Corporate Counsel, IP

True Anomaly, Inc.; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Best-in-class healthcare

Generous time off

Lunch provision

Job summary

True Anomaly, Inc. is seeking a Corporate Counsel, IP to serve as the primary in-house legal authority on intellectual property. You will own the maturation and execution of the IP strategy across hardware and software, partnering with engineering, product, and business teams to identify and protect proprietary innovations.

The role also covers general corporate legal functions, including contracts, and advising internal clients while contributing to a lean, collaborative legal department.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own True Anomaly's IP strategy, including how the company identifies, captures, protects, and leverages inventions, patents, trade secrets, software, data, trademarks, and other proprietary technology.
• Build and manage infrastructure for IP processes and documentation, and provide guidance to engineers and software teams.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage inbound and outbound technology, software, data, and other IP license agreements.

Skills

IP strategy

Patent knowledge

Contract negotiation

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

J.D.

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset.We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take?We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

BENEFITS & PERKS *

• Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, with HSA/HRA options
• Generous time off: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays; Parental Leave; Sick Leave
• Fuel for your day: Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees
• And more: 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and Dog Fridays
• Equity participation: Equity is included as part of our total compensation package, giving you an opportunity to share in the company’s success.

*Do not apply to fixed term and temporary roles

YOUR MISSION

The Corporate Counsel, IP will serve as True Anomaly's primary in-house legal authority on intellectual property, owning the maturation and execution of the company's IP strategy — including how we identify, capture, protect, and leverage technology across both our hardware and software. This role reports to the Managing Counsel and is a key member of a small, collaborative legal department.

Intellectual property is the core of this role. You will lead the company's IP program, partnering closely with engineering, marketing, product, program management, business development, and mission teams to identify proprietary innovations and implement appropriate protections the company’s IP portfolios, negotiate and manage licenses, establish the practical processes that turn day-to-day engineering into defensible IP, and serve as the go-to resource for stakeholders across the company on strategy, ownership, and risk.

Beyond IP, you will support general corporate legal functions — reviewing and negotiating contracts, supporting transactional and financing needs, advising internal clients, and contributing to the legaldepartment’s broader workload. The ideal candidate is energized by the opportunity to own and mature a specialized strategic function while also operating as a versatile member of a lean legal team.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop and own True Anomaly's IP strategy, including how the company identifies, captures, protects, and leverages inventions, patents, trade secrets, software, data, trademarks, and other proprietary technology.

Build and manage the practical infrastructure for IP: invention mining and disclosure processes, patent and trade secret decision-making, trade secret protection practices, including identification, access controls, and documentation, and clear guidance for engineers and software teams on protecting what they create.

• Manage the full lifecycle of the company’s patent and trademark portfolios, working with outside counsel on prosecution, prioritization, and budget.

Draft, negotiate, and manage inbound and outbound technology, software, data, and other IP license agreements.

Maintain systems for tracking license terms, obligations, renewals, and other key requirements.

Manage IP terms for employees, contractors, consultants, and other personnel, including proprietary information and invention assignment agreements (PIIAs) and prior-invention disclosures.

Manage open-source and third-party software licensing compliance, including copyleft and other licensing obligations.

Advise engineering, product, and program teams on IP ownership, third-party rights, publication, invention disclosures, and other related matters.

Advise on IP and data rights in government contracts, including data rights assertions and markings and Bayh-Dole obligations.

Partner with the export compliance on issues involving IP, technical data, and ITAR/EAR controls.

Monitor developments in IP law and policy that may affect the company's IP posture and proactively advise stakeholders.

General Corporate Legal Support

Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of agreements, including customer, partnership, and technology agreements, vendor and supplier contracts, program subcontracts, teaming agreements, NDAs, and consulting agreements.

• Advise internal stakeholders across program management, systems engineering, communications and IT, mission operations, facilities management, security, finance, and supply chain on legal matters as they arise.
• Coordinate with other Legal Department functions, including export compliance, on matters of overlapping regulatory concern.
• Contribute to legal department process improvements, templates, playbooks, and other shared resources.

Support additional projects and initiatives as needed under the direction of the Managing Counsel.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

3–7 years of legal experience, preferably including both law firm and in-house experience.

Experience advising on patents, trade secrets, software, technology transactions, licensing, and IP ownership.

Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts and license agreements independently.

• Experience advising on IP ownership, data rights, and licensing matters in a technology or product-development environment.

Ability to work effectively with technical teams and translate complex legal information and technical concepts into practical guidance.

• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to produce precise, well-organized legal documents.
• Strong presentation skills and ability to distill complex legal concepts into clear, accessible reports and briefings for internal audiences.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines simultaneously.
• A generalist's range and instinct — comfort operating across multiple areas of law and picking up unfamiliar issues quickly.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience in the commercial space, aerospace, defense, or other deep-technology industry.
• Experience in-house at a technology or aerospace company, ideally a startup or high-growth environment.
• Familiarity with government IP and data-rights frameworks (FAR/DFARS, Bayh-Dole, SBIR/STTR).
• Experience with open-source software compliance and software licensing.
• Familiarity with export controls.

COMPENSATION

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location — Successful candidates will be located near Denver, CO, Long Beach, CA, or Washington DC.

#LI-Hybrid

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us know.

The person hired will have access to information and items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the ITAR, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (i.e., current Green Card holder), lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the ITAR, you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (i.e., current Green Card holder), lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in True Anomaly’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.