Robotics Systems Architect

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. The team develops the monitoring, provisioning, and data infrastructure that enables real-time visibility across a growing fleet of deployed industrial robotic systems. Engineering works to ensure systems are observable, resilient, and remotely diagnosable at scale. The focus is on building production-grade edge and cloud systems that support reliable data collection, remote troubleshooting, live video streaming, and continuous system improvement. The team’s work directly impacts fleet uptime, service efficiency, and customer outcomes by ensuring Formic’s monitoring infrastructure is scalable, reliable, and continuously evolving. About this role: As a Robotics Systems Architect, you will define and lead the control architecture for next-generation intelligent robotic platforms, including wheeled humanoids and advanced mobile manipulators. You will own the system-level design of whole-body control, actuator interfaces, and deterministic execution across the robotics stack. This role sits at the core of hardware, controls, and embodied intelligence. You will work across software, AI, and hardware domains to ensure our robotic systems are safe, performant, and deployable in real industrial environments. Your work will directly influence how learning-driven systems translate policy outputs into reliable, real-world motion. In this role you will: Architect and lead development of whole-body control systems for advanced robotic platforms including humanoids Design real-time control interfaces and hardware abstraction layers Define actuator interfaces and enforce hardware performance specifications with external manufacturing partners Develop and optimize kinematics, dynamics, and coordinated motion control systems Own safety architecture and deterministic execution across the robotics stack Collaborate with AI and perception teams to define state representations and control APIs Validate hardware performance including torque bandwidth, latency, and thermal behavior Lead system-level integration, testing, and debugging across hardware and software boundaries Drive architectural decisions that balance research flexibility with production reliability Ensure systems are deployable, serviceable, and scalable in real-world industrial environments What makes you a great fit: 8+ years of experience building complex robotic systems Strong background in control systems, rigid body dynamics, and robot kinematics Experience working with mobile manipulators, humanoids, or high-DOF robotic platforms Deep understanding of actuator systems, torque control, and motor performance characteristics Experience with ROS2, real-time Linux environments, and modern C++ Proven experience shipping physical robotic systems beyond research prototypes Comfort working with external hardware vendors and defining detailed technical specifications Strong system-level debugging skills across mechanical, electrical, and software domains Ability to operate at both architectural and implementation depth Located in or willing to relocate to the San Francisco, CA (Oakland) area and able to work in a hybrid environment (3+ days per week) Nice to have: Experience with whole-body control frameworks and optimization-based control Familiarity with model predictive control (MPC) or hierarchical control architectures Experience integrating learning-based policies with classical control stacks Background in safety-critical or industrial robotics environments 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 need, when you need it, supported by our flexible PTO policy Compensation Philosophy Formic’s pay and equity packages are thoughtfully benchmarked against peer companies at a similar growth stage. Equity represents a meaningful part of our mutual investment: when Formic succeeds, so do you. Final offers are customized based on experience, geographic location, market considerations, and a candidate’s preferred balance of cash and equity. Our goal is to attract and reward top talent who will have significant impact, and we are open to thoughtful discussions to align on the right structure. Compensation Range: $145,000—$200,000 USD What we look for: We’re building this company from the ground up, and every person we hire has an outsized impact on our culture, performance, and trajectory. While each team member brings unique strengths and perspectives, we look for people who align with our Operating Principles and embody them in action. If this sounds like you, Formic may be the right place for you! Fearless Optimism: You make bold bets and default optimistic. You believe in the mission, aren’t paralyzed by risk, and fear inaction more than failure. You see ambiguity as opportunity and bring energy to building what doesn’t yet exist. Create the Magic: You absorb complexity so customers don’t have to. Whether your customer is external or internal, you focus on delivering experiences that are clear, fast, value-added, and outcome-driven. You don’t say “not my job.” You make things work. Today, Not Tomorrow: You have a bias to action. You close the loop. You take extreme ownership. You understand that speed compounds, and you don’t confuse activity with results. Seek Truth: You think from first principles. You value data over ego and strong opinions loosely held. You’re willing to challenge assumptions, including your own, in pursuit of the best answer. Made of Rubber: You are resolute and adaptable. When things break or priorities shift, you rebound stronger. You treat setbacks as learning moments and move forward with grit. One Formic: You operate without silos. You practice radical helpfulness, document clearly, and make clean handoffs. You assume positive intent and prioritize team success over individual credit. Equal Opportunity Employment: 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. AI Use: At Formic, fairness and transparency are at the heart of our hiring process. We use AI-powered tools in some interviews to help our teams evaluate candidate responses, but all final hiring decisions are made by humans. You can learn more about how AI is used in our recruitment process by reviewing our AI Hiring Disclosure linked here.