IP Agent

Job Summary

NetApp, a multi-billion dollar technology leader and highly sought-after employer, is adding an IP Counsel or Agent to join its award-winning legal department. The successful candidate will support the development of NetApp’s global patent portfolio. S/he will be responsible for conducting patent mining sessions, supervising outside counsel during the patent prosecution process, and harmonizing NetApp’s patent strategy with its business strategy.

This patent professional will work closely with NetApp’s engineering, technical, and business organizations as an integral partner throughout the research and development process. The ideal candidate will be comfortable engaging directly with engineers, facilitating invention disclosure discussions, identifying patentable innovations, and influencing technical stakeholders on intellectual property strategy.

We are looking for a highly motivated, tech-savvy patent counsel or agent with at least five years of patent prosecution and portfolio experience in software, cloud computing, hybrid cloud technologies, AI-enabled technologies, and enterprise technology solutions.

This is a hybrid position based in Morrisville, NC RTP or Witchita, KS.

Areas of Responsibility

• Conduct patent mining sessions with product engineering teams in an efficient manner.
• Provide recommendations to senior leadership about what inventions should be patented.
• Supervise outside counsel in all aspects of patent prosecution, including drafting, office actions, and appeals.
• Build awareness and perform outreach about NetApp’s patent program among product engineering teams and educate them about the importance of intellectual property.
• Manage technology and systems for patent portfolio management, including evaluating possible uses of AI tools.
• Partner directly with software, cloud, and engineering teams to identify, evaluate, and protect innovative technologies.
• Review patent claims and prosecution strategy to ensure appropriate quality, breadth, scope, and alignment with NetApp’s business objectives.
• Manage and strategically develop patent portfolios while balancing business priorities, innovation goals, and intellectual property protection.

Qualifications

• Strong interest and ability to develop in-depth knowledge of NetApp’s wide range of data management solutions and obtain patent protection for new innovations.
• Registered and in good standing to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Experience as a registered Patent Agent or Patent Attorney is acceptable. A law degree is not required provided the candidate is qualified to practice before the USPTO.
• Preferred experience includes a combination of law firm patent prosecution experience and in-house patent portfolio management experience within the technology sector.
• Four years of experience prosecuting patents and managing patent portfolios for software, cloud computing, hybrid cloud technologies, AI-enabled technologies, and related enterprise technologies.
• Proficient in the use of AI and patent portfolio management tools.
• Management and copyright experience desirable.
• Ability to build credibility, advocate, and influence business and other teams.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with engineers and technical stakeholders and translate complex technologies into strong intellectual property strategies.
• Ability to prioritize and deliver multiple simultaneous projects under pressure.
• Strong collaboration skills across teams and organizations.
• Experience working with software, cloud, SaaS, data management, storage, AI, machine learning, or related enterprise technology environments strongly preferred.
• Domestic and international travel may be required.

Compensation:
The target salary range for this position is 147,900 - 191,000 USD. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off, various Leave options, Performance-Based Incentives, employee stock purchase plan, and/or restricted stocks (RSU’s), with all offerings subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. Benefits may vary by country and region, and further details will be provided as part of the recruitment process.