Director, AI IP Strategy & Counsel

Cerebras Systems; Sunnyvale (CA); Hybrid; USD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Cerebras Systems is seeking a Director, IP to lead the global intellectual property strategy across patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. You will partner with engineering, research, product, security, marketing, and executives to build, protect, and leverage Cerebras’ IP assets for AI hardware, software, and cloud services.

You will manage US and international patent preparation, guide filing strategy, oversee outside counsel, and advise on licensing, collaborations, and strategic

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar; California bar membership is preferred.
• Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• 10+ years of experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications, preferably with meaningful work in AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, semiconductors, electrical engineering, computer science, systems, networking, cloud infrastructure, or related areas.
• Technical undergraduate degree or equivalent technical experience; electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, physics, or a closely related discipline preferred.
• Ability to understand complex AI infrastructure, hardware, networking, cloud, and software systems and convert technical disclosures into strategically valuable patent claims.
• Experience managing outside patent counsel and global patent portfolios with attention to quality, cost, timing, and business alignment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain patent strategy and risk clearly to engineers, business leaders, and executives.
• Practical judgment, strong organization, attention to detail, and comfort managing multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Collaborative working style, intellectual curiosity, and enthusiasm for advanced computing, AI infrastructure, and deep technology.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Cerebras’ enterprise intellectual property strategy aligned with product roadmap, business objectives, competitive positioning, and corporate growth.
• Advise executive leadership on IP strategy, competitive landscape, IP risks, licensing opportunities, standards participation, and emerging AI legal developments.
• Build and maintain an integrated IP portfolio spanning patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, domain names, and other proprietary assets.
• Drive strategic invention harvesting and patent portfolio development across the full AI infrastructure stack.
• Partner directly with engineers, researchers, product leaders, and executives to identify patentable innovation, improve invention disclosure quality, and align filing decisions with technical roadmaps and business priorities.
• Manage U.S. and international patent preparation and prosecution, including directing outside counsel, reviewing applications and office action responses, setting claim strategy, and maintaining quality, cost, and timing discipline.
• Build subject matter expertise in Cerebras' key technical areas and proactively identify portfolio opportunities tied to product releases, customer deployments, partnerships, competitive developments, and emerging standards.
• Advise on intellectual property issues relating to generative AI, foundation models, and evolving legal and regulatory developments affecting AI technologies.
• Support commercial, corporate, and product counsel on IP provisions in customer agreements, cloud and data center arrangements, supply chain and manufacturing relationships, university and research collaborations, licensing, and other strategic transactions.

Skills

IP strategy

Patent portfolio management

Patent drafting/prosecution

Communication skills

Outside counsel management

Technical understanding of AI infra

Collaboration with executives

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Registration to practice before the USPTO

Technical undergraduate degree (EE/CS/Physics)

California bar membership preferred

Job description

Cerebras Systems is seeking a Director, IP to lead the global intellectual property strategy across patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. You will partner with engineering, research, product, security, marketing, and executives to build, protect, and leverage Cerebras’ IP assets for AI hardware, software, and cloud services.

You will manage US and international patent preparation, guide filing strategy, oversee outside counsel, and advise on licensing, collaborations, and strategic