Robotics Systems Architect

Formic•Oakland, CA

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Robotics Systems Architect, you will define and lead the control architecture for next-generation intelligent robotic platforms, including wheeled humanoids and advanced mobile manipulators. You will own the system-level design of whole-body control, actuator interfaces, and deterministic execution across the robotics stack. This role sits at the core of hardware, controls, and embodied intelligence. You will work across software, AI, and hardware domains to ensure our robotic systems are safe, performant, and deployable in real industrial environments. Your work will directly influence how learning-driven systems translate policy outputs into reliable, real-world motion. Formic is uniquely positioned to do this. We already operate hundreds of deployed robotic systems and maintain production-grade deployment, monitoring, and fleet infrastructure across real manufacturing customers. This provides what most humanoid startups do not: continuous real-world data, production testing environments, and a clear path from research to scaled deployment. This is not a demo lab. We are building learning-driven robotic systems that operate daily in real factories.

Requirements

8+ years of experience building complex robotic systems
Strong background in control systems, rigid body dynamics, and robot kinematics
Experience working with mobile manipulators, humanoids, or high-DOF robotic platforms
Deep understanding of actuator systems, torque control, and motor performance characteristics
Experience with ROS2, real-time Linux environments, and modern C++
Proven experience shipping physical robotic systems beyond research prototypes
Comfort working with external hardware vendors and defining detailed technical specifications
Strong system-level debugging skills across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
Ability to operate at both architectural and implementation depth
Located in or willing to relocate to the San Francisco, CA (Oakland) area and able to work in a hybrid environment (3+ days per week)

Nice To Haves

Experience with whole-body control frameworks and optimization-based control
Familiarity with model predictive control (MPC) or hierarchical control architectures
Experience integrating learning-based policies with classical control stacks
Background in safety-critical or industrial robotics environments

Responsibilities

Architect and lead development of whole-body control systems for advanced robotic platforms including humanoids
Design real-time control interfaces and hardware abstraction layers
Define actuator interfaces and enforce hardware performance specifications with external manufacturing partners
Develop and optimize kinematics, dynamics, and coordinated motion control systems
Own safety architecture and deterministic execution across the robotics stack
Collaborate with AI and perception teams to define state representations and control APIs
Validate hardware performance including torque bandwidth, latency, and thermal behavior
Lead system-level integration, testing, and debugging across hardware and software boundaries
Drive architectural decisions that balance research flexibility with production reliability
Ensure systems are deployable, serviceable, and scalable in real-world industrial environments

Benefits

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