Robotics Field Service Engineer

formic | Robotics and industrial automation

2h 5m ago

On-site

Full Time

United States of America

$29 - $44 USD/hr

Title: Robotics Field Service Engineer Location: Chicago, IL || Bolingbrook, IL

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.

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 Engineer, you are the front line of technical ownership across Formic’s deployed robotic cells. You will diagnose failures, restore systems to production, perform preventative and corrective maintenance, and represent Formic directly within customer facilities.

This is a hands-on, high-accountability role in uptime-critical environments. Success requires strong troubleshooting discipline, calm execution during production interruptions, and structured documentation. Your work directly impacts fleet performance, customer satisfaction, and long-term system reliability.

In this role you will:

Perform preventative, corrective, and predictive maintenance on robotic manufacturing cells
Respond to remote and on-site escalations, diagnose root causes, and restore systems quickly
Provide hands-on technical support to customer operators and maintenance teams
Log service activity, asset updates, and spare part requirements in CMMS systems
Coordinate field scheduling and support with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders
Monitor system performance remotely using Formic dashboards and fleet tools
Document service work, root cause analysis, and follow-up actions with clarity and precision
Identify recurring failure patterns and escalate systemic risks for broader improvement
Build professional, trusted relationships with plant managers and site personnel
Operate with strict adherence to safety standards, including LOTO and industrial compliance
Participate in RCA sessions, audits, and continuous improvement initiatives
Continuously expand technical depth across robotics, controls, networking, and industrial systems

What makes you a great fit:

3+ years of hands-on field service experience supporting robotic or industrial automation systems
Strong troubleshooting skills across electrical, mechanical, PLC, or robotic control systems
Ability to read electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and pneumatic drawings
Experience using CMMS platforms to track and report maintenance activity
Comfortable with local travel up to 80% and overnight travel up to 50%
Clear written and verbal communicator capable of producing structured service documentation
Demonstrated commitment to safety and disciplined field execution

Bonus points if you have:

Experience with 6-axis robot brands such as Fanuc, KUKA, Yaskawa, ABB, or Universal Robots
Familiarity with palletizing, case packing, pick-and-place, or conveyor systems
Experience in food, beverage, packaging, CPG, or other high-speed manufacturing environments
Prior customer-facing field experience
Spanish language proficiency

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 $29–$44 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 $83,000 - $126,000, 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.

Hourly Rate:

$29—$44 USD

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:

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.

Required Skills

networking

Required Languages

🇬🇧 English