Intellectual Property Senior Counsel

Nabors; United States; On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Nabors is seeking a Corporate IP Counsel with 5 to 8 years of IP experience to join its in-house legal team in Houston, TX. The role requires an engineering background and a U.S. bar license to protect innovations, negotiate high‑value technology contracts, and manage global IP risk.

The candidate will work with mechanical, electrical, and software teams to harvest patentable inventions and coordinate with outside counsel on global portfolios.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of dedicated IP law experience in-house or at a firm.
• Experience handling IP transactions, licenses and JV agreements.
• Proven ability to partner with engineering teams on patentable inventions.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate global technology contracts and licenses.
• Lead IP negotiations with service providers, operators, and partners.
• Harvest patentable inventions from drilling automation and robotics teams.
• Oversee outside counsel for patents and trademarks worldwide.
• Perform FTO, infringement, and validity analyses for new tech.
• Collaborate with internal clients and legal staff across the company.

Skills

IP Law

Negotiation

Patent Prosecution

US Bar

Engineering knowledge

Cross-functional

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Engineering degree

Job description

Nabors is a leading provider of advanced technology for the energy industry. With operations in about 20 countries, Nabors has established a global network of people, technology and equipment to deploy solutions that deliver safe, efficient and responsible hydrocarbon production. By leveraging its core competencies, particularly in drilling, engineering, automation, data science and manufacturing, Nabors aims to innovate the future of energy and enable the transition to a lower carbon world.

Job Description

We are seeking a Corporate IP Counsel with 5 to 8 years of experience to join our in-house legal department. As a global oil and gas drilling contractor and technology provider, our competitive edge relies heavily on proprietary automation, mechanical systems, and digital downhole technologies. The ideal candidate will combine an engineering background with commercial legal expertise to protect our innovations, negotiate high-value technology contracts, and mitigate global IP risks.

Job Info

• Job Identification 1001678
• Posting Date 08/12/2026, 12:46 AM
• Apply Before 10/31/2026, 05:00 AM
• Degree Level Bachelor's Degree
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations 515 W Greens Road, Houston, TX, 77067, US

Responsibilities

• Commercial Transactions: Draft, review, and negotiate global commercial agreements, including technology licenses, joint development agreements, master service agreements (MSAs), and vendor contracts.
• IP Operations & Negotiation: Lead transactional negotiations with oilfield service companies, operators, and technology partners regarding IP allocation and joint ventures through a variety of intellectual property documents including joint development agreements, licenses, confidentiality agreements, and other IP-related agreements; Conduct and coordinate research into a variety of intellectual property legal issues, ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and Company policy, anticipate and address legal developments; experience preparing and filing patent prosecution documents on an as‑needed basis.
• Invention Harvesting: Partner directly with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering teams to identify and harvest patentable inventions related to drilling automation, robotics, and equipment.
• Portfolio Oversight: Manage outside counsel handling the preparation and prosecution of the company's global patent and trademark portfolios before the USPTO and international offices.
• Risk Mitigation: Conduct freedom‑to‑operate (FTO), infringement, and validity analyses for new drilling technologies, providing actionable risk‑assessment advice to internal stakeholders and executive leadership to appropriately manage risks and exposure to the Company.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with clients throughout the organization, other attorneys, and legal staff.

Work Authorization Requirement:Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis. Nabors does not provide work visa sponsorship for this position, now or in the future.

Qualifications

• Education: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Technical Background: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Electrical engineering preferred).
• Bar Admissions: Active law license in good standing in the U.S.
• USPTO Admission: Registered to practice in good standing before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Experience: 5–8 years of dedicated IP law experience, ideally with a mix of law firm training and in-house corporate legal department experience.

Education:

J.D. from accredited, nationally ranked law school with excellent academic performance is preferred.

Bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical or electrical engineering preferred).

Preferred Skills

• Deep understanding of oilfield services, drilling operations, or heavy industrial machinery technologies.
• Proven ability to align IP legal strategy with corporate business development and global commercial goals.
• Exceptional communication skills to successfully interface between engineering teams, commercial business leads, and executive management.
• Strong analytical, research and writing skills and ability to exercise sound business judgment and work independently, but as a member of an integrated law team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a highly diverse global law department.
• Ability to collaborate with clients, to manage risk and evaluate alternative options where needed.
• Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and local laws.
• Reputation for high ethical standards and integrity.

Professional Experience:

Skills – Technical:

Prior experience handling similar functions in an in-house legal department is preferred.

Law firm experience preferred

Candidates should be detail-oriented, high energy, high-output individuals.

Skills – Communication:

Experience advising directors, board committees and senior officers of publicly traded companies on corporate, commercial and other legal issues.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to manage effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

Skills – People:

Strategic thinking and planning skills required.

Proven leadership skills in a multi-national environment are required.

Understanding of multi-cultural related communication styles is preferred.

Significant Legal staff management and staff development experience required.

Ability to manage work through others and across multiple programs is necessary.

Licenses, Certifications, Credentials, and Other Requirements:

• Admitted and member in good-standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Must pass pre‑employment and random drug tests.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Nabors is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibiting discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, religion, age, color, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  This applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.  To learn more about our Fair Employment practices, please refer to the Nabors Code of Conduct .