Build Your Robotics Career - Explore The Country As A Robotics Field Service Engineer Or Technician
Formic
Chicago
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.
Ready for a new adventure? Build your career at the forefront of robotics and industrial automation while exploring the country! Bring your technical skills, curiosity, and sense of adventure. We'll bring the robots, the challenges, and the opportunity to explore somewhere new.
As Formic's customer base and robot fleet expand nationwide, we're looking for talented, adventurous Robotics Field Service Engineers (FSEs) and Field Service Technicians (FSTs) who are excited to go wherever opportunity takes them. We'll help you relocate to a market where your skills are needed, with the possibility of moving again as our fleet grows and new opportunities emerge. Whether you're an experienced technician ready for bigger challenges or an accomplished engineer looking for your next chapter, you'll work with cutting-edge robotics, solve meaningful technical problems, and help transform manufacturing across America.
Apply today to join our nationwide Field Service talent pipeline and be considered for opportunities as they open across the country. Your next adventure might be somewhere you've never been!
About the team: The Fleet Operations Team drives uptime and operational performance across Formic’s growing fleet of deployed robotic systems. Working inside live manufacturing environments, the team diagnoses issues, restores production, and continuously improves system reliability at scale. Fleet Operations operates at the intersection of robotics, controls, and real-world factory execution, ensuring Formic’s automation delivers consistent, measurable performance across diverse industrial applications.
About the role: As a Robotics Field Service Technician, you are a hands-on member of Formic’s Fleet Operations Team. Working closely with Engineering and senior field staff, you will execute preventive maintenance, carry out directed corrective repairs, and represent Formic directly within customer facilities in your assigned region / territory.
This is a hands-on, safety-focused role in uptime-critical environments. Success requires disciplined execution of established procedures, calm work during production interruptions, and clear documentation. Your work directly supports fleet performance, customer satisfaction, and long-term system reliability.
In this role, you will:
- Perform preventive and corrective maintenance on industrial robotic systems and automated manufacturing cells
- Troubleshoot and resolve mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, PLC, and robotic control system issues, independently or with support depending on technical complexity and experience
- Respond to customer service calls, diagnose production interruptions, and restore equipment to reliable operation
- Work hands-on with industrial robots, sensors, motors, drives, conveyors, and other automation equipment
- Diagnose robotic faults, perform system recovery, and support programming, configuration, and controls troubleshooting as appropriate to your expertise
- Monitor fleet performance, identify anomalies, and proactively address reliability concerns
- Investigate recurring failures, participate in root cause analysis, and implement or recommend corrective actions
- Collaborate with Engineering, senior field personnel, and other cross-functional teams to resolve technical challenges and improve system performance
- Document service activity, troubleshooting findings, repairs, and spare parts requirements using maintenance management systems
- Provide technical guidance and hands-on support to customer operators and maintenance personnel
- Build strong, trusted relationships with plant managers, maintenance teams, and customer stakeholders
- Follow rigorous industrial safety standards, including lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that increase equipment uptime, reliability, and service efficiency
- Continue developing your technical expertise across robotics, industrial controls, networking, and automation systems
- Travel throughout your assigned region, and support other markets as needed
What makes you a great fit:
- 2+ years of hands-on experience in industrial maintenance, field service, robotics, or automated manufacturing, with more extensive experience and independent troubleshooting capabilities expected for Field Service Engineer opportunities
- Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude, with practical experience diagnosing and repairing industrial equipment
- Experience troubleshooting electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, PLC, or robotic control systems
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation
- Experience performing preventive maintenance, corrective repairs, and structured troubleshooting
- Familiarity with industrial automation components such as sensors, motors, drives, safety circuits, and control systems
- Ability to independently diagnose complex equipment failures and perform root cause analysis for more advanced engineering-level opportunities
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including clear technical documentation and customer interaction
- Commitment to safety, disciplined execution, and working effectively in active manufacturing environments
- Resourcefulness, adaptability, and the ability to work independently while knowing when to collaborate or escalate
- Willingness to relocate anywhere within the United States
- Comfort with regional travel up to 80% and overnight travel up to 50%
- Genuine enthusiasm for learning, exploring new places, and building a long-term career in robotics and automation
Bonus points if you have:
- Hands-on experience with industrial robots from FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa, ABB, or Universal Robots
- PLC programming or advanced troubleshooting experience, particularly with Allen-Bradley or Siemens
- Experience with industrial networks, HMIs, VFDs, robotic safety systems, or industrial communication protocols
- Familiarity with palletizing, case packing, pick-and-place, machine tending, or conveyor systems
- Experience in food, beverage, packaging, CPG, or other high-speed manufacturing environments
- Experience using CMMS platforms to track maintenance activity, repairs, and equipment history
- Prior customer-facing field service experience
- Spanish language proficiency
- Openness to relocate to future relocations as Formic's fleet and customer base grow
Our Total Rewards:
At Formic, we believe people do their best work when they feel supported both professionally and personally. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits and perks package for full-time, U.S.-based team members, including:
- Equity in Formic: Participate in our stock option program and share in the success of a fast-growing start-up backed by leading global investors
- Competitive & Uncapped Commission Structure: Designed to reward performance and impact in commission-eligible roles
- Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield and Unum, with 99% of employee premiums covered and 75% coverage for dependents, with optional buy-up plans available
- Additional Insurance Benefits: FSA and DCFSA, life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability through Unum, all 100% employer-paid
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Fully funded by Formic, offering support when you need it most
- Paid Parental Leave Program: Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave
- Company-sponsored 401(k): Invest in your future with our company-facilitated retirement savings plan
- Home Office Stipend: A one-time allowance for fully remote and hybrid employees to support an at-home or on-the-road work setup
- Monthly Cell Phone Reimbursement: Monthly stipend toward personal phone and internet expenses
- Paid Time Off: Take the time you need, when you need it. 15 days of paid time off, in addition to company holidays
Compensation Philosophy
Formic’s pay and equity packages are thoughtfully benchmarked against peer companies at a similar growth stage. Equity represents a meaningful part of our mutual investment: when Formic succeeds, so do you.
This role is paid hourly with a posted range of $25–$32 per hour. Based on the nature of field service work - which consistently runs approximately 50+ hours per week including travel, site activity, and documentation - total annualized earnings typically range from $71,500 - $91,520, depending on experience, hourly rate, and actual hours worked. Overtime is paid in accordance with applicable federal and state law for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
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 Employment:
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.
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