Product Lead – Formic Cortex

Job Description

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. As the Product Lead for Formic Cortex, you will build the intelligence layer that transforms frontline operational expertise into scalable processes, software, automation, and AI systems.

Your work will redefine how Formic deploys, maintains, and scales systems by converting manual workflows with automated, repeatable, and elegant improvements. You’ll embed with various teams – including Deployment, Solutions, and Production Optimization – to capture their decision logic, map their processes, uncover bottlenecks, and translate real-world operations into intelligent systems that drive productivity and reliability. Over time, you’ll shape the engine that automates site evaluation, robot configuration, simulation, validation, and fleet management.

This role is cross-functional, experimental, and entrepreneurial—ideal for someone eager to move fast, test bold ideas, and push the limits of what robotics, automation, and AI can achieve in a rapidly scaling environment. In this role you will:Translate real-world decision criteria into structured logic, requirements, and clear system definitionsDefine the architecture and constraints for tools that ensure consistent execution across operational teamsSet measurable targets for improvements and verify that delivered systems achieve those outcomesCreate internal products that increase accuracy, speed, and reliability across deployment and support activitiesDesign user flows, interfaces, and data models that streamline complex technical workPartner with engineering to deliver features aligned with technical feasibility and operational prioritiesBuild mechanisms that validate system performance and confirm readiness before field deploymentIntroduce monitoring and diagnostic capabilities that surface early issues and inform timely actionSupport the development of structured playbooks and reference frameworks that raise organizational consistencyImprove data pathways and integrations to enhance the flow of information between teams and systemsAlign stakeholders around requirements, tradeoffs, and timelines for key initiativesManage initiative-level planning to move projects from concept to delivery with clarity and momentumEvaluate emerging technologies and assess their fit for internal operational needsDrive adoption of new tools through training, rollout planning, and continuous feedback loopsWhat makes you a great fit:4+ years of experience in product management, technical program management, robotics deployment, automation engineering, or building operational toolingStrong systems thinking skills with the ability to deconstruct complex workflows and translate them into structured logic, requirements, and scalable productsProven ability to work with technical subject-matter experts (engineers, technicians, operators) and convert expertise into repeatable tools, processes, and system logicExperience with AI, automation, or simulation technologies, or demonstrated ability to learn emerging technologies quicklyFamiliarity with manufacturing, industrial automation, robotics integration, or field-based deployment environments—or experience building products that support these environmentsComfort operating in 0→1 or high-ambiguity environments, making clear decisions with incomplete informationStrong collaboration and communication skills, especially when aligning diverse teams around requirements, tradeoffs, and technical constraintsExperience working closely with engineering teams, including defining requirements, scoping technical work, and managing iterative development cycles. Ability to run experiments, validate concepts, and iterate rapidly using data, user insights, and fast feedback loopsStrong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives, dependencies, and stakeholders simultaneouslyFamiliarity with modern product and design tools (e.

g. , Jira, Figma, Notion) and comfort creating lightweight specs, mockups, and proof-of-concept prototypesWillingness to visit customer sites, deployment environments, or manufacturing facilities as needed to understand real-world constraintsBonus points if you have:Hands-on experience deploying robotics or automation systems in real production or field environmentsExperience building internal tools or platforms that support technicians, field engineers, or operational teamsBackground in controls, industrial robotics, PLCs, or hardware-in-the-loop testingExperience applying AI/ML to physical-world problems such as predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, or configuration intelligenceFamiliarity with simulation frameworks or digital-twin environments used for validation, configuration, or virtual commissioning#LI-MB1Our Total RewardsAt 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 investorsComprehensive Healthcare Coverage: 99% covered Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans, with 75% coverage for dependents, provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield and GuardianAdditional Fully Covered Insurance Benefits: FSA & DCFSA, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability through Guardian, all 100% employer-paidEmployee Assistance Program (EAP): Fully funded by Formic and provided via Guardian, offering support when you need it mostPaid Parental Leave: Generous parental leave to support our employees and their growing familiesCompany-sponsored 401(k): Invest in your future with our company-backed retirement savings planHome Office Stipend: A one-time allowance for fully remote employees to set up your ideal at-home or on the road work environmentMonthly Cell-Phone Reimbursement: Monthly stipend toward phone and internet expensesFlexible Time-Off: Take the time you need, when you need it, supported by our flexible PTO policyPaid Company Holidays: Celebrate important dates with paid time offCompensation PhilosophyFormic’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:$135,000 – $175,000 USD

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