IP Counsel

AutoStore AS; Oslo fylke; On-site; NOK 1,200,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Collaborative culture

Health and pension benefits

On-site work in Lysaker or Nedre Vats

Career development

Job summary

AutoStore AS is seeking an IP Counsel to join its Intellectual Property team within the Legal department. You will manage the patent portfolio, assess inventions, and align IP activities with R&D and product roadmaps, influencing business decisions.

The role requires a qualified patent attorney with extensive IP experience and strong English communication. Location options include Lysaker (Oslo) or Nedre Vats, with a focus on in-house IP leadership and process development.

Qualifications

• Qualified European Patent Attorney, UK Chartered Patent Attorney, or US Patent Agent, or currently working towards one of these qualifications.
• At least 5 years of experience in intellectual property, with a focus on patents, ideally in-house or in an IP law firm.
• Knowledge of international patent law and IP portfolio management, understanding how IP supports business and technology strategies.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders across functions, including R&D, Product teams, and external counsel.
• Structured and proactive approach; able to manage priorities, take ownership, and exercise judgement.
• Strong English communication skills, written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate IP processes with in-house team and external counsel to ensure effective management of AutoStore's patent portfolio.
• Oversee patent filing, prosecution, and maintenance activities; align with business priorities.
• Collaborate with R&D, Product teams, and other stakeholders to identify inventions, assess patentability, and evaluate IP risks.
• Provide advice on IP-related matters, including risk assessments, infringement, enforcement, and trademark/design protection.
• Develop and improve IP processes and workflows; explore automation and AI opportunities.
• Support IP awareness across the organisation; monitor IP law developments and provide guidance and training.

Skills

English communication

Stakeholder collaboration

Job description

We are looking for an IP Counsel to join AutoStore's Intellectual Property team, part of our Legal department. With a portfolio of over 3.300 granted and pending patents, we are looking for someone who can help us strengthen how we manage and protect our intellectual property, working closely with R&D, Product teams, and external counsel. In this role, you will be involved in evaluating new inventions, assessing IP risks, and managing our patent portfolio, contributing to decisions that support AutoStore's technology and business strategy. You will also have the opportunity to shape and improve our IP processes, as we continue to develop our in-house capabilities and explore new ways of working, including AI. This is an opportunity to join a small, collaborative team where you can make a tangible impact, combining your knowledge of patents with business understanding and stakeholder collaboration. The position reports to the Vice President of Intellectual Property.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate IP processes, working closely with the in-house team and external counsel to ensure effective management of AutoStore's patent portfolio.
• Oversee patent filing, prosecution, and maintenance activities, contributing to strategic decisions on patent protection and alignment with business priorities.
• Collaborate with R&D, Product teams, and other stakeholders to identify new inventions, assess patentability, and evaluate potential IP risks.
• Provide advice on IP-related matters, including risk assessments, potential infringement, enforcement, and trademark and design protection.
• Develop and improve IP processes and workflows, exploring opportunities to increase efficiency through new tools, automation, and AI.
• Support IP awareness across the organisation, monitoring relevant developments in IP law and practice, and providing guidance and training to employees.

Job Requirements

• Qualified European Patent Attorney, UK Chartered Patent Attorney, or US Patent Agent, or currently working towards one of these qualifications.
• At least 5 years of experience in intellectual property, with a focus on patents, ideally gained in an in-house IP department or an IP law firm.
• Knowledge of international patent law and IP portfolio management, with an understanding of how intellectual property supports business and technology strategies.
• Ability to collaborate with stakeholders across different functions, particularly R&D, Product teams, and external legal counsel.
• A structured and proactive approach, with the ability to manage priorities independently, take ownership of responsibilities, and exercise sound professional judgement.
• Good communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
• Experience with trademarks, design rights, trade secrets, or other IP assets is an advantage.

We offer

• A Collaborative & Inclusive Culture where we celebrate and value everyone’s contributions, encouraging diverse perspectives in decision-making.
• Work-Life Balance & Well-being: We offer 1 hour per week of paid exercise, health insurance, and a generous pension plan, prioritizing your mental and physical well-being.
• A Creative and Safe Workplace by joining a company experiencing rapid growth, with the stability of being Norway’s first unicorn listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
• International and Supportive Environment within a Norwegian multinational that values collaboration and innovation with a structured onboarding plan and career opportunities within the company.

Location for this role is in our offices in Lysaker (Oslo) or our headquarters in Nedre Vats (Norway's west coast).

Application deadline: November 18th.

All inquiries are treated confidentially.

AutoStore, founded 1996, is a warehouse robot technology company that invented and continues to pioneer cube storage automation, the densest order-fulfillment solution in existence. Our focus is to marry software and hardware with human abilities to create the future of warehousing. We are a value driven organization, with our people being our most important asset. Lean, Bold, and Transparent manifest itself in everything we do, and are pushing borders to increase efficiency, safety and develop new products for our customers. AutoStore was born out of the great idea for storing goods like Rubik's Cube, instead of Dominos. We are now looking for talent that share our values and curiousity for new technology and development.