Job Summary

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 attorney will work closely with NetApp's technical and business organizations as an integral partner throughout the research and development process.

We are looking for a highly motivated, tech-savvy, patent counsel or agent with at least four years of patent prosecution and portfolio experience in hardware, software, cloud, and hybrid cloud systems.

This is a hybrid position is based in Morrisville, NC (RTP) or Vienna, VA. Other locations near a NetApp office may be considered.

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.

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, with relevant experience at a law firm and in-house directly in the tech industry.
• Four years of experience prosecuting patents and managing patent portfolios for hardware, software, cloud, and hybrid cloud systems.
• 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.
• Ability to prioritize and deliver multiple simultaneous projects under pressure.
• Strong collaboration skills across teams and organizations.
• 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.