IP Counsel or Agent

Job Summary

Net App, 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 Net App’s global patent portfolio, conduct patent mining sessions, supervise outside counsel during the patent prosecution process, and harmonize Net App’s patent strategy with its business strategy.

This patent professional will work closely with Net App’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 Vienna, VA. Other locations near a Net App office may be considered.

• 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 Net App’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 Net App’s business objectives.
• Manage and strategically develop patent portfolios while balancing business priorities, innovation goals, and intellectual property protection.

• Strong interest and ability to develop in‑depth knowledge of Net App’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, 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…