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Head Intellectual Property Biotech Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As our first dedicated intellectual property hire, you will stand up the function from the ground up, do the work hands-on, and build a team only as our milestones demand it. Few companies offer the ...

As our first dedicated intellectual property hire, you will stand up the function from the ground up, do the work hands-on, and build a team only as our milestones demand it. Few companies offer the ...

As our first dedicated intellectual property hire, you will stand up the function from the ground up, do the work hands-on, and build a team only as our milestones demand it. Few companies offer the ...

Top 200 AmLaw firm seeks an associate to join their Intellectual Property Group in their Houston ... advanced degree in biotechnology. Candidates must have strong writing and analytical skills and ...

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Head Intellectual Property Biotech information

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How much do head intellectual property biotech jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for head intellectual property biotech in the United States is $159,999.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $150,000.00 and $170,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a head of intellectual property do in biotech?

A Head of Intellectual Property (IP) in the biotech industry is responsible for developing and executing strategies to protect a company's inventions, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. This role involves overseeing IP portfolio management, ensuring compliance with relevant laws, and supporting business objectives through effective IP protection. The Head of IP often works closely with scientists, legal teams, and executives to secure and defend the company's proprietary technologies, helping maintain a competitive advantage in the market.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a head of intellectual property in biotech?

To thrive as a Head of Intellectual Property in Biotech, you need deep expertise in patent law, intellectual property strategy, and a strong scientific background in biotechnology—typically supported by a law degree (JD), a technical degree (PhD or equivalent), and patent bar registration. Familiarity with IP management software, patent databases, and international filing systems is essential. Exceptional analytical thinking, leadership, and negotiation skills help you guide teams and communicate with inventors, executives, and external counsel. These capabilities are vital to protect innovation, secure competitive advantage, and ensure compliance in a complex, rapidly evolving industry.

How does a head of intellectual property in biotech typically collaborate with research and development teams?

The Head of Intellectual Property (IP) in a biotech company works closely with R&D teams to identify, protect, and manage innovations at every stage of development. This collaboration involves regular meetings to review ongoing projects, assess patentability, and provide guidance on documenting inventions. By engaging early and frequently, the Head of IP ensures that valuable discoveries are strategically protected, aligns IP strategy with business goals, and helps prevent potential infringement issues. This cross-functional teamwork is essential for maximizing the company's competitive advantage and supporting successful product commercialization.

What is the difference between Head Intellectual Property Biotech vs Patent Manager Biotech?

AspectHead Intellectual Property BiotechPatent Manager Biotech
CredentialsAdvanced degree in life sciences, law, or IPDegree in science or engineering, often with IP certification
Work EnvironmentStrategic leadership, cross-department collaborationPatent drafting, prosecution, and portfolio management
Employer & Industry UsageBiotech companies, pharma firms, research institutionsBiotech and pharmaceutical companies, law firms

The Head Intellectual Property Biotech typically holds a strategic leadership role overseeing IP portfolios and innovation strategies, while the Patent Manager Biotech focuses more on patent prosecution, drafting, and technical IP management. Both roles require strong technical backgrounds and IP knowledge but differ in scope and seniority.

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Infographic showing various Head Intellectual Property Biotech job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 50% In-person, 25% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $159,999 per year, or $76.9 per hour.

Head of Intellectual Property

1X Technologies AS

San Carlos, CA • On-site

$270K - $330K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 23 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Build and execute the company's intellectual property strategy for robotics, AI, and hardware innovations.

  • Drive invention capture by working directly with engineering, AI, and hardware teams to identify patentable technology and convert it into filed patents.

  • Establish and manage a portfolio of patents and trade secrets to protect the company's innovations, freedom to operate, and competitive position.


