Operations Automation Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

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 partners to ensure operations are on schedule and maintain high standards for quality, safety, and repeatability.
About the role:
As Manufacturing Operations Manager, you will play a critical role within Formic's Automation Engineering organization. You will be responsible for building the operational foundation that enables Formic to deliver automation solutions safely, efficiently, and at scale.
You will serve as a key operational leader within Formic's Bolingbrook facility, working closely with the rest of the Automation Engineering Team, Supply Chain, Fleet Operations, Product, Software, Solutions Engineering, and Project Management teams, you will coordinate resources, align priorities, and drive execution across the organization.
This role combines people leadership, operational excellence, and hands-on problem solving. You will develop technical talent, improve organizational effectiveness, establish scalable processes, and help create the structure and accountability required to support Formic's continued growth.
We're looking for a leader who thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys building systems and teams, and is excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of industrial automation.
In this role you will:

• Serve as a key operational leader within Formic's Bolingbrook, Illinois facility, helping align priorities across engineering, inventory, logistics, and project execution activities
• Build and uphold a culture of ownership, accountability, urgency, and continuous improvement
• Lead daily standups and execution reviews to ensure priorities are clear, resources are aligned, and blockers are addressed quickly
• Act as an escalation point for operational issues impacting execution, quality, or readiness
• Drive accountability for operational performance, quality, safety, and organizational effectiveness
• Partner cross-functionally to align operational readiness with customer commitments and project timelines
• Collaborate with Supply Chain and Fleet Operations teams to ensure proper inventory levels, system availability, and future capacity requirements
• Forecast organizational capacity and proactively identify resource constraints before they impact execution
• Establish and improve SOPs, workflows, quality standards, and operational processes that support a scalable organization
• Ensure systems are built, tested, staged, and prepared to meet Formic and customer quality standards
• Track and improve key operational metrics including throughput, readiness, utilization, quality, and execution performance
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, eliminate bottlenecks, and strengthen cross-functional collaboration
• Partner closely with Product, Software, Solutions Engineering, Supply Chain, Fleet Operations, and Project Management teams to ensure successful execution across the automation lifecycle
• Communicate operational priorities, risks, and capacity needs across stakeholder groups
• Provide visibility into organizational performance, readiness, and operational health through regular reporting and reviews

What makes you a great fit:

• 6+ years of experience leading operations, automation, manufacturing, engineering, or other technical teams in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated success leading teams directly while influencing and driving results across cross-functional organizations
• Experience working with industrial automation systems, robotics, or related manufacturing technologies
• Experience with industrial robots or cobots such as FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa, ABB, or Universal Robots preferred
• Experience with end-of-line automation systems including palletizing, depalletizing, case packing, or related applications preferred
• Proven ability to establish processes, develop SOPs, implement training programs, and drive operational improvements
• Experience managing quality, safety, operational readiness, and on-time execution in a manufacturing, automation, or technical operations environment
• Strong understanding of operational planning, resource allocation, capacity management, and performance metrics
• A hands-on leadership style with a willingness to roll up your sleeves, solve problems, and support the team wherever needed
• Strong judgment, ownership, attention to detail, and the ability to balance strategic thinking with day-to-day execution
• Excitement for building teams, improving systems, and helping scale a rapidly growing automation company

Bonus points if you have:

• Experience working for a robotics company, automation systems integrator (SI), original equipment manufacturer (OEM), or industrial technology organization
• Experience scaling operations within a high-growth startup or rapidly growing organization
• Experience supporting customer-facing deployments, installations, or field operations
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methodologies

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:
$140,000-$170,000 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.