Director, Intellectual Property

Entegris, Inc.; Danbury (CT); On-site; USD 185,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Entegris, Inc. is seeking a Director of Intellectual Property to serve as the enterprise IP strategy lead, guiding decisions that shape long-term innovation, growth, and competitive positioning.

You will develop global IP strategies, address complex legal challenges, and maximize the value of Entegris' intellectual assets. You will lead critical patent, trade secret, licensing, and dispute matters, partnering with legal, engineering, and R&D teams to integrate IP considerations into business

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Registered Patent Attorney status with the USPTO strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advise executive leadership on IP strategy, risk management, and portfolio optimization.
• Develop and lead enterprise-wide IP strategies to support growth and innovation.
• Lead critical patent, trade secret, licensing, and dispute matters across the company.
• Drive IP strategy for emerging technologies.
• Coordinate with legal, business, engineering, and R&D to integrate IP into strategic planning.
• Lead invention harvesting, filing strategy, drafting, prosecution, and portfolio pruning.
• Direct patent agents, technical experts, and outside counsel for US and international matters.
• Lead freedom-to-operate, patentability, validity, clearance, and competitive analyses with practical recommendations.
• Structure and negotiate IP provisions in joint development, university, licensing, and collaboration agreements.
• Support IP disputes, including enforcement, litigation, and trade secret protection.
• Commission patent landscape and whitespace analyses; train inventors on disclosure quality and IP risk awareness.
• Represent Entegris in external engagements with customers, partners, universities, and industry groups.

Skills

IP strategy

Legal acumen

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Negotiation

Leadership

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Bar admission (US)

Engineering/technical degree

Tools

Patent analytics tools

Job description

The Role

In this role, you will serve as a recognized enterprise expert and principal advisor on intellectual property strategy, guiding critical decisions that influence Entegris' long-term innovation, growth, and competitive position. You will lead the development and execution of global intellectual property strategies, address highly complex and ambiguous legal and business challenges, and shape the company's approach to protecting and maximizing the value of its intellectual assets.

Job Title

Director, Intellectual Property

Job Description

The Role

In this role, you will serve as a recognized enterprise expert and principal advisor on intellectual property strategy, guiding critical decisions that influence Entegris' long-term innovation, growth, and competitive position. You will lead the development and execution of global intellectual property strategies, address highly complex and ambiguous legal and business challenges, and shape the company's approach to protecting and maximizing the value of its intellectual assets.

What You'll Do

• Serve as the principal advisor to executive leadership on intellectual property strategy, risk management, and portfolio optimization for critical business units.
• Develop and lead enterprise-wide IP strategies that support long-term business growth, innovation priorities, and competitive differentiation.
• Architect strategic approaches to complex intellectual property matters where information is incomplete, risks are significant, and outcomes have broad organizational impact.
• Lead the most critical patent, trade secret, licensing, technology transfer, and dispute-related matters across the company.
• Drive intellectual property strategy for emerging technologies and future innovation initiatives.
• Anticipate legal, regulatory, and competitive developments that may impact the company's intellectual property position and recommend proactive actions.
• Build strong partnerships across legal, business, engineering, and R&D functions to ensure intellectual property considerations are integrated into strategic planning.
• Serve as the dedicated IP partner to assigned business units, participating in technology roadmap, portfolio, and new product development reviews to identify inventions and protection strategies early.
• Lead invention harvesting, filing strategy, drafting, prosecution, and portfolio pruning to align global IP investments with business priorities, product roadmaps, and revenue opportunities.
• Direct patent agents, technical subject matter experts, and outside counsel supporting U.S. and international patent preparation, prosecution, maintenance, and related IP matters.
• Lead freedom-to-operate, patentability, validity, clearance, and competitive landscape assessments, and deliver practical written recommendations that enable product development and commercialization.
• Structure and negotiate IP provisions in joint development, university, licensing, technology transfer, collaboration, and other commercial agreements.
• Support offensive and defensive IP disputes, including infringement detection, enforcement strategy, litigation, and trade secret protection.
• Commission patent landscape, whitespace, and competitor analyses and deliver training to inventors and business teams on invention disclosure quality, trade secret hygiene, and IP risk awareness.
• Represent Entegris in high-impact external engagements involving customers, partners, universities, industry organizations, and outside counsel.

What We Seek

Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Registered Patent Attorney status with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline preferred.

Experience

• Typically 7+ years of progressive intellectual property experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, or combination of both.
• Experience developing and leading intellectual property strategy for technology-driven organizations.
• Extensive experience in patent portfolio management, licensing, freedom-to-operate analysis, IP transactions, and dispute management.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications and directing patent agents and outside counsel.
• Experience negotiating IP terms in joint development, licensing, university, collaboration, and technology transfer agreements.
• Experience supporting global operations and international intellectual property portfolios.
• Semiconductor, advanced materials, manufacturing, life sciences, or related industry experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Expert knowledge of U.S. and international intellectual property law and practice.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Ability to connect intellectual property strategy to long-term business objectives and market opportunities.
• Ability to translate complex IP issues, patent analytics, and competitive intelligence into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to partner directly with business and R&D leadership and influence innovation, product development, and commercialization strategy.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence senior leaders and key stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Proven ability to lead complex, enterprise-wide initiatives through influence and expertise.
• Ability to make sound decisions in highly ambiguous, high-risk, and rapidly changing environments.
• Demonstrated capability to mentor, coach, and develop legal and technical professionals.

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $185,000- $250,000 with pay commensurate upon the candidate's experience.