Senior Intellectual Property (IP) Manager (mfd) in Quantum Computing Start-Up

Your role

As a Senior Intellectual Property (IP) Manager (m / f / d) you’ll be instrumental in developing and executing our intellectual property strategy ensuring it aligns with and drives our business goals. This is a highly strategic and hands‑on role where you will professionalize our IP processes and lead the effort to protect our cutting‑edge quantum computing innovations. Your technical expertise will be key to understanding our technology at a deep level and collaborating effectively with our technical teams and external partners.

Your responsibilities

• Lead and develop our IP strategy: Facilitate the creation and implementation of a comprehensive IP strategy that translates business and technology goals into a coherent IP roadmap.
• Strategic IP management: Oversee and manage all aspects of our intellectual property portfolio including patents, trade secrets and trademarks ensuring robust protection and strategic alignment.
• Manage external IP resources, oversee budgets and ensure alignment of IP efforts with strategy & business objectives.
• Technical collaboration: Serve as a liaison between our R&D teams, leadership and external legal IP support; identify key protectable assets.
• Process professionalization: Design, implement and improve scalable IP processes including invention disclosure, filing workflows and portfolio management.
• Freedom to operate (FTO) and risk assessment: Oversee FTO and risk analyses ensuring early detection and mitigation of potential IP conflicts.
• Stakeholder alignment: Take the lead in aligning a diverse group of technical and business stakeholders around a unified IP strategy fostering a culture of innovation and IP protection.
• Market intelligence: Monitor the competitive landscape and emerging technological trends in quantum computing providing insights that shape our R&D and partnership strategy.

Your profile

• Extensive IP experience: A minimum of 5‑7 years of experience in an IP role building IP strategies either in high‑tech startups or R&D‑heavy environments.
• Advanced technical degree: A completed Masters or Ph.D. in Physics or a related field.
• Strategic leadership: Proven ability to develop and execute an IP strategy with experience leading cross‑functional teams and managing difficult stakeholder relationships.
• Experience connecting IP strategy to product development, partnerships or fundraising is a plus.
• Communication & collaboration: Excellent communication skills with the ability to articulate complex legal and technical concepts to a variety of audiences.
• Startup mindset: A hands‑on driven and resilient approach. You’re comfortable wearing multiple hats and thriving in a fast‑paced evolving environment.
• Language skills: Excellent command of English is required; fluency in German is a significant advantage.

Why join us

• At Kipu Quantum you have a unique opportunity to shape the future of technology by contributing to one of the most exciting startups in quantum computing. Your work will have a lasting impact as we tackle groundbreaking challenges and redefine what is possible in this cutting‑edge field.
• We pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative international culture where openness, transparency and innovation thrive. Here you will be part of a team that genuinely cares about our work and each other.
• Your growth matters to us. With ample opportunities for individual development you can sharpen your skills, advance your career and explore new horizons within a fast‑paced and supportive environment.
• Enjoy the flexibility to balance your professional and personal life with our adaptable working hours and remote‑friendly options.
• We also believe in making work life enjoyable. From regular team events that foster connections to perks like contributions toward public transport or shopping vouchers, international remote work opportunities, 30 vacation days per year and more we are committed to creating a workplace where you can thrive.

Contact

Is this you? We hope so!

Are you confident that our mission can’t succeed without YOU on board? Don’t hesitate – submit your application today using our online form! Be sure to include your CV (in English or German), your salary expectations and your earliest possible start date. Have questions or want to discuss the role in more detail? Reach out to Svenja Anderer, our Lead People & Culture at Kipu Quantum. We’d love to hear from you!

Kipu Quantum is a German startup focused on quantum computing with offices in Karlsruhe and Berlin. We specialize in developing quantum algorithms tailored for specific applications and hardware. Our solutions help various industries including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, logistics and finance to tackle complex problems using existing quantum hardware. We aim to make practical quantum computing accessible by significantly reducing the time needed to achieve quantum advantage for real‑world applications.