Vice President of Business Development and Patent Acquisition - Irvine, California (966-SLS)

Our client, a leading innovator in high-performance memory solutions and enterprise-class storage products, is looking for a Vice President of Business Development and Patent Acquisition to lead its patent acquisition efforts, with a strong focus on semiconductor technologies, particularly DRAM memory. This role requires legal expertise, technical fluency in semiconductor systems, and a proven track record successfully developing and implementing an aggressive patent acquisition program and successfully negotiating and closing high value deals.

As a key member of the legal leadership team, you will collaborate closely with executive leadership, legal, engineering, IP, and external counsel to add to the company’s existing patent portfolio of technology critical to high value memory solutions and storage products.

Role and Responsibilities

• Business Development : Own and manage the Company’s business development and patent acquisitions function.
• Patent Sourcing & Acquisitions : Identify and develop new sources of patents for the Company through patent acquisitions, licensing partnerships, and other strategic activities.
  • Build relationships with key stakeholders at prospective acquisition targets and business partners.
  • Initiate conversations and build relationships by leveraging personal contacts, existing Company relationships, and other creative methods to open communications with potential acquisition targets.
  • Establish trust and demonstrate leadership within the high-tech industry, acting in a highly professional, industry-leading manner, and in the best interest of the Company and its clients and partners.
  • Maintain in-depth knowledge and awareness of the industry, including market trends, key players, technology trends, active patent litigation and licensing programs, and available patents for purchase.
• Deal Lifecycle Management : Lead acquisition negotiations throughout the deal lifecycle, including facilitating due diligence of the relevant patent portfolios, and negotiating high value patent acquisitions and related transactions to completion.
• Executive & Cross-Functional Collaboration : Closely collaborate with your legal and business colleagues to identify prospective acquisition targets.

Background

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of business development and patent acquisition experience. Strong preference for candidates with experience in the semiconductor and/or memory industries.
• Extensive experience acquiring patents and patent portfolios.
• Extensive experience running and negotiating high value acquisitions.
• Semiconductor and/or memory industry experience.
• Demonstrated industry contacts within relevant companies.
• Must be a creative problem solver and able to model and demonstrate a results‑oriented approach. Must display a vision on how to move engagements through roadblocks to reach a successful conclusion.
• Ability to travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• In‑house counsel experience at a semiconductor or technology company.
• Technical understanding of DRAM memory and semiconductor design.
• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and admission to the California Bar or eligible for RIHC.
• Advanced technical degree (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Computer Science) is a plus.

Compensation is targeted at an annual base salary of $400,000 to $450,000, plus equity, target bonus, and benefits. The total compensation package will vary and depend on the candidate’s level of seniority and number of years of directly relevant experience.