Intellectual Property Specialist

Blocq, Inc.; New York (NY); Remote; USD 76,000 - 102,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Fully covered transportation

Health, pension, employment, workers'"

Overtime pay at standard rates

Job summary

BlocQ, Inc. seeks an Intellectual Property Specialist to lead IP strategy from planning through execution at a deep-tech startup focused on quantum software. Translate R&D outcomes into competitive business advantages and build a global IP portfolio.

Work closely with researchers and engineers to uncover inventions, coordinate with external patent firms, and manage filings in Japan and key international markets (US/Europe).

Qualifications

• Experience in patent filing and prosecution at a company or patent firm.
• Ability to understand technical content outside one's own specialty when collaborating with engineers and researchers.
• Ability to independently stay current on business and R&D developments and plan IP activities.

Responsibilities

• Define patent filing and trade-secret protection policies for the quantum software domain.
• Build and manage domestic and international patent portfolios (US/Europe) aligned with business and R&D.
• Conduct FTO analyses and perform competitive intelligence and prior-art searches.
• Formulate IP strategies to establish and sustain competitive advantage.
• Draft, file, prosecute, and coordinate with external patent firms for filings.
• Review IP-related clauses in joint research agreements, NDAs, and university/partner contracts.

Skills

Patent filing experience

Curiosity

Self-driven mindset

English proficiency

Education

Physics/Information science/Mathematics background

Job description

About BlocQ

BlocQ, Inc. is a deep-tech startup headquartered in Tokyo and Silicon Valley, on a mission to solve cybersecurity challenges in the quantum computing era. We research and develop algorithms and software for quantum computers, bringing together world-class quantum researchers, software engineers, and cybersecurity experts — many with roots at the University of Tokyo — to extract peak performance from quantum hardware.

We are working toward the world's first commercialization of quantum digital computing. If you want to be at the frontier of that effort, we'd love to meet you.

Role Overview

We are looking for an Intellectual Property Specialist to lead IP strategy from planning through execution at a deep-tech startup specializing in quantum software. This is a critically important position: you will translate our cutting-edge R&D outcomes into competitive business advantages and build a global IP portfolio.

Working closely with researchers and engineers, you will uncover inventions, extract patentable elements, coordinate with external patent firms, and manage filings in Japan and key international markets (especially the US and Europe). You will also review IP-related clauses in collaborative research agreements and NDAs with universities and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

IP Strategy

• Define patent filing and trade-secret protection policies for the quantum software domain
• Build and manage domestic and international (especially US and European) patent portfolios in alignment with business planning and R&D
• Conduct competitive intelligence and prior-art searches; perform Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analysis
• Formulate IP strategies (open/closed, etc.) to establish and sustain competitive advantage

IP Operations & Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with internal researchers and engineers to uncover inventions and extract protectable IP elements
• Manage patent specification drafting, filing, prosecution, and search in coordination with external patent firms
• Review IP-related clauses in joint research agreements, NDAs, and contracts with universities and external partners

Required Qualifications

• Practical experience in patent filing and prosecution at a company or patent firm
• Curiosity and willingness to engage with and understand technical content outside one's own specialty when collaborating with engineers and researchers
• Self-driven mindset: ability to independently stay current on business and R&D developments, then plan and execute IP activities autonomously

Preferred Qualifications

• Practical experience in international patent filing and prosecution, particularly in the US and Europe
• Professional working proficiency in English
• Academic or professional background in physics, information science, or mathematics

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: To be determined (commensurate with experience)
• Incentive: Stock options
• Raises: Determined based on performance
• Transportation: Fully covered
• Insurance: Health, pension, employment, workers' compensation
• Overtime pay: Paid per standard rates

Work Conditions

• Employment type: Permanent (no fixed term)
• Probation: 3 months
• Working hours: 9:00 – 18:00 (60‑min break) · ~10–45 hrs overtime/month
• Location: Shibuya, Tokyo (5‑min walk from Shibuya Station)
• Remote: Remote‑first (hybrid available)
• Days off: Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, Golden Week, year‑end/New Year
• Paid leave: 10+ days from the 7th month of employment
• Smoking: Non‑smoking workplace

Selection Process

2–3 interview rounds