Robotics Lead Engineer

$115,000 - $165,000/Yr

Blackhornvc - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Chicago, IL

About the position

As the Robotics Lead Engineer at Formic, you will play a crucial role in designing, building, and improving industrial robotic systems. This position focuses on revolutionizing automation in manufacturing by developing in-house robotics systems software and enhancing system operations. You will lead a team, oversee project development, and collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure optimal solutions are implemented. Your work will directly contribute to increasing factory productivity and making automation accessible to all manufacturers.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development and productization of in-house built robotics systems software.
• Drive system design and improvements to continuously enhance modularity, deployability, and maintainability.
• Assist with task assignments and coaching of junior team members.
• Lead improvements in development pipeline and tools such as CI/CD, automated test infrastructure, and simulation tools.
• Provide feedback on hardware design and component selection.
• Design and build control software using traditional PLCs/Ladder logic and higher-level languages such as Python/C++.
• Collaborate with HMI and Cloud teams to create seamless and intuitive system interactions.
• Follow software development best practices such as code reviews, unit testing, and continuous integration.
• Partner with the Product team and other stakeholders to find optimal solutions to satisfy requirements.
• Participate in Scrum ceremonies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Robotics, Computer Science, or equivalent experience/training.
• 5+ years of relevant experience within the robotics field, preferably in industrial automation.
• Deep understanding of robotics theory.
• Experience with robotics simulation environments such as RoboDK, RViz, Isaac Sim, etc.
• Knowledge of ROS, Linux, OpenCV, and similar middlewares and operating systems.
• Experience overseeing robotics projects from development to deployment.
• Proficiency in high-level programming languages such as Python, C/C++, and Rust.
• Familiarity with various robotic arms, such as ABB, Kuka, Fanuc, etc.
• Understanding of communication protocols such as EtherNet/IP, Modbus, and others.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with AI and modern robotics solutions.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.
• Experience in a startup environment.

Benefits

• Equity in Formic.
• 99% coverage on base Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans (75% coverage for dependents).
• FSA & DCFSA options.
• Life insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability plans (covered at 100%).
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid parental leave.
• Company-sponsored 401k.
• Home Office Stipend for remote and hybrid roles.
• Monthly Phone/Internet Reimbursement.
• Flexible time off policy and 10+ company holidays.