Patent Counsel - Chemistry

Overview

Your work will change lives. Including your own.

The Impact You’ll Make

We are seeking a strategic and scientifically fluent Patent Counsel with deep expertise in chemistry to shape and lead the intellectual property strategy behind our chemistry platform and therapeutic programs. This is a highly cross-functional role for someone who sees themselves as a business partner first — and a lawyer second.

You will operate at the intersection of chemistry, AI-driven drug discovery, and IP strategy, partnering closely with chemists, computational scientists, development teams, and business development leaders to translate complex science into forward-looking, globally aligned IP strategy. You will help ensure our innovations are protected in ways that enable clinical progress, competitive differentiation, and long-term impact.

If you’re passionate about biotech, energized by the convergence of AI and chemistry, and motivated to embed deeply with the business, we’d love to meet you.

• Develop and execute IP strategies for chemistry programs and platform innovations across our portfolio
• Evaluate program maturity and recommend appropriate patent filing, prosecution, and protection strategies
• Conduct and oversee FTO analyses and advise on risk mitigation, while helping guide our global filing strategy and coordinate international prosecution
• Support IND-related IP considerations and life-cycle planning
• Occasionally draft or substantively contribute to patent applications (approximately once or twice per quarter)
• Ensure filings align with broader business and clinical strategy

You’ll join a collaborative and mission-driven Legal team that partners closely with our scientific and business organizations. As the primary chemistry-focused IP leader, you’ll serve as a trusted scientific domain expert within Legal, working independently while deeply integrated with R&D and Business Development.

Our culture values curiosity, humility, high EQ, and low ego. We operate with low friction and high trust — empowering teammates to lead from their expertise while staying closely connected to the broader mission.

• Minimum 7+ years of relevant IP experience with a mix of law firm and in-house experience
• Strong background in chemistry, biochemistry, or related field (PhD preferred; Master’s or Bachelor’s with deep industry experience considered)
• Experience supporting clinical-stage assets, pharmaceutical, or biotechnology programs
• Experience in patent prosecution (strongly preferred foundation), with exposure to litigation and/or transactional IP matters
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as a scientific subject matter expert

• Experience supporting small molecule drug discovery programs
• Exposure to AI-enabled or computational drug discovery environments
• Experience with licensing (in-licensing/out-licensing), BD diligence, and alliance support
• Familiarity with global patent strategy across US/EU/UK and other key jurisdictions

Making SLC or NYC your home base is ideal, however, we will consider remote work for this position. We ask that remote employees commit to regular on-site visits for routine work and departmental events.

At Recursion, we believe that every employee should be compensated fairly. Based on the skill and level of experience required for this role, the estimated current annual base range for this role is $261,800 to $337,700 (USD). You will also be eligible for an annual bonus and equity compensation, as well as a comprehensive benefits package.

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