Robotics Controls Engineer in Chicago

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Job DescriptionJob Description

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 Software Engineering Team builds and operates the systems that power Formic's Robotics-as-a-Service platform.

Engineering focuses on ensuring deployed systems are observable, resilient, and remotely diagnosable at scale. The team builds production-grade edge and cloud systems that support reliable data collection, remote troubleshooting, live video streaming, and continuous system improvement.

This work directly impacts fleet uptime, service efficiency, and customer outcomes by ensuring Formic's monitoring and control infrastructure remains scalable, reliable, and continuously evolving.

About the role:

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.

In this role you will:

• Design and maintain PLC programs using Structured Text and other IEC 61131-3 standards

• Develop, modify, and optimize robot programs across supported industrial platforms

• Integrate sensors, conveyors, safety systems, and other industrial peripherals into automated systems

• Support system bring-up, commissioning, and on-site troubleshooting during deployments

• Collaborate with software engineers to integrate controls systems with monitoring and observability platforms

• Contribute to system validation, testing protocols, and performance verification

• Document control architectures and maintain engineering and deployment standards

• Participate in cross-functional engineering reviews and technical design discussions

What makes you a great fit:

• 5+ years of experience in industrial automation, robotics, or controls engineering

• Strong PLC programming experience, including Structured Text and IEC 61131-3 standards

• Experience working with 480V industrial equipment, electrical systems, and control panels

• Hands-on experience with system commissioning, field deployment, and troubleshooting

• Familiarity with version control systems such as Git

• Exposure to Python or C++ is a plus

• Experience working with multiple industrial robot OEMs and their programming environments

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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 , and long-term through Unum, all 100% employer-paid

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Fully funded by Formic, offering support when you need it most

• Paid Parental