Startup Founder

Formlabs
Somerville, MA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at experienced entrepreneurs or product leaders who thrive in high-impact, multi-disciplinary environments and have a track record in building complex software systems.

Best fit for

  • Experienced entrepreneurs or co-founders with a history of building and scaling technology ventures
    — “If you're an ex-co-founder, seasoned tinkerer, or Product Leader at an early-stage startup”
  • Software engineers with technical depth in hardware-software integration and a passion for digital manufacturing
    — “The software that prepares a print, runs a fleet of printers, and connects them to a customer's workflow decides how useful the machine is.”

Things to consider

  • This role demands a high tolerance for risk and a bias for action, which may not align with all candidates' preferred work styles.
    — “demonstrating a high tolerance for risk and a bias for action”
  • Candidates must be prepared to take full ownership of outcomes across the product lifecycle, including R&D and global-scale shipping.
    — “Your contribution will span the product cycle, from deep R&D to global-scale shipping”

How to stand out

  • Highlight your experience in defining product strategy and identifying unmet user needs in your resume and interviews.
    — “creating products and services that define the future of digital manufacturing by identifying unmet user needs”
  • Emphasize your track record of driving P&L results through new market opportunities or scaling business units.
    — “drive P&L results by identifying new market opportunities and scaling existing business units”
  • Showcase leadership in building and mentoring teams, especially in cross-functional or early-stage environments.
    — “Create and lead multi-disciplinary teams of talented engineers, operators, and designers.”
  • Demonstrate your ability to make high-stakes decisions with impact on core technology and business trajectory.
    — “Make crucial, high-stakes decisions that directly impact our core technology and business trajectory.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · HighDecision Impact · Company

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • successful product launches
  • high market penetration
  • team growth
Typical background
entrepreneurshipsoftware engineeringproduct management

Skills & requirements

Required

Product StrategyBusiness OutcomesTeam BuildingDecision MakingAmbiguity Management

Preferred

Hardware-software IntegrationMarket AnalysisLeadership Development

Stack & domain

Product StrategyBusiness OutcomesTeam BuildingDecision MakingComplex Software SystemsMulti-disciplinary Technology ProductsSupply Chain SetupPrototype DebuggingLeadershipEntrepreneurshipOwnershipHustleAdaptive LeadershipProduct DevelopmentBusiness StrategyTeam ManagementTechnology Products

About the role

Original posting from Formlabs

About Formlabs:

To reinvent an industry, you need the best team. Join Formlabs if you want to help us build tools that let anyone bring their ideas to life. 

Starting a company is the ultimate test of product-market fit, execution, and resilient leadership. If you're an ex-co-founder, seasoned tinkerer, or Product Leader at an early-stage startup looking for the ultimate platform to apply your experiences, Formlabs offers the infrastructure to build high-impact products without the bureaucratic drag of a large enterprise.

Your Impact: 

3D printing is as much a software problem as a hardware one. The software that prepares a print, runs a fleet of printers, and connects them to a customer's workflow decides how useful the machine is. The embedded software powering our printers ensures consistency, accuracy, and effectiveness. We're looking for software engineers who think like founders. This posting isn't tied to one opening. If your background fits, we'll talk about where your experience can have the most impact across our software engineering teams and match you to a role. 

Wherever you land, you'll run the work you own like a mini-CEO, from the first customer conversation to software running on printers around the world. We value bias for action, comfort with ambiguity, and deep ownership over outcomes. 

We are seeking results-focused leaders/entrepreneurs who can quickly pivot and take charge. Your contribution will span the product cycle, from deep R&D to global-scale shipping across hardware, software, materials science, and business functions.

What You’ll Do:

Define Product Strategy & Vision: Act as the ultimate Product Owner, creating products and services that define the future of digital manufacturing by identifying unmet user needs and high-potential market gaps.

Own Business Outcomes: Don't just manage projects—drive P&L results by identifying new market opportunities and scaling existing business units.

Build & Lead: Create and lead multi-disciplinary teams of talented engineers, operators, and designers. Hire and mentor the next generation of Formlabs leaders.

Take Decisive Action: Make crucial, high-stakes decisions that directly impact our core technology and business trajectory.

Embrace the Ambiguity: Work at the intersection of complex disciplines (engineering, sales, manufacturing, marketing) and take full ownership to get the job done.

About You:

You are a tinkerer and/or an ex-co-founder who thrives on complexity and doesn't wait for permission. You get results.

Proven Entrepreneurial Experience: You have previously built a business or significant venture (technology startup experience is ideal), demonstrating a high tolerance for risk and a bias for action.Technical Depth: You have built complex software systems, ideally some that interact with hardware.Comfort with Breadth: You have direct experience creating multi-disciplinary technology products and understand the full lifecycle from ideation to scale.Ownership & Hustle: You possess the "get it done" mindset—the hustle to do whatever it takes, whether it’s pitching a customer, setting up a supply chain, or debugging a prototype.Adaptive Leadership: You excel at both hiring and leading teams and are energized by a constantly changing, high-standard environment.

The standard is high, and the work is hard. Success here means you will be fundamentally changing digital manufacturing for designers, engineers, researchers, and artists everywhere.

Bonus Skills: 

Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science degree, or related

Entrepreneurial experience, such as founding your own business.

MBA or experience in a consulting role

Familiarity with manufacturing, regulatory, or product standards and compliance in industries like healthcare, pharma, or life sciences.

Experience with 3D printing technologies and materials.

Familiarity with Tableau or SQL.

Our Benefits & Perks:

Robust equity program to build future wealth through RSUs

Comprehensive healthcare coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision)

Low-cost fund options in our 401K and access to advisors 

Generous paid Parental Leave (up to 16 weeks)

Tenure-based paid Sabbatical Leave (up to 6 weeks)

Flexible Out of Office Plan – Take time when you need it

Ample on-site parking & pre-tax commuter benefits

Healthy on-site lunches, snacks, beverages, & treats

Regularly sponsored professional development opportunities

Many opt-in culture events across our diverse community

And of course… unlimited 3D prints

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.  

Even if you don't check every box, but see yourself contributing, please apply. Help us build an inclusive community that will change the face of 3D printing.

Compensation

Every Formlabs employee receives equity because everyone contributes to building the company. You’ll have the opportunity to share financially in the value we create together, with a shared incentive to build a business that succeeds over the long term. Equity will be a significant portion of your total compensation, and will increase over time in proportion to your impact. The base pay will be determined by your skills, qualifications, experience, location, and expected impact on the organization.

The annual base pay range for this role is:$120,000—$250,000 USD

Source: Formlabs careers

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