Robotics Software Engineer

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 advances the systems that power Formics industrial robotic deployments. As part of this team you will design build and improve intelligent robotic systems operating in real manufacturing environments.

We are rethinking how industrial automation systems are architected deployed and maintainedbringing modern robotics AI-driven intelligence and production-grade software practices into environments that have historically lacked them. Our engineers work at the intersection of robotics controls perception and scalable software infrastructure to create systems that are more capable more reliable and easier to operate at scale.

About the role:

In this role you will contribute to the development of next-generation robotic systems that operate in live industrial settings. You will work across simulation algorithm development system integration and production deployment.

In this role you will:

• Contribute to the development of in-house robotic systems and core platform components
• Design and implement robotics algorithms using both classical and learning-based approaches
• Develop and maintain digital twins and simulation environments using tools such as Isaac Sim MuJoCo or similar platforms
• Integrate and improve computer vision and perception systems
• Develop production-quality software in Python C and/or C
• Work with robotics middleware and frameworks such as ROS and Linux-based systems
• Contribute to both proof-of-concept prototypes and production-grade modules
• Integrate robotic subsystems with broader software infrastructure and monitoring systems
• Write unit integration and system-level tests to ensure reliability and performance
• Participate in Agile/Scrum ceremonies and collaborative technical design discussions

What makes you a great fit:

• Bachelors degree in Computer Science Robotics Electrical Engineering or equivalent practical experience
• 5 years of experience in robotics embedded systems or autonomous systems development
• Strong experience with AI/ML frameworks and robotics-relevant models
• Experience developing or integrating computer vision systems in real-world applications
• Proficiency in Python and C (Rust is a plus)
• Experience working with ROS and Linux-based robotic systems
• Familiarity with PLCs and industrial control environments
• Experience working with industrial robot APIs or multiple robot OEMs
• Strong systems-thinking mindset and ability to move from prototype to production
• Located in the greater San Francisco CA area and able to work in person five days per week in Oakland CA

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What we look for:

Were 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 arent paralyzed by risk and fear inaction more than failure. You see ambiguity as opportunity and bring energy to building what doesnt yet exist.
• Create the Magic: You absorb complexity so customers dont have to. Whether your customer is external or internal you focus on delivering experiences that are clear fast value-added and outcome-driven. You dont 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 dont confuse activity with results.
• Seek Truth: You think from first principles. You value data over ego and strong opinions loosely held. Youre 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 persons merit business needs and role requirements. If you require further accommodations or have questions regarding accessibility of our roles please reach out to.

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 linkedhere.