[Hiring] IP Patent Attorney / Patent Attorney – Blockchain & Advanced Technology (Equity Cofounder) @Launch Legends

Role Description

Autheo is seeking an experienced IP Patent Attorney to serve as a high-ownership equity cofounder responsible for protecting the company’s breakthrough intellectual property across its Layer-0 Operating System, integrated Layer-1 blockchain, post-quantum cryptography, decentralized compute and storage, AI orchestration, DePIN infrastructure, and related platforms.

You will lead invention harvesting, patent strategy, drafting, and portfolio development for core innovations in software systems, cryptographic protocols, quantum-resistant technologies, modular blockchain architectures, encrypted execution environments, and advanced compute. This role bridges deep technical understanding with precise legal protection to secure long-term competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

You will work closely with the Managing Directors, Chief Engineering Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Research, Cryptography, Product, and Engineering teams to translate complex technical breakthroughs into high-quality provisional and non-provisional patent applications while advising on IP ownership, open-source compliance, licensing, and risk mitigation across the equity-cofounder network.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive IP strategy aligned with Autheo’s Layer-0/Layer-1, DePIN, post-quantum security, decentralized compute, and AI roadmap.
• Lead invention harvesting sessions with engineering, research, cryptography, kernel, protocol, and product teams to identify and capture patentable innovations.
• Prepare, draft, and file high-quality provisional and non-provisional patent applications covering software systems, decentralized architectures, cryptographic protocols, quantum-resistant technologies, AI systems, and hardware-software integrations.
• Draft precise, enforceable claims that protect long-term competitive advantage while supporting rapid innovation cycles.
• Conduct deep technical prior-art research in blockchain, cryptography, distributed systems, AI, cloud-native architectures, and related fields; evaluate patentability and identify opportunities for defensive publications.
• Monitor competitor patents and industry IP trends; advise leadership on portfolio prioritization and freedom-to-operate considerations.
• Partner with engineering and research leaders to translate highly technical concepts into accurate legal language while preserving engineering intent.
• Advise on licensing, open-source compliance, IP ownership for contributors and cofounders, and clean-room or confidentiality processes.
• Support commercial, funding, partnership, and due-diligence efforts with IP-related documentation and risk assessments.
• Establish scalable internal processes for invention disclosure, documentation, and portfolio management within a distributed equity-cofounder model.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience drafting and filing provisional and non-provisional patents for software, cloud, cryptography, distributed systems, or blockchain technologies.
• JD from an accredited law school and admission to at least one U.S. state bar.
• USPTO Patent Bar registration.
• Strong technical understanding of blockchain architecture, cryptographic protocols, distributed systems, cloud computing, or decentralized infrastructure.
• Demonstrated ability to write clear, technically deep patent claims for complex emerging technologies.
• Experience managing or contributing to a patent portfolio for a high-innovation technology company or research organization.
• Comfort operating in a high-autonomy, equity-cofounder, globally distributed team culture.

Requirements

• Direct experience with Layer-0/Layer-1 blockchain systems (Cosmos SDK, EVM, consensus protocols, DAGs, or similar).
• Background in post-quantum cryptography (PQC), zero-knowledge proofs, fully homomorphic encryption, AI systems, WASM, decentralized compute, or DePIN.
• Experience with international patent strategies, PCT filings, and multi-jurisdiction prosecution.
• Prior work supporting startups, deep-tech R&D teams, or high-velocity innovation environments.
• Technical degree (Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or related) or equivalent deep technical fluency.
• Familiarity with open-source licensing, contributor IP frameworks, and technology transfer in collaborative environments.

First 90-Day Focus Areas

• Comprehensive audit of existing invention disclosures, provisional filings, and near-term technical roadmaps; prioritized filing plan aligned with Mainnet and core platform milestones.
• Establishment of invention harvesting cadence and collaboration processes with Engineering, Research, Cryptography, and Product leadership.
• Definition of core claim strategies and portfolio architecture for Layer-0/Layer-1, identity/security, compute, and AI surfaces.
• Alignment with executive leadership on IP strategy, risk posture, and resource priorities.
• Identification of highest-leverage near-term patent opportunities that protect foundational innovations and support upcoming commercial and funding activities.