Your mission
The future of AI computing is light, not electrons.
Q.ANT is building photonic processing systems that compute with light – delivering a scalable, energy-efficient alternative to transistor-based architectures for next-generation AI and HPC applications.
Groundbreaking technology alone does not create market leadership. It must be strategically protected, defensible, and positioned to secure long-term freedom to operate and technological dominance.
As our Senior Patent Manager (m/f/d), your mission is to transform innovation into strategic power. You ensure that breakthroughs in photonic processors are systematically identified, effectively protected, and leveraged to secure sustainable competitive advantage. By architecting a robust intellectual property framework, you convert technological excellence into long-term business value, enhance investor confidence, and reinforce the company’s position as a market leader.
Your Responsibilities:
- Strategic IP Architecture: Develop and evolve a forward-looking patent strategy that synchronizes Q.ANT’s breakthroughs with global business objectives for a sustainable competitive advantage.
- Innovation Extraction: Partner with R&D and Executive Leadership to identify and prioritize patentable breakthroughs, transforming deep-tech into high-value, enforceable global assets.
- Portfolio Mastery: Take full ownership of the international patent lifecycle - from disclosure to enforcement - ensuring a robust and commercially dominant IP portfolio (EP, US, PCT).
- FTO Governance: Secure market power through proactive Freedom-to-Operate analyses and competitive monitoring, neutralizing IP risks before they impact the technology roadmap.
- Investor Readiness: Deliver sophisticated IP reporting and due diligence, providing transparency and actionable insights for investors, partners, and the C-suite.
- Institutional IP Culture: Foster high-performance IP awareness within technical teams to accelerate the transition from lab invention to protected corporate asset.
Your profile
- Deep-Tech Foundation: University degree in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or Photonics, enabling you to engage with breakthrough science at its most granular level.
- Strategic IP Expertise: 5+ years in patent management or a top-tier law firm, with a proven track record in navigating complex international patent systems.
- Technological Foresight: Nuanced understanding of deep-tech (ideally photonics/semiconductors) to anticipate market shifts and translate technical concepts into IP value.
- Analytical Rigor: Exceptional skill in FTO and competitive mapping, treating risk management as a strategic lever for market dominance.
- Autonomous Resilience: Self-driven operator who thrives in high-complexity environments, maintaining a result-oriented focus even under intense pressure.
- Communication Excellence: Sophisticated verbal and written English skills, bridging the gap between technical experts and executive stakeholders (German is a plus).
Why us?
We hire for attitude and train for skills.
We encourage self responsibility and accelerate professional development.
We move fast and encourage experimentation.
You have the opportunity to be part of developing breakthrough photonic computing technology and have a lasting impact on the future of computing.
You can be part of a passionate international, highly skilled cross functional team.
You will have access to the founders of the company.