Senior IP Counsel & Global Strategy Leader

Eaton; Beachwood (OH); Hybrid; USD 203,000 - 297,000; Full time

Job summary

Eaton is seeking an experienced Assistant Chief IP Counsel to lead the global IP strategy and portfolio execution. You will advise senior leaders on technology risk, licensing, and commercial strategy, partnering across engineering, R&D, and business teams to protect critical innovations.

The role requires deep IP expertise, executive presence, and the ability to translate complex technical matters into actionable business decisions to drive growth and enterprise value.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Undergraduate degree in engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, physics, chemistry, or other technical discipline.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in intellectual property law, including significant experience supporting innovation-intensive businesses.
• Registered U.S. Patent Attorney or equivalent patent qualification in a major jurisdiction.
• Experience managing patent portfolios, technology transactions, licensing, and intellectual property risk matters.
• Experience leading complex intellectual property issues within a multinational organization, major law firm, or combination thereof.
• Advanced degree in engineering, science, technology, business, or intellectual property law.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global intellectual property strategy aligned with Eaton’s innovation and business objectives.
• Drive identification, protection, development, maintenance, exploitation, and optimization of Eaton’s IP portfolio worldwide.
• Advise executive leadership on IP risks, opportunities, and competitive positioning.
• Serve as trusted advisor to Chief Legal Officer and senior leadership on IP and technology matters.
• Develop governance frameworks, procedures, and KPIs for IP management and innovation support.
• Lead strategic patent portfolio development across electrical systems, software, AI, cybersecurity, and connected products.
• Guide invention harvesting, patentability assessments, portfolio prioritization, whitespace analyses, and protection strategies.
• Drive portfolio optimization and informed investment in high-value technologies.

Skills

IP strategy

Executive leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

US bar license

Engineering/technical undergraduate degree

Job description

Eaton is seeking an experienced Assistant Chief IP Counsel to lead the global IP strategy and portfolio execution. You will advise senior leaders on technology risk, licensing, and commercial strategy, partnering across engineering, R&D, and business teams to protect critical innovations.

The role requires deep IP expertise, executive presence, and the ability to translate complex technical matters into actionable business decisions to drive growth and enterprise value.