IP Counsel

Waymo LLC; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Remote work opportunities

Competitive compensation

401(k) and retirement plans

Educational reimbursement

Volunteer hours

Job summary

Waymo LLC, located in Mountain View, CA, seeks a senior in-house IP counsel to guide the patent strategy for lidar, radar, cameras, and compute across global markets. You will partner with engineering, product, and partnerships teams to protect and monetize cutting-edge autonomous driving technologies.

Ideal candidates bring a JD, USPTO eligibility, bar admission, and 6+ years of experience in patent portfolio management, licensing, and IP litigation strategies, with a proven record of

Qualifications

• JD degree with a strong academic record, bar membership, and USPTO admission.
• 6+ years of relevant legal experience in IP or tech sectors.
• Experience managing global patent portfolios and advising on IP in commercial or collaborative agreements.
• Experience with patent licensing, litigation, and third-party demand handling.
• In-house experience alongside engineering, product, partnerships, leadership teams.

Responsibilities

• Strategically build and manage a global patent portfolio for lidar, radar, camera, and compute.
• Advise engineering, product, partnerships and leadership on IP issues in transactions and agreements.
• Provide direct counseling on IP terms, prosecution, licensing, and litigation strategies.
• Review publications and disclosures to manage IP risk and protect confidential information.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align IP strategy with business goals.

Skills

Patent portfolio management

IP counseling to eng teams

Licensing & transactions

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Education

JD degree

US bar admission

USPTO admission

Job description

• As part of Waymo's Legal team, you will work on the exciting legal issues surrounding our transformational autonomous driving technology and help drive our business lines forward from technology ideation through scaled commercial deployment
• We partner with our public policy, safety, security and privacy experts to define transportation policy for the autonomous driving world to come, advising on regulatory changes that support and protect our users around the world
• We collaborate with our engineering, product, strategy and operations teams to develop and protect our intellectual property portfolio and drive our corporate and commercial transactions
• We ensure compliance with an increasingly complex and dynamic range of global regulations. And we anticipate, mitigate, and litigate high-profile and precedent-setting legal matters
• In this hybrid role, you will report to an Assistant General Counsel
• Strategically build and manage a global patent portfolio for key technology areas, including lidar, radar, camera, and compute, including managing the full patent life cycle, from conducting patent harvest sessions and disclosure reviews to strategic filing decisions, global prosecution, portfolio maintenance and strategic portfolio analysis, and managing outside patent counsel to ensure timely, high-quality, and targeted work product
• Advise business teams, product managers, engineers, and researchers on IP issues and provide counseling on IP terms in transactional matters
• Collaborate cross-functionally, with other legal team members and partnerships, product, and technical teams, on IP-related issues in agreements with partners, suppliers, vendors, and academic institutions
• Review and provide guidance on publications, presentations, marketing, and other public disclosures to manage IP risks and ensure confidential information is protected
• Manage responses to IP-related communications, working cross-functionally across legal and business teams, including potentially evaluating acquisition and licensing opportunities

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health
• Personalized workplace adjustments for diverse needs and abilities, including physical, mental, and neurodivergent considerations
• Access to mental health apps
• Onsite wellness centers
• Second medical opinion for you and your loved ones
• Counseling services
• Support programs including menopause benefit
• Medical advocacy program for transgender employees
• Competitive compensation
• Regular bonus and equity performance grant opportunities
• Generous 401(k) and regional retirement plans
• Annual cross-company compensation review and pay equity analysis
• 1-on-1 financial coaching
• Fertility and growing family assistance
• Parental leave and baby bonding leave
• Elder care and support
• Survivor income benefit
• Backup childcare
• Caregiver leave
• Paid time off, including vacation, bereavement, sick leave, parental leave, disability, and holidays
• Jury duty leave
• Military leave
• Hybrid work model with remote work opportunities also available
• Educational reimbursement
• Peer learning and coaching platform
• Donation matching programs
• Volunteer hours
• Employee resource groups
• Internal community groups and local culture clubs
• Inspiring spaces to work, recharge, and collaborate with fellow Waymonauts
• On-site meals and snacks
• Fitness centers, massage programs, and ergonomic support
• On-demand fitness, wellbeing, and cooking classes
• Commuter benefits

Solid technical background/understanding of technology used in autonomous vehicles, sensor hardware, or semiconductorsJD degree with a strong academic record, state bar membership, admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and 6+ years of relevant legal experienceDemonstrated experience in: managing a global patent portfolio and patent analysis, providing direct counseling to engineering and research teams, and advising on IP terms in commercial or collaboration agreementsExperience with understanding cross-functional perspectives and navigating ambiguity. Ability to identify and create streamlined processes to support a growing companyEagerness to work in a startup environment and flexibly roll up your sleeves as an individual contributor to help drive our fast-paced and dynamic business within an emerging and rapidly developing industryExecution-oriented individual with strong interpersonal, communication, and team skills. Experience presenting to senior management and technical teamsPrior in-house experience working side-by-side with engineering, product, partnerships, marketing, and leadership teams to spot, address, and counsel on IP issuesExperience developing integrated IP strategies that support business goals, spanning patent prosecution, technology licensing, and patent litigationDemonstrated experience in: patent acquisition, licensing, litigation, and/or handling of third-party demandsExperience advising on and negotiating agreements with government agencies and universities