Robotics Controls Engineer

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.

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The Software Engineering Team builds and operates the software systems that power Formic’s Robotics-as-a-Service platform. The team develops the control, monitoring, provisioning, and data infrastructure that enables real-time visibility and performance across a growing fleet of deployed industrial robotic systems.

Engineering works across machine-level controls, edge systems, and cloud infrastructure to ensure deployments are observable, resilient, remotely diagnosable, and continuously improving  systems run in active factories every day and directly impact uptime and customer production.

As a Robotics Controls Engineer, you will design, implement, and integrate the machine-level control systems that power Formic’s robotic deployments. You will translate system requirements into robust PLC logic, robot programs, and industrial integrations that perform reliably in production environments. This is a hands‑on engineering role spanning internal system development and field deployment. Your work will directly influence system reliability, deployment quality, and long‑term fleet performance.

• Design and maintain PLC programs using Structured Text and other IEC standards
• Modify and optimize robot programs across supported industrial platforms
• Integrate sensors, conveyors, safety systems, and other industrial peripherals
• Support system bring‑up, commissioning, and on‑site troubleshooting
• Collaborate with software engineers to integrate controls with monitoring systems
• Contribute to system validation and testing protocols
• Document control architectures and maintain deployment standards
• Participate in cross‑functional engineering reviews

• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation or robotics
• Strong PLC programming experience, including Structured Text
• Experience working with 480V industrial equipment and control panels
• Field deployment and troubleshooting experience
• Familiarity with version control systems such as Git
• Exposure to Python or C++ is a plus
• Experience with multiple industrial robot OEMs and their APIs
• You are located in the greater Chicago, IL area and are able to work in person five days per week in Woodridge, IL

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…