Product Manager, Machine Tending

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 Automation Engineering Team is responsible for delivering robotics-driven automation deployments across a wide range of customer applications. The team partners cross-functionally to translate customer requirements into deployed systems, ensuring solutions are integrated, commissioned, and validated to perform reliably in real manufacturing environments. Automation Engineering works closely with customers, internal technical teams, and external integrators to execute deployments on schedule while maintaining high standards for quality, safety, and repeatability.
About the role:
As Product Manager, Machine Tending, you will own the development, commercialization, and growth of Formic's machine tending offering across both tracks. You will decide which applications we pursue, define standard configurations and pricing, and lead the engineering work that makes them repeatable to deploy.
You will need enough engineering depth to make technical decisions and enough business sense to make commercial ones. You will set direction, get hands-on when needed, and serve as Formic's subject matter expert for the vertical. The goal is an offering Sales can confidently sell, Engineering can consistently deliver, and customers can rely on.
In this role you will:
Own the machine tending product:
Own the strategy, roadmap, and portfolio across third-party and internally developed solutions
Prioritize applications across CNC mills, lathes, machining centers, and press equipment, and define standard configurations and application boundaries
Set requirements for robots, CNC interfaces, workholding, EOAT, controls, software, and safety, favoring compact footprints, quick changeovers, and minimal programming
Develop a robust portfolio of offerings that span the common use cases of our customers. This will include systems to sport a full range of offerings in the High Mix / Low Volume and High Volume / Low Mix applications.
Develop third-party system integration and partnerships:
Evaluate and select third-party machine tending platforms and integration partners against Formic standards for safety, uptime, serviceability, and cost
Define integration standards for partner systems (Formic telemetry, remote monitoring, safety review, documentation, and spares) so each one is supported like any other fleet asset
Negotiate and manage relationships with integrators, machine tool builders, and OEMs, including pricing, lead times, support terms, and co-marketing
Aggregate lessons from partner deployments into the requirements for Formic's internal product
Develop Formic-designed machine tending systems:
Lead robot arm selection across collaborative and industrial platforms (FANUC, Yaskawa, Universal Robots, ABB, KUKA, Others), weighing payload, reach, cycle time, safety architecture, CNC integration support, cost, and serviceability
Scope a modular design framework that covers turning, milling, grinding, Swiss-type, and press applications from a common base of cell frame, controls, safety, and software
Define part presentation options (drawers, grids, carts, pallets) and EOAT libraries scaled to part size, weight, and batch volume
Validate designs on reference cells before release, and partner with Project Engineering on controlled models, BOMs, and documentation
Lead technical development and deployment:
Turn requirements into development plans, scope, and milestones across mechanical, electrical, controls, software, and applications engineering
Development of standardized options for Machine Tool interface. Determination of the best practice for the most common machine tools and supplementary system for models that are unique
Own the deployment playbook from site survey through FAT, SAT, commissioning, and handoff to Field Operations, including safety risk assessments
Reduce install time and support needs using field feedback, and evaluate vision and AI where they add reliable value
Support sales and commercialization:
Serve as the technical subject matter expert for Sales, Solutions Engineering, and customers across active and queued clusters
Build a qualification framework that fits applications to standard offerings and flags custom work early, enabling accurate one-shot quoting
Support scoping, estimates, and quotations, ensuring NRE and application-specific costs are captured
Create specifications, application guidelines, and sales materials, and support launch events, IMTS, and named-customer case studies
Manage product economics and partnerships:
Own cost targets and improve margins through design, standardization, sourcing, and reconditioned equipment
Compare the full cost of third-party versus internal products, including development, deployment, and support
Build relationships with integrators, machine tool builders, and technology suppliers
What makes you a great fit:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering; MBA is a plus
7+ years in industrial automation and robotics spanning engineering and product or project management
Direct experience deploying or productizing robotic machine tending for CNC equipment
Hands-on CNC machining or machine shop experience
Experience leading cross-functional development and owning product pricing, quotations, or cost
Equipment commissioning, FAT/SAT, and on-site debugging experience
Familiarity with FANUC, Yaskawa Motoman, Universal Robots, ABB, or KUKA robots and common CNC controls
Knowledge of robot safety standards (ISO 10218, ANSI/RIA R15.06, ISO/TS 15066)
Exposure to machine vision
Commercially driven, comfortable with customers, and a strong communicator
Ability to travel up to 30%
#LB1
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
Flexible Time Off: Take the time you n

Skills
TypeScript, Project Management, Sourcing, Documentation

Experience
5+ yrs