Intellectual Property & Technology Counsel - REMOTE

BMC Software, Inc.; New York (NY); Remote; USD 115,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

BMC Software, Inc. is seeking an Intellectual Property & Technology Counsel to help manage patents, trademarks, copyrights, and open source issues.

The role emphasizes collaboration with product, marketing, and security teams across the business, requiring strong IP expertise and sound legal judgment. Ideal candidates have a JD, US bar admission, USPTO registration, and 3–6 years of IP experience, including patent prosecution.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school with active bar membership in the US.
• Registration to practice before the USPTO with patent prosecution experience.
• 3–6 years of IP experience in law firm, in-house, or both.
• Strong understanding of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
• Excellent research, writing, and analytical skills; good judgment.

Responsibilities

• Manage patent and trademark portfolios, lead committee work, and coordinate IP strategy.
• Oversee open source compliance and licensing matters; partner with R&D and product teams.
• Handle IP disputes and pre-litigation matters with counsel.
• Review IP provisions in commercial and technology agreements; advise on ownership and licensing.
• Provide guidance on AI-related IP issues and collaborate with marketing and privacy teams.

Skills

IP law

Patent prosecution

Legal research

Written communication

Independent work

Cross-team collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor

US bar admission

USPTO registration

Job description

You may occasionally be required to travel for business

Additional Locations

This role can be based remotely in United States

Description and Requirements

BMC empowers nearly 80% of the Forbes Global 100 to accelerate business value, faster than humanly possible. Our industry-leading portfolio unlocks human and machine potential to drive business growth, innovation, and sustainable success. BMC does this in a simple and optimized way by connecting people, systems, and data that power the world’s largest organizations so they can seize a competitive advantage.

BMC’s dynamic corporate teams are strategic and trusted advisors to the global organization supporting, enhancing, and driving BMC’s vision, culture, growth, and so much more. Each individual within the corporate teams is a valued partner to the overarching success of BMC’s employees and customers.

Join us an Intellectual Property & Technology Counsel!

BMC’s legal team is a tight-knit, high-impact legal team at the heart of a fast-moving tech company. Smart, curious, and highly collaborative, we bring sharp legal minds to the table—without the ego.

We are currently seeking an early-career Intellectual Property & Technology Counsel with 3-6 years of relevant experience to join the team. This role involves managing and protecting BMC’s intellectual property and advising on a broad range of legal issues involving software and technology. This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney looking to broaden their experience across a wide range of intellectual property and technology matters. You’ll work on everything from patents, trademarks, and copyrights to open source software, AI, agreements, marketing, cybersecurity, and IP disputes.

We’re looking for someone with a strong technical background, a solid foundation in IP law, and good judgment. The role covers a broad range of legal issues, and we don’t expect you to have experience in every area from day one. What’s important is that you can quickly get up to speed on unfamiliar topics, enjoy solving problems, and build strong working relationships with colleagues across the business.

Here is how, through this exciting role, YOU will contribute to BMC’s and your own success:

• Manage BMC's patent and trademark portfolios, including leading the Patent Review Committee and overseeing prosecution, maintenance, and enforcement. Advise on copyright and trade secret matters. Work with inventors, business teams, and outside counsel to develop IP strategy, set portfolio priorities, and manage budgets.
• Manage BMC's open source compliance program, including reviewing licenses, assessing risks, advising R&D and Product teams on licensing obligations, and addressing compliance issues. Help develop and improve internal policies and processes.
• Handle or assist with IP disputes and pre-litigation matters, including infringement assessments, cease-and-desist letters, trademark oppositions, domain name disputes, and settlement discussions. Work with litigation counsel and outside counsel on enforcement and defense strategies.
• Review and negotiate IP-related provisions in commercial, licensing, confidentiality, and other technology agreements. Advise on IP ownership, licensing rights, and use restrictions, and assist with IP due diligence in corporate transactions.
• Advise on legal issues related to AI, including IP ownership, AI-generated content and code, responsible use, internal policies, product claims, and changing legal requirements.
• Advise Marketing on trademark and copyright issues, advertising claims, endorsements, customer stories, social media, promotional materials, and third-party content licensing. Work with the team to address legal concerns as they arise.
• Work with Privacy, Information Security, and other teams on cybersecurity matters and the safeguarding of BMC’s confidential information.
• Draft and update policies and guidance on IP, confidential information, open source software, AI, and technology use. Provide training to business and technical teams and keep up with relevant legal developments.

To ensure you are set up for success, you will bring the following skillset & experience:

• You hold a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and patent prosecution experience.
• You have 3-6 years of relevant legal experience involving intellectual property gained at a law firm, in-house, or both.
• You have a strong understanding of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills, along with the ability to assess and clearly communicate and advise on legal risks.
• Good judgment, curiosity, and a willingness to learn new areas of law and technology.
• The ability to work independently, take ownership of matters, and know when to ask for help or involve others.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work well and build strong relationships with individuals across different teams.

Our commitment to you!

BMC’s culture is built around its people. We have 6000+ brilliant minds working together across the globe. You won’t be known just by your employee number, but for your true authentic self. BMC lets you be YOU!

BMC is committed to equal opportunity employment regardless of race, age, sex, creed, color, religion, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy, disabled veteran or status as a protected veteran. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, visit the accommodation request page.

BMC Software maintains a strict policy of not requesting any form of payment in exchange for employment opportunities, upholding a fair and ethical hiring process.

The annual base salary range represents the low and high end of the BMC salary range for this position. Actual salaries depend on a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training, licensure, and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.

The range listed is just one component of BMC’s employee compensation package. Other rewards may include a variable plan and country specific benefits.

At BMC, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at /near the top of the range. A reasonable estimate of the current range is $114,525 - $190,875