous experience with Figma and similar prototyping tools
Experience working in a startup or similar agile environment is highly preferred
Exceptional communication and collaboration skills
Motivation and enthusiasm to join a growing, high-impact startup team
Preferred: located in or willing to relocate to the Chicago, IL area to work from Formic's Woodridge, IL facility on a hybrid basis (3+ days/week)

Our Total Rewards

At Formic, we believe you perform your best when you're supported in caring for yourself and your loved ones. That's why we've thoughtfully designed a comprehensive benefits and perks package for our full-time, U.S.-based team members, including:

Equity in Formic: Own a meaningful stake in a fast-growing Series A startup, backed by leading global investors
Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: 99% covered Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans, with 75% coverage for dependents, provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield and Guardian
Additional Fully Covered Insurance Benefits: FSA & DCFSA, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability through Guardian, all 100% employer-paid
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Fully funded by Formic and provided via Guardian, offering support when you need it most
Paid Parental Leave: Generous parental leave to support our employees and their growing families
Company-sponsored 401(k): Invest in your future with our company-backed retirement savings plan
Home Office Stipend: A one-time allowance for fully remote employees to set up your ideal at-home or on the road work environment
Monthly Cell-Phone Reimbursement: Monthly stipend toward phone and internet expenses
Flexible Time-Off: Take the time you need, when you need it, supported by our flexible PTO policy
Paid Company Holidays: Celebrate important dates with paid time off

Compensation Philosophy

Formic’s compensation packages - including salaries and equity - are thoughtfully benchmarked against peer companies at a similar growth stage. Equity represents a critical part of our mutual investment: when Formic succeeds, so do you.

Final compensation packages are carefully customized based on candidate preference for cash and equity balance, experience, geographic location, and market considerations. Our goal is to attract and reward top talent who will significantly impact our organization. We're open to meaningful discussions about compensation structure to secure exceptional team members.

The anticipated base pay range for this position is detailed below.

Base Salary Range:

$115,000—$150,000 USD

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.

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 [email protected].

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.

Robotics Software Product Manager

Formic

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