IP Attorney

ASML; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

ASML in San Jose, CA seeks a Patent Attorney to develop and manage ASML's global patent portfolio in computational lithography, metrology, and inspection, reporting to the local Head of IP. You will work with engineers and management to align patent strategy with product goals, manage outside counsel, and provide risk assessments and freedom-to-operate analyses.

The role requires 3+ years of patent experience, US PTO registration, and a strong command of English, with domestic and international

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or physical sciences, or equivalent.
• 3+ years of patent drafting and prosecution experience.
• Must be licensed to practice before the US Patent Office.
• Must be licensed to practice law in at least one US state (California preferred).
• Experience with physics, optics, electron optics, or semiconductor processing preferred.
• Prior in-house experience is a plus.
• Strong English communication skills for complex legal/technical discussions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a global patent portfolio with invention disclosures and reviews.
• Manage outside counsel to prepare and prosecute patent applications and related papers.
• Contribute to ASML IP strategies including patent filing and product clearance.
• Perform freedom-to-operate analyses and assess third-party IP risks.
• Collaborate with engineers and management to align patents with business goals.
• Provide IP counsel to business teams and conduct periodic training on IP matters.
• Assist with inbound/outbound patent licenses when needed.

Skills

Patent law

Patent prosecution

Legal analysis

English communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/physical sciences

Advanced degree in physics (plus in optics)

Tools

IP databases

MS Office suite

Job description

ASML is a world leader in the manufacture of advanced technology systems for the semiconductor industry. With over 40,000 people in more than 80 locations worldwide, ASML has an international presence in the semiconductor industry. ASML’s headquarters is in Veldhoven, Netherlands, and the company has 18 office locations around the United States including main offices in Chandler, Arizona, San Jose and San Diego, California, Wilton, Connecticut, and Hillsboro, Oregon.

Within ASML, the Corporate Intellectual Property (CIP) department is responsible for maximizing ASML’s global IP position to protect and support ASML’s business. In particular, the CIP department strives to preserve freedom to operate for ASML and to establish and maintain a portfolio of IP rights. The CIP department includes about 85 members distributed across four worldwide locations (Veldhoven in the Netherlands; and Wilton, San Diego, and San Jose in the USA).

The CIP department is seeking a qualified patent attorney. This position will be based in San Jose, CA and will report to the local Head of IP. The San Jose IP team provides IP support to scientists, engineers and management responsible for ASML products in computational lithography, metrology, and inspection.

Job Mission

The Patent Attorney will be responsible for working in close partnership with business units, engineers, cross-functional teams and other peers to provide a wide range of patent law related functions in the field of computational lithography, metrology, and inspection. Evaluate and protect company innovations and mitigate IP risk from a worldwide perspective. This is a great opportunity to join the local team of a well-established company with a global presence and get to work on cutting edge issues in an exciting, fast-paced environment.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Actively develop and manage a global patent portfolio, including assessing invention disclosures, conducting inventor interviews, presenting at invention review meetings, and recommending strategic portfolio maintenance.
• Manage outside counsel to effectively prepare and prosecute high-quality patent applications, draft petitions, appeals, and/or other exceptional or non-routine papers as necessary to gain allowance/issuance and also provide guidance to outside counsel consistent with ASML objectives and operating guidelines.
• Contribute to the execution of ASML IP strategies, including patent filing and product clearance.
• Evaluate patent and other IP positioning of third parties to provide risk assessment, freedom-to-operate analysis, product clearance, and mitigation strategies and also evaluate any third-party infringement claims against ASML.
• Interact and work regularly with key stakeholders in engineering and business organizations to acquire a deep knowledge of current and future ASML products and business goals, and develop and align ASML patent portfolio with those business goals, identify opportunities to establish IP protection, determine existence of patent risks and mitigate such risks.
• Provide guidance and counsel to business teams on a range of intellectual property matters as requested or deemed appropriate.
• Conduct periodic training to employees on intellectual property matters.
• Occasionally assist with advising or structuring and/or negotiating inbound or outbound patent licenses.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Flexible to work extended hours when necessary to meet project deadlines and business objectives.
• Some travel, both domestic and international, will be required.
• Job description subject to change at any time.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in the engineering or physical sciences disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, systems and controls science, physics, materials, or optics. Advanced degree in physics with experience in optics a plus.
• 3+ years of relevant patent experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications and rendering patentability, non-infringement opinions and general risk analysis is required.
• Must be licensed to practice before the United States Patent Office.
• Must be licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. state or the District of Columbia, California preferred.
• Experience with physics, optics, electron optics, and/or semiconductor processing strongly preferred.
• Prior in-house experience preferred, including experience with interacting, developing and discussing strategy with engineers and senior management.
• Experience planning and directing administrative staff and others in activities supporting the ASML’s IP work and objectives.
• Strong foundational technical knowledge.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, at least one IP database, and on-line research tools.
• Strong English communication skills, including the ability to read, write, and discuss complex legal and technical matters.

Personal Skills

• Fully functioning in the job independently with only general direction required.
• Strong professional drive to take on challenging assignments.
• Decisive and self-initiating.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with various teams across ASML including a diverse group of colleagues and internal clients in multiple countries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent judgment and critical thinking skills to understand how assigned responsibilities advance ASML’s business objectives and the ability to provide practical and actionable solutions and advice
• Excellent client service ethics and skills, with an advanced understanding of client relationship-building
• Ability to conduct detailed technical analysis while maintaining a high-level strategic view.
• Strong competency with the tools, systems, and procedures required to accomplish the job.
• Be a team player.

Travel

• 10% of travel required

Context of the position

• This position is located on-site in San Jose, CA. It requires onsite presence to attend in-person work-related events, trainings and meetings and to further ensure teamwork, collaboration and innovation.
• A flexible workplace arrangement may be available to employees working in roles conducive to remote work (up to two days a week).

Physical demands and work environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit, walk, talk, hear, use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch; required to move around the campus.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• May require both domestic and international travel depending on business needs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The current base annual salary range for this role is currently:

$160,125-240,188

In addition to base pay this position is eligible for tier based bonus and equity.

Pay scales are determined by role, level, location and alignment with market data. Individual pay is determined through interviews and an assessment of several factors that that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and pay relative to other team members.

All new ASML jobs have a minimum application deadline of 10 days.

• 730, et seq.). Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to access such controlled technology prior to beginning work. Business demands may require ASML to proceed with candidates who are immediately eligible to access controlled technology.

Inclusion and diversity

ASML is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that inclusion and diversity is a driving force in the success of our company.

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Request an Accommodation

ASML provides reasonable accommodations to applicants for ASML employment and ASML employees with disabilities. An accommodation is a change in work rules, facilities, or conditions which enable an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform the essential functions of a job, and/or enjoy equal access to the benefits and privileges of employment. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete an application, participate in an interview, or otherwise participate in the employee pre-selection process, please send an email [e-mail] to initiate the company’s reasonable accommodation process.

Please note: This email address is solely intended to provide a method for applicants to initiate ASML’s process to request accommodation(s). Any recruitment questions should be directed to the designated Talent Acquisition member for the position.