IP Counsel: Patents, Open Source & Tech Strategy

Lyft; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 162,000 - 202,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great health insurance

Mental health benefits

Family building benefits

Child care benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid time off: holidays and PTO

Job summary

Lyft seeks an IP leader to manage our patent function and strategy in a fast-moving environment. You will collaborate with engineers and researchers, driving invention harvesting, disclosures, and prosecution with outside counsel while advising on open source compliance and IP risk across the business.

The role combines legal expertise with a collaborative, high-volume counseling approach. A JD and USPTO eligibility are required, with 5+ years in patent prosecution and a technical degree in

Qualifications

• 5+ years of patent prosecution experience
• In-house patent portfolio experience a plus
• Experience advising on open source license compliance
• Must be member of the Patent Bar with USPTO eligibility
• Proactive, self-directed, organized with excellent communication skills
• Able to work with engineers and researchers in a hybrid/home office setting

Responsibilities

• Own patent portfolio end to end: harvesting, disclosures, prosecution with outside counsel
• Drive patent strategy, filing decisions, and portfolio health reporting
• Counsel on open source license compliance for inbound/outbound software
• Review public disclosures for IP and confidentiality risk
• Advise stakeholders on protecting and defending IP rights worldwide
• Support IP diligence for partnerships, M&A, and vendor relationships
• Educate product and engineering teams on IP matters and scale processes

Skills

Patent prosecution

Open source guidance

AI fluency

Strong communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

BS/MS in Computer Science or Engineering

Job description

Lyft seeks an IP leader to manage our patent function and strategy in a fast-moving environment. You will collaborate with engineers and researchers, driving invention harvesting, disclosures, and prosecution with outside counsel while advising on open source compliance and IP risk across the business.

The role combines legal expertise with a collaborative, high-volume counseling approach. A JD and USPTO eligibility are required, with 5+ years in patent prosecution and a technical degree in