IT & Workplace Operations Lead at Formic

Chicago, IL || Bolingbrook, ILFull-timePeoplePosted 24 days ago

About the Role

<div class="content-intro">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.</div><h2>About the Role</h2> This is a hands-on role with a broad mandate. You’ll own the day-to-day technology experience for Formicans: computers, accounts, applications, permissions, onboarding and offboarding, endpoint management, IT support, office technology, and our relationship with our outside IT partner. You'll also help own the day-to-day experience of our Bolingbrook office and warehouse, making sure the space is organized, stocked, functional, and a great place to work. If the Wi-Fi is down, someone's badge doesn't work, a conference room isn't connecting, the TV needs to be ready for All Hands, a new hire needs a laptop, or the office is running low on something, you're the person who makes sure it gets handled. You aren't expected to personally pull every cable, install every camera, or perform every repair. You are expected to own the outcome. You don't need to know every system we use on Day 1. We'd rather hire someone with strong technical fundamentals, exceptional resourcefulness, and an ability to learn quickly. Over time, we expect you to become an expert in Formic's technology environment. You do need to be highly capable at using AI to extend what you can do. We want someone who is genuinely excited about technology and constantly asks: Why are we doing this manually? Can I automate it? Can I make this better? AI and automation are a meaningful part of this job, not a side project. We mean more than using ChatGPT to write emails. We want someone excited about connecting AI to actual systems and workflows, building things, experimenting with new tools, and finding better ways for Formic to work. The goal is simple: technology and the workplace become things the company rarely has to think about because they simply work. <h2>In this role you will:</h2> Own Employee IT <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Be the internal owner for day-to-day IT support and troubleshoot issues across Mac and Windows devices, applications, accounts, authentication, peripherals, and connectivity.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Own employee onboarding and offboarding, including computers, accounts, applications, permissions, physical access, equipment recovery, and secure access removal.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Administer our device fleet, including MDM/RMM, patching, encryption, endpoint protection, software deployment, remote management, and remote lock/wipe.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Maintain an accurate hardware inventory and manage purchasing, receiving, configuration, repairs, replacements, shipping, returns, and lifecycle planning.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Administer systems such as Google Workspace, Slack, Notion, 1Password, Microsoft 365, Apple Business Manager, VPN, and other SaaS applications.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Manage accounts, groups, permissions, licenses, MFA, SSO, and application access.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Maintain useful documentation of our systems, configurations, processes, vendors, and administrative access.</li> </ul> Own our Office Technology <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Own internet, Wi-Fi, networking, conference rooms, TVs and displays, AV equipment, printers, shared devices, and other workplace technology.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Own door and badge access, security cameras, and other physical-security technology, partnering with People, Facilities, and outside specialists where needed.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Make sure conference rooms and shared technology are ready to use, including setting up and testing AV, TVs, cameras, microphones, and presentations for All Hands, customer visits, investor meetings, and company events.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Troubleshoot onsite issues and coordinate ISPs, network engineers, low-voltage contractors, security vendors, and other specialists when needed.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Support office moves, expansions, installations, and other technology projects.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Keep IT equipment, spares, cables, adapters, network closets, and technology storage organized and ready to use.</li> </ul> Own the Bolingbrook Workplace Experience <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for workplace needs and help keep our Bolingbrook office and warehouse running smoothly.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Own relationships with workplace vendors, including cleaning, snacks and beverages, office services, maintenance, and other third-party providers.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Keep office, kitchen, and shared supplies appropriately stocked and organized, using vendors and automated ordering wherever practical.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Notice when something in the workplace isn't working, needs attention, or could be better, and take ownership of getting it resolved.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Coordinate repairs and maintenance with our landlord, property management team, Facilities, or outside vendors.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Help keep shared spaces, storage areas, meeting rooms, and workspaces organized and functional.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Support onsite meetings, visitors, company events, and other moments when the office needs to be ready.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Coordinate office moves, furniture and workspace changes, deliveries, installations, and other workplace projects.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Look for ways to automate and simplify workplace operations, from inventory and ordering to vendor management and employee requests.</li> </ul> Automate Relentlessly <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Use AI as a force multiplier in your own work and actively experiment with new tools.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Find repetitive work across IT, workplace operations, and Formic that can be eliminated, simplified, or automated.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Build workflows using AI agents, APIs, scripts, integrations, and automation platforms.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Automate provisioning, onboarding, offboarding, support, inventory, documentation, reporting, ordering, and other repetitive processes wherever practical.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Build lightweight internal tools when buying another piece of software isn't the best answer.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Help Formic identify and adopt technology that makes us faster and more effective.</li> </ul> Own Security Operations & Our IT Partners <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Be Formic's internal owner for our managed IT and security relationships.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Partner with outside specialists on endpoint security, EDR/MDR, networking, vulnerability management, monitoring, and incident response.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Maintain strong coverage for MFA, encryption, patching, endpoint protection, device management, and other baseline security controls.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Support SOC 2 and other compliance work through documentation, controls, system inventories, and evidence.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Know when to solve something yourself and when to escalate to a specialist.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Hold vendors accountable for responsiveness, quality, timelines, and outcomes.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Make sure Formic owns its credentials, documentation, systems, and technology decisions rather than relying on a vendor to understand our environment.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Ensure our partners are a technical bench, not a substitute for internal ownership.</li> </ul> <h2>What makes you a great fit:</h2> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You have 3-7 years of experience in IT operations, systems administration, technical support, security operations, technical operations, or another hands-on technology environment.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You’re AI-native in how you work: you instinctively use AI to learn faster, solve problems, automate repetitive work, and extend your own capabilities. You actively experiment with new tools and look for opportunities to apply AI to real systems and workflows.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You're deeply curious about technology and learn new systems quickly.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You're already a heavy user of modern AI tools and actively experiment with them.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You have hands-on experience with Mac and Windows environments, endpoint management, identity and access, SaaS administration, and basic networking.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You can automate work using some combination of scripting, APIs, AI agents, integrations, or low-code/no-code tools.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You're willing to work with physical equipment and troubleshoot problems onsite.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You know how to research and solve something you haven't encountered before.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You're organized, responsive, and unusually good at following things through to completion.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You notice problems before someone has to assign them to you.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You care about the employee experience and take pride in creating a workplace that works well.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You don't think stocking a cabinet, troubleshooting a laptop, meeting a vendor, or building an AI workflow are beneath you.</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">You want more ownership and responsibility than your years of experience might normally give you.</li> </ul> <h2>Bonus Points if you have:</h2> <ul> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Worked in a startup or physical operating environment</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Administered Google Workspace, MDM/RMM, EDR, or identity systems</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Supported SOC 2; managed an MSP</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Worked with office networking or physical-security systems</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Built scripts, bots, internal tools, integrations, or AI agents because you got tired of doing something manually</li> <li style="font-size: 12pt;">Created a home lab, side project, GitHub repo, Raspberry Pi graveyard, overly complicated Home Assistant setup, or other evidence that you genuinely enjoy messing with technology also counts.</li> </ul><div class="content-pay-transparency"><div class="pay-input"><div class="description"><h3 data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Our Total Rewards:</h3> 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: <ul> <li style="font-size: 16px;">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</li> <li style="font-size: 16px;" data-start="275" data-end="394">Competitive & Uncapped Commission Structure: Designed to reward performance and impact in commission-eligible roles</li> <li style="font-size: 16px;" data-start="275" data-end="394">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</li> <li style="font-size: 16px;" data-start="876" data-end="1028">Additional Insurance Benefits: FSA and DCFSA, life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability through Unum, all 100% employer-paid</li> <li style="font-size: 16px;" data-start="1031" data-end="1134">Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Fully funded by Formic, offering support when you need it most</li> <li style="font-size: 16px;" data-start="1137" data-end="1201">Paid Parental Leave Program: Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave</li> <li style="font-size: 16px;" data-start="1204" data-end="1310">Company-sponsored 401(k): Invest in your future with our company-facilitated retirement savings plan</li> <li style="font-size: 16px;" data-start="1313" data-end="1446">Home Office Stipend: A one-time allowance for fully remote and hybrid employees to support an at-home or on-the-road work setup</li> <li style="font-size: 16px;" data-start="1449" data-end="1548">Monthly Cell Phone Reimbursement: Monthly stipend toward personal phone and internet expenses</li> <li style="font-size: 16px;" data-start="1551" data-end="1654">Flexible Time Off: Take the time you need, when you need it, supported by our flexible PTO policy</li> </ul> <h3>Compensation Philosophy</h3> 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.</div><div class="title">Compensation Range:</div><div class="pay-range">$90,000—$120,000 USD</div></div></div><div class="content-conclusion">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! <ul> <li>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.</li> <li>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. </li> <li>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.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>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.</li> </ul> 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 <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>. 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 <a href="https://formic.co/formic-ai-hiring-disclosure" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>

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