Senior Licensing Officer

Connexion Systems