Program Manager, Production Optimization

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 Pay-for-Productivity robotics solutions combine the best automation technology, tools, and uptime services for manufacturers, paving the way for a new era of supercharged efficiency and competitiveness.

As the world faces growing pressure from rising costs and labor shortages, Formic is a uniquely powerful tool in overcoming these challenges. Fueled by our vision for a resurged "Made in America," we're growing fast - achieving 70% quarterly growth in customer count and ARR, with ~30% of our customers having already deployed multiple systems.

Supporting us in our mission, with investments thus far totaling over $60 million, are backers including Blackhorn Ventures, Mitsubishi HC Capital America, NEC, Lorimer Ventures, Translink Capital, Alumni Ventures, FJ Labs, Lux Capital, Initialized Capital and founders of multiple Fortune 50 companies.

About the Production Optimization Team:

As a Program Manager, Production Optimization at Formic, you will lead the execution of key technical initiatives that drive operational efficiency; streamline system integrations; and enhance the customer, field service, and technician experience. You will standardize critical workflows and processes such as spare parts, inventory, work processes, backups, continuous improvement efforts, customer outreach, and develop scalable automation solutions that improve monitoring, analytics, and internal communication across our organization.

This is a highly collaborative role, working cross-functionally with Customer Success, Deployment, Field Services, and Engineering teams to align business objectives with technical execution. You will also be responsible for developing technician training programs, managing work order automation, and ensuring seamless data flow between systems like Slack, Salesforce, and CMMS (MaintainX).

This role is highly strategic and execution-focused, ensuring that Formic's internal operations are efficient, scalable, and seamlessly integrated across our growing fleet of automation solutions.

As the Program Manager, Production Optimization, you will:

• Drive the successful implementation of a CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) including work order automation, technician scheduling, performance tracking, automated reporting, etc.
• Optimize business workflows across Maintenance, Customer Success, and Field Service, Sustaining Engineering, to improve efficiency and scalability.
• Develop and deploy standardized processes for critical business processes.
• Integrate and automate key platforms (e.g. Slack, Salesforce, MaintainX, email) to improve real-time visibility for internal and external communication.
• Partner cross-functionally with Product Managers to optimize the customer experience with Formic's proprietary mobile app.
• Improve monitoring and analytics capabilities by aligning with Formic's Product Intelligence team to bridge the gap between proposed solutions and real-world performance.
• Enhance technician onboarding, training, and leveling, ensuring a scalable, structured approach to skills assessment and development.
• Work cross-functionally to establish local spare parts inventory at the technician and customer location.
• Ensure easy access to robust data backups and critical knowledge bases, including BOMs, CAD files, robot configurations, automation passwords, etc.
• Lead special projects to improve fleet-level reliability.

What makes you a great fit:

• Willing and able to work a hybrid schedule (at least 3 days/week) in our Woodridge, IL headquarters
• 5+ years of experience in technical program management, business systems engineering, or enterprise systems integration in a manufacturing, automation, logistics, or industrial environment.
• Hands-on experience with CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) platforms required (e.g. Fiix, eMaint, UpKeep, Limble… we use MaintainX)
• Ability to analyze complex business processes and develop scalable automation solutions.
• Strong knowledge of technician workflows, preventive maintenance, continuous improvement and field service operations.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional projects, balancing technical execution with strategic business priorities.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with a bias toward automation, efficiency, and scalability.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience working across technical and non-technical teams.
• Familiarity with industrial automation, robotics, PLCs, and fleet-wide maintenance strategies preferred.

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.

What We Offer:

Formic believes we do our best work when we are equipped to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. To support this Formic offers comprehensive benefits and perks for full-time US-based employees, including:

• Equity in Formic: your slice of ownership in a fast-growing Series A startup, backed by some of the best investors in the world
• 99% coverage on our base Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans (75% coverage for dependents) via Blue Cross Blue Shield and Guardian, with buy-up options, as well
• FSA & DCFSA
• Life insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-term Disability plans (covered at 100%) via Guardian
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid parental leave
• Company-sponsored 401k
• Home Office Stipend for remote and hybrid roles
• Monthly Phone/Internet Reimbursement
• Flexible time off policy and 10+ company holidays
• Opportunity to join a talented and diverse team united behind our mission to revolutionize American manufacturing

As our team grows, our benefit and perk offerings for employees based outside of the United States will vary. We are happy to discuss these options with you as part of our recruiting and interviewing process. Temporary or contract positions are not eligible for Formic employee benefits and perks, except where legally required.

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.