Head of Intellectual Property

About the role

We're building humanoid robots that work in homes—doing chores, handling tasks, and giving people their time back. This is challenging work, but we're at the stage where the hard problems are behind us and the hard work is ahead. NEO is our flagship—our home robot designed to move, learn, and operate alongside real people. We've shipped NEO, and we're excited to meet you. If you're inspired by this, you'll thrive here.

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

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.