Job description

About 1X
We're building humanoid robots that work in home - doing the chores, handling the tasks, and giving people their time back. Simple, but it's not.
To do this right, we have to solve robotics, AI, manufacturing - at the same time, at scale, in a form factor that has to be safe enough to live with your family. If you're inspired by this, you'll thrive here. We've been at this since 2014 and we're at the point where the hard problems are behind us and the hard work is in front of us.
NEO is our flagship - a home robot designed to move, learn, and operate in the real world alongside real people. We're not demoing it - we're shipping it. We're excited to meet you, if this excites you.
If you've spent your career working on problems that matter and want to see them actually reach the world - this is that moment. We're scaling, we're hiring with intention, and we need people who want to build something that will genuinely change how humans spend their time - safely creating abundance for all.
About the Team
Our Legal team protects and compounds the value of everything 1X invents - the robotics, AI, and hardware breakthroughs that make a safe home humanoid possible. As our first dedicated intellectual property hire, you will stand up the function from the ground up, do the work hands-on, and build a team only as our milestones demand it. Few companies offer the chance to build an intellectual property portfolio this foundational, this early, in a field this new.
Your Charter
The mission of this role is to build and execute 1X's intellectual property strategy from the ground up - turning our breakthroughs in robotics and embodied AI into a defensible portfolio of patents and trade secrets that protects our freedom to operate, deters competitors, and compounds enterprise value as we ship NEO at scale. As our first intellectual property hire, you will do the work yourself today and build the team as our milestones warrant it.
Key Outcomes
  • Own and execute a company-wide patent roadmap that prioritizes 1X's most defensible and commercially critical inventions across robotics, AI, and hardware
  • Drive invention capture by embedding directly with engineering, AI, and hardware teams to surface patentable technology early and convert it into high-quality filed patents
  • Build a portfolio that protects 1X's freedom to operate and creates leverage against competitors, measured by filing velocity, grant rate, and coverage of our core technology
  • Identify and recommend strategic patents to acquire - both offensively and defensively - through landscape and competitive analysis, and lead diligence on those acquisitions
  • Establish a trade secret protection program and decide, invention by invention, what 1X protects through patents versus trade secrets
  • Stand up the function hands-on, then build and grow the team as company and product milestones warrant - not on a fixed timeline

Key Competencies
  • Deep technical fluency in hardware, AI, or robotics - able to sit with engineers, grasp novel inventions, and translate them into strong, enforceable claims
  • A hands-on operator who drafts and shapes patents directly and protects trade secrets, not only by delegating to outside counsel
  • A strategic portfolio builder who ties every intellectual property decision to a business outcome - freedom to operate, competitive moats, and acquisition strategy
  • A strong cross-functional partner who earns trust with engineers, executives, and external counsel alike
  • Comfort building from zero in ambiguity - setting prioritization and process where none exists, and scaling a team only when the work demands it

Minimum Requirements
  • Demonstrated track record of building and managing patent portfolios in hardware, robotics, AI, or another deep-tech domain (typically 10+ years in intellectual property, in-house or at a top firm)
  • Hands-on patent expertise - drafting, prosecution strategy, and portfolio management - for complex technical inventions
  • Proven ability to run patent landscaping, freedom-to-operate analysis, and competitive assessments to inform offensive and defensive decisions
  • Experience setting trade secret protection strategy alongside patents in a technical organization
  • A technical degree (engineering, computer science, or a related field) with a working understanding of robotics, AI, mechatronics, or comparable systems
  • Experience partnering directly with engineering and product teams to capture inventions at the source

Preferred Skills
  • Experience with intellectual property in humanoid robotics, autonomous systems, or embodied AI
  • Registered to practice before the USPTO (patent bar), as a patent agent or patent attorney
  • Familiarity with trademark, brand, copyright, and open-source compliance strategy
  • Experience building an inventor disclosure and incentive program
  • Experience managing international filing strategy (PCT and priority markets)

What does a successful 1X Team Member look like
Team members at 1X who thrive here are builders. They move fast, own their work completely, and treat time like it's the one thing you can't get back - because it is. They say what they mean, finish what they start, and hold themselves to a standard before anyone has to ask. We push each other to be better, and we do it with honesty and respect.
Compensation Range
$270,000 - $330,000
Benefits
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Generous paid time off, company holidays, and parental leave
  • 401(k) plan with company match (100% on the first 3% of contributions, 50% on the next 2%)
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) options
  • Commuter benefits (transit and parking)
  • Short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health, financial, and personal support
  • Onsite snacks and catered lunches

Equal Opportunity Employer
1X is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, disability, military or veteran status, justice system impact, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.