Chief of Staff

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 role:

The Chief of Staff is a high-output operator who works directly with the CEO to drive execution across Formic’s highest-priority initiatives. This role exists to increase the CEO’s effectiveness by creating clarity, maintaining momentum, and ensuring follow-through across the business. The role spans both strategic and operational work, ranging from cross-functional initiatives and executive communications to scheduling, prioritization, and day-to-day operational support.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who thrives in fast-moving environments, operates with urgency, and is willing to do whatever is needed to help the company scale. Success in this role requires strong judgment, high ownership, attention to detail, and the ability to move fluidly between executive-level thinking and tactical execution. This is an operator role designed for someone who wants deep exposure to how a high-growth company is built while serving as a trusted extension of the CEO.

In this role you will:

• Ensure the CEO is able to focus on the company’s highest-leverage work
• Anticipate needs, reduce friction, and create operational leverage day-to-day
• Drive high-priority cross-functional initiatives from idea through execution
• Translate discussions into clear action items, owners, timelines, and accountability
• Track progress across teams and proactively unblock issues
• Support company operating cadence, including leadership meetings, planning cycles, and KPI reviews
• Prepare materials for executive, board, and investor discussions
• Help maintain visibility into company priorities, risks, and performance
• Identify operational inefficiencies and help improve processes, tooling, and coordination across teams
• Take ownership of ambiguous, high-priority projects that require rapid execution
• Manage prioritization and follow-through across internal and external commitments
• Operate as a utility player across the business when needed

What makes you a great fit:

• 4-8+ years of experience in strategy, operations, consulting, investing, executive support, or other high-performance operating environments
• Proven ability to independently drive high-impact initiatives and deliver results in fast-moving environments
• Strong analytical skills with comfort interpreting business performance data, identifying trends, and supporting decision-making
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to operate effectively with executives, cross‑functional teams, and external stakeholders
• Highly organized with exceptional follow-through and attention to detail
• Willingness to handle both strategic work and operational or administrative responsibilities without ego
• High ownership mentality with a strong bias toward action
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, shifting priorities, and rapid change
• Ability to balance urgency, discretion, and sound judgment
• Strong operator mindset with a willingness to do whatever is needed to help the business move forward
• Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, with the ability and interest to work in person in the East Bay
• Experience at high‑growth startups or scale‑ups
• Exposure to business operations, internal tooling, systems improvement, or automation initiatives
• Experience preparing executive, board, or investor materials
• Familiarity with SaaS, robotics, manufacturing, or industrial technology business models
• MBA or equivalent real‑world operating experience

Attributes we value for this role:

• High intellectual honesty and strong judgment
• Low ego and high accountability
• Strong execution instincts and rigorous follow-through
• Ability to create clarity and momentum in ambiguous environments
• Trusted by senior leaders and credible with technical and operational teams
• Highly responsive with strong attention to detail
• Comfortable moving between strategic thinking and tactical execution seamlessly

Success in this role looks like:

• The CEO’s time is protected and focused on the company’s highest-leverage priorities
• High-priority initiatives move from discussion to execution with clear ownership and follow-through
• The executive team operates with strong alignment, accountability, and visibility into company priorities and performance
• Board and investor materials are concise, thoughtful, and decision-oriented
• Operational bottlenecks, communication gaps, and execution risks are identified and resolved proactively
• Important follow-ups and commitments do not slip through the cracks
• Manual processes and inefficient workflows are continuously improved over time
• Teams experience increased clarity, responsiveness, and operational momentum
• The organization becomes more coordinated, accountable, and scalable quarter over quarter

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
• Paid Time Off: Take the time you need, when you need it. 15 days of paid time off, in addition to company holidays

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.

This position is paid hourly, with overtime is paid in accordance with applicable federal and state law for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

Hourly Rate

$165,000 - $205,000 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 care... (contact omitted for brevity)

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.