Director - IP Engineering

Adeia; United States; On-site; USD 230,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Generous paid time off

Health and wellness initiatives

Flexible hybrid work environment

Job summary

Adeia, headquartered in San Jose, CA, is seeking a Director – Semiconductor Technologies to join their patent assertion team. This role demands expertise in semiconductor design or manufacturing, applicable to patent licensing and litigation. The ideal candidate has significant industry experience, strong analytical abilities, and works collaboratively across legal teams. Compensation ranges from $230,000 to $280,000 based on location. Adeia values employee well-being and offers competitive pay along with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of semiconductor industry experience.
• Experience at a leading semiconductor company, foundry, or OSAT.
• Strong understanding of semiconductor fundamentals, including device physics, fabrication, and/or packaging.

Responsibilities

• Develop Evidence of Use (EOU) for semiconductor products.
• Analyze products for potential patent infringement.
• Work with labs to analyze semiconductor teardown data.
• Collaborate with attorneys on patent portfolios.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Technical knowledge in semiconductor

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics

Job description

Adeia Inc. (Nasdaq: ADEA), the technology company known for developing foundational innovations that enable next-generation solutions for the semiconductor and media industries, is headquartered in San Jose, CA, with approximately 150 employees, primarily in North America. Adeia invents, develops, and licenses fundamental innovations that shape the way millions of people explore and experience entertainment in an increasingly connected world. From TVs to smartphones, and across all types of entertainment experiences, Adeia’s technologies allow users to manage content and connections in a way that is smart, immersive, and personal. Adeia is proud to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Best Companies to Work For” in 2025 - 2026.

Position Summary

Adeia is seeking a highly skilled Director – Semiconductor Technologies to join our Semiconductor Patent Assertion team. This role sits at the intersection of cutting‑edge semiconductor technology, intellectual property strategy, and licensing.

The Director – Semiconductor Technologies will leverage deep, hands‑on semiconductor design and/or manufacturing experience to analyze products, identify potential patent infringement, and develop high‑quality evidence of use (EOUs) supporting licensing and litigation efforts. The role involves working closely with attorneys, lab teams, and business stakeholders to translate complex technical concepts into compelling IP positions.

The ideal candidate is a highly analytical and intellectually curious engineer with experience at a leading semiconductor company, foundry, or OSAT, and the ability to apply their expertise across a broad range of semiconductor technologies and markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Evidence of Use (EOU) Development
• Analyze semiconductor products and technologies to identify potential infringement of Adeia patents
• Develop detailed claim charts and technical analyses supporting licensing and litigation
• Technical Analysis & Reverse Engineering
• Work with internal and external labs to develop and interpret semiconductor teardown data
• Translate physical and electrical analysis into patent‑relevant insights
• Semiconductor Technology Assessment
• Evaluate technologies across a wide range of domains, including:
• Advanced packaging, hybrid bonding, liquid cooling, and co‑packaged optics
• Logic (CPU/GPU/AI), memory (DRAM/NAND), RF, and imaging
• Advanced nodes and emerging architectures
• Identify trends and emerging opportunities for patent assertion and portfolio expansion
• Collaborate with attorneys to strengthen patent portfolios through continuations, divisionals, and new filings
• Provide technical input into patent drafting, prosecution, and acquisition
• Licensing & Litigation Support
• Support technical discussions with prospective licensees
• Assist in litigation activities, including infringement analysis, claim construction, and prior art review
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with patent attorneys, lab personnel, and licensing teams to drive successful outcomes
• Contribute to internal R&D and invention generation efforts
• Deep technical expertise in semiconductor design and/or manufacturing
• Ability to quickly learn and apply knowledge across multiple semiconductor domains
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with attention to detail
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear written and visual explanations
• Intellectual curiosity and the ability to connect disparate technical concepts
• Strong communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation)
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across technical and legal teams

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field
• 10+ years of semiconductor industry experience
• Experience at a leading semiconductor company, foundry, or OSAT
• Strong understanding of semiconductor fundamentals, including device physics, fabrication, and/or packaging
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex technical systems and data

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in one or more of the following:
• Advanced packaging, hybrid bonding
• Advanced node process technologies
• Familiarity with semiconductor teardown techniques and analysis, especially the ability to analyze semiconductor products’ teardown data and determine how the products were likely manufactured
• Exposure to patents, IP strategy, or licensing (not required)
• Ph.D. in a relevant technical field (nice‑to‑have, not required)
• Experience working across multiple semiconductor domains or product types

Location

San Jose, CA Range: $230,000 - $280,000

National Range: $180,000 - $250,000

The base compensation is based on the primary work location of the candidate, as our ranges are location‑specific.

Actual compensation packages are based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years of experience, and depth of experience.

At Adeia, we are dedicated to creating a workplace where all employees have a voice and sense of belonging, feel safe and valued, and are acknowledged for their unique differences that contribute to organizational culture and business outcomes. Our employees and their families are important to us, and our comprehensive pay, stock, and benefits programs reflect that. Adeia supports personal well‑being, builds financial security, and enables employees to share in our collective success.

Rewards include

• Competitive compensation (salary, equity, and bonuses) and comprehensive benefits are designed to foster work‑life balance, care for your health, protect your finances, and help you save and invest for the future.
• Generous paid time away from work, including flexible time off, holidays, and sick time, health and wellness initiatives, and a charitable match program to help you give back to your community.
• Great benefits, which vary by location and can be site‑specific: employee discounts, transportation reimbursements, and fitness facilities.
• A flexible, hybrid work environment combining the best of in‑office collaboration and community‑building, along with the benefits of working from home.