About the job

Ankar is building the AI operating system for innovation, reinventing how companies generate and protect intellectual property in a world where most enterprise value is intangible. As a Patent Engineer specializing in Small Molecule Chemistry, you will bridge product development, engineering, and intellectual property by working hands-on with pharmaceutical and biotech customers to design and deploy AI-powered patent solutions that deeply understand chemical structures, synthesis routes, formulations, and pharmaceutical patent drafting conventions. You will collaborate closely with product and engineering teams to build chemistry-specific AI tools for small molecule patents, including structure–activity relationship analysis, formulation and claim generation, and prior art searching across chemical databases. This role involves embedding with in-house patent counsel and prosecution teams to prototype and deliver high-impact chemistry patent workflows, translating complex medicinal, process, and formulation chemistry challenges into clear product requirements that account for Markush structures, chemical nomenclature, synthesis descriptions, and regulatory IP strategy. You will also lead technical sessions with patent professionals to ensure measurable customer value, identify emerging opportunities across pharmaceutical IP, and take extreme ownership of outcomes in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. The ideal candidate brings 2+ years of experience in chemical or pharmaceutical patent work, a strong foundation in organic and medicinal chemistry, a builder’s mindset, and the ability to move between strategic IP thinking and detailed chemical claim construction. This full-time, on-site role is based in Hoxton Square, London, offers visa sponsorship, competitive compensation, and a substantial equity package under a tax-efficient EMI scheme at a well-funded AI startup backed by top-tier global investors.