Founding Patent Engineer

In a world where products and software can be replicated overnight, intellectual property is the last durable moat. Every breakthrough in AI, biotech, clean energy, and autonomous systems depends on patent protection to survive. Yet the system meant to protect these innovations hasn't kept up. Stilta exists to fix that: we build agentic AI for intellectual property, creating the technology that will finally modernize how the world’s most important ideas are defended. We just closed one of the largest seed rounds in Y Combinator, backed by top Silicon Valley investors. We already work with several of the world’s largest IP firms and Global Fortune 500 companies, and are growing rapidly. About the role We're hiring a patent professional who wants to shape the future of their field, not just practice in it. You'll be the domain authority inside the company: the person who knows what "good" looks like and makes sure our AI meets that bar. You'll lead the domain side of customer engagements with top IP firms and Fortune 500 IP teams, turn real litigation workflows into product, and work directly with engineering to improve how our agents reason about claims, prior art, and infringement. What you will do Join enterprise demos and pilots as the domain expert Onboard customers: train teams, configure workflows, ensure first-week value Set and enforce the quality standard for AI-generated analysis - claim charts, prior art mappings, infringement assessments - against the bar you know from practice Translate what patent professionals need under real pressure into product decisions and feature priorities Work with engineering to improve how our agents reason about claims, prior art, and infringement What we are looking for 2+ years of patent experience - litigation and invalidity experience is a plus, but we value anyone who has done serious patent work and knows what quality looks like Have personally drafted claim charts and conducted prior art searches Curious about AI and ready to be hands-on in shaping how it handles the work you have been doing manually You want ownership and impact, not billable hours What we can offer Competitive Salary + Equity Unlimited Claude Code - experiment with AI‑assisted workflows, prototypes, and automations from day one Sponsored VISA A front row seat - you will be shaping the foundation of our business Stilta are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or background. Selection for this role will be based solely on suitability for the position and does not discriminate on any protected characteristic.