Head of Robotics Field Service
Offer summary
Qualifications:
10+ years of experience in field service or maintenance, ideally in automation, robotics, or industrial systems., 5+ years of experience in a people management position, leading direct reports., Technically fluent in robotic and automation platforms; comfortable interpreting schematics and engaging on troubleshooting topics., Strong organizational and communication skills, with experience in CMMS and workforce routing tools..Key responsibilities:
- Lead, manage, and develop a nationwide team of Robotics Field Service Engineers (FSEs).
- Oversee field execution of preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance to ensure operational excellence.
- Drive compliance with safety procedures and manage team scheduling to meet service-level objectives.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to improve maintenance data and ensure the team executes on operational KPIs.
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.
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.
The Production Optimization Team is dedicated to ensuring both customer satisfaction and the seamless operation of our robots. Together, the the various sub teams, including Customer Success and Monitoring & Maintenance, work to maximize robot performance and provide ongoing support to guarantee a smooth and efficient user experience for our customers. The Robotics Maintenance Engineers works on the forefront of robotic automation using Formic’s suite of monitoring and diagnostic capabilities to guide preventative, corrective, and predictive maintenance activities across Formic’s growing fleet of deployed robotic cells. They work with a variety of robotic equipment and OEM’s, delivering innovative and value-add automation to our manufacturing sector customers.
As our Head of Robotics Field Service you will lead our Field Service Engineers (FSEs), owning monitoring, performance, development, and operational excellence across our deployed fleet of robotic systems. You don’t need to be the most technical person in the room - but you must be technically fluent, customer-obsessed, and driven to build a high-performing, scalable team that delivers uptime and customer satisfaction. You will work cross-functionally with Customer Success, Continuous Improvement, Supply Chain, Solutions and Deployment Teams to carry out operations and glean insights for improvements and scalable growth. You will also serve as an escalation point for complex customer-facing field issues.
In this role you will:
- Lead, manage, and develop a nationwide team of Robotics Field Service Engineers (FSEs)
- Foster a performance-driven culture with strong service ownership and urgency
- Coach team members on diagnostics, customer interaction, and problem-solving
- Scale the team through effective hiring, onboarding, and mentorship
- Oversee field execution of preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance
- Drive compliance with safety procedures, LOTO standards, and operational SOPs
- Manage team scheduling, call routing and coverage, and coordination to meet service-level objectives
- Support high-priority troubleshooting alongside engineers when necessary
- Ensure team maintains proficiency in robotics platforms (Fanuc, ABB, Yaskawa, Doosan, etc.), PLCs, HMIs, pneumatics, and conveyors
- Implement root cause analysis reviews and systemic issue identification
- Own and evolve field playbooks, documentation, and service protocols
- Partner with internal stakeholders on improvements to CMMS, spare parts tracking, and maintenance data
- Ensure the team executes on operational KPIs for the field service team.
What makes you a great fit:
- 10+ years of experience in field service or maintenance, ideally in automation, robotics, or industrial systems
- 5+ years of experience in a people management position, leading direct reports
- Technically fluent in robotic and automation platforms; comfortable interpreting schematics and engaging on troubleshooting topics
- Proven ability to lead, coach, and grow technical teams
- Strong organizational and communication skills - email, phone, field reports, and cross-team dialogue
- Experience with CMMS (e.g. MaintainX, FIIX, UpKeep, etc.) and workforce routing tools
- Comfortable with 20~30% travel (domestic)
Bonus points if you have:
- Background in high-speed manufacturing, packaging, or CPG environments
- Exposure to robot platforms such as Kuka, Fanuc, ABB, Yaskawa, Doosan, etc.
- Experience with root cause analysis and continuous improvement programs
- Bilingual (Spanish/English) a strong plus
Our Total Rewards
At 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:
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Equity in Formic: Own a meaningful stake in a fast-growing Series A startup, backed by leading global investors
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Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage: 99% covered Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans, with 75% coverage for dependents, provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield and Guardian
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Additional Fully Covered Insurance Benefits: FSA & DCFSA, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability through Guardian, all 100% employer-paid
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Fully funded by Formic and provided via Guardian, offering support when you need it most
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Paid Parental Leave: Generous parental leave to support our employees and their growing families
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Company-sponsored 401(k): Invest in your future with our company-backed retirement savings plan
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Home Office Stipend: A one-time allowance for fully remote employees to set up your ideal at-home or on the road work environment
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Monthly Cell-Phone Reimbursement: Monthly stipend toward phone and internet expenses
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Flexible Time-Off: Take the time you need, when you need it, supported by our flexible PTO policy
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Paid Company Holidays: Celebrate important dates with paid time off
Compensation Philosophy
Formic’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.
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.
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.
Required profile
Experience
Other Skills
- Technical Acumen
- Team Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Organizational Skills
- Coaching
- Communication