Product Lead, Operational Intelligence (Formic Cortex)

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. Formic Cortex is an initiative to help Formic scale not just technology, but judgment, execution, and operational clarity as the company grows. The unifying goal is leverage: making it easier for teams to make good decisions and execute reliably as Formic scales. This role is ideal for someone energized by ambiguity, motivated by building something new, and excited by the opportunity to influence how an organization operates at its core. As Product Lead, Operational Intelligence (Formic Cortex), you will focus on how Formic works as a system - how decisions are made, how information flows across teams, and how complex operational work becomes repeatable at scale. Rather than owning a fixed product surface or roadmap, you will identify where complexity, ambiguity, or fragmentation slow the organization down and design mechanisms that improve consistency, leverage, and speed over time. This is a first-of-its-kind role at Formic. The Cortex team does not yet exist, and neither does a predefined blueprint for what it becomes - you will help shape both. You’ll work across deployment, solutions, production optimization, and adjacent teams to surface patterns that aren’t visible from within any single function, and translate those insights into durable ways of working - sometimes through tools or automation, often through clearer structure, decision frameworks, or redesigned handoffs. Over time, the systems, mechanisms, and tooling that emerge from Formic Cortex are expected to coalesce into a cohesive internal product - the operational backbone of the company. As Cortex matures, it will increasingly function as Formic’s operating system: the place where operational knowledge lives, decisions are supported, and execution is coordinated across the organization. Early on, however, the focus is on discovery, design, and leverage, ensuring that what ultimately becomes productized is grounded in how the company actually works. In this role you will: Observe how work actually happens across deployment, solutions, production optimization, and adjacent teams, and surface patterns that limit speed, clarity, or consistency. Translate complex, experience-driven decision-making into clear structures, frameworks, and mechanisms that scale beyond individuals. Identify points where information breaks down, handoffs degrade, or judgment is overly concentrated, and redesign those flows to improve reliability. Introduce systems - process, tooling, automation, or decision frameworks as appropriate - that reduce friction and increase operational leverage. Partner closely with engineering to shape and deliver internal capabilities when software or automation is the right solution. Establish feedback loops that make it easier to learn from deployments, maintenance, and operational outcomes over time. Drive initiatives from discovery through execution in environments with limited precedent or definition. Align stakeholders across functions around priorities, tradeoffs, and shared understanding of how work should operate. Evaluate new technologies, methods, or approaches and assess where they meaningfully improve how the organization functions. Help define what “good” looks like for Formic Cortex as a capability and, over time, shape the team and operating model around it. What makes you a great fit: 4+ years of experience in product, operations, systems design, technical program management, robotics, automation, or similarly cross-functional roles. Demonstrated ability to work in ambiguous environments where problems must be discovered, framed, and shaped before they can be solved. Strong systems thinking skills, with the ability to reason about organizations, workflows, and decision-making as interconnected systems. Experience working closely with engineers, operators, or technical subject-matter experts to turn real-world complexity into scalable solutions. Comfort moving between observation, synthesis, and execution without a predefined roadmap. Strong communication skills and the ability to build alignment across teams with different incentives, languages, and constraints. A track record of owning outcomes, not just deliverables. Willingness to spend time close to the work - whether in the field, on the factory floor, or embedded with operational teams - when insight requires it Bonus points if you have: Hands-on experience deploying robotics or automation systems in real production or field environments. Experience building internal tools or platforms that support technicians, field engineers, or operational teams. Background in controls, industrial robotics, PLCs, or hardware-in-the-loop testing. Experience applying AI or machine learning to physical-world problems such as predictive maintenance or anomaly detection. Familiarity with simulation frameworks or digital-twin environments used for validation or commissioning. #LI-MB1 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: $135,000—$175,000 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.