Application Engineer - End-of-Line Automation

Who We Are:

At Formic, we’re on a mission to revolutionize American manufacturing and create more abundance in the world. We believe in continuing the American legacy of innovation by making automation accessible to all manufacturers and increasing their factory productivity by 10x. 

Built upon deep expertise in robotics and manufacturing, our unique Pay-for-Productivity robotics solutions combine the best automation technology, tools, and uptime services for manufacturers, paving the way for a new era of supercharged efficiency and competitiveness. 

As the world faces growing pressure from rising costs and labor shortages, Formic is a uniquely powerful tool in overcoming these challenges. Fueled by our vision for a resurged “Made in America,” we’re growing fast - achieving 70% quarterly growth in customer count and ARR, with ~30% of our customers having already deployed multiple systems.

Supporting us in our mission, with investments thus far totaling over $60 million, are backers including Blackhorn Ventures, Mitsubishi HC Capital America, NEC, Lorimer Ventures, Translink Capital, Alumni Ventures, FJ Labs, Lux Capital, Initialized Capital and founders of multiple Fortune 50 companies. 

About the PODS (Production, Optimization, Deployment & Solutions) team:

Application Engineering is dedicated to helping our customers address production challenges by developing automation solutions that deliver superb production outcomes. The team collaborates with prospective customers and the Formic sales team to scope out and understand challenges, identify the value drivers for the customer, and develop a fully managed Robotics-as-a-Service solution with cost reductions and a positive ROI on Day 1.

As an End-of-Line Application Engineering Manager, you will serve as our customers’ first pre-sale technical and applications point of contact–advocating for their success and navigating the requirements of their production operation.  You will establish credibility in both production and technical expertise with prospective customers and will rapidly develop an understanding of their production goals, challenges, and needs.  You will leverage that understanding to serve as a consultative partner, providing customers with a solution, context, and guidance on the best path forward to deliver their desired production outcome.

Additionally, you will partner with Formic’s Deployment team to complete successful project handoffs and enable us to cross-functionally deliver the value of the solution you developed. This position is highly impactful in Formic’s mission to be a valued partner in enabling customers’ adoption of automation, and you will be a key driver in our customers’ first steps along their automation journey.

As End-of-Line Application Engineering Manager, you will:

• Partner with prospective customers, sales, and cross-functional internal teams to understand prospective customers’ needs and key manufacturing challenges
• Establish credibility with prospective customers as a trusted production and technical resource
• Conduct technical discovery calls in partnership with Sales team to understand customer automation needs and gather requirements
• Analyze production requirements, customer value drivers, project constraints, CAD data, parts lists, and other production and technical specifications to rapidly develop accurate and robust scopes of work and prospective solutions
• Scope and develop robotic automation solutions from Formic’s portfolio of standard automation products that deliver a prospect’s desired production outcome
• Provide the sales team with quick-turn cost estimates that will be used in developing proposals for customers
• Dynamically iterate solutions & proposals as needed to align with feedback from prospective customers, Formic sales team members, and Formic’s cross-disciplinary teams
• Participate in design reviews and customer meetings as needed throughout the pre-sales process to drive opportunities to a successful close
• Facilitate smooth customer from Sales/Solutions to Deployment, ensuring all information is communicated for a successful design, build and deployment
• Effectively manage multiple projects/proposals in flight at a time
• Recommend changes in procedures, design, or standard equipment where necessary
• Leverage understanding of customers’ businesses and feedback to identify gaps in Formic’s technical, operational, and commercial offerings
• Visit customer sites in person as needed

What makes you a great fit:

• Minimum 3+ years of demonstrated success in a similar position
• Preferred 7+ years of experience in related manufacturing or automation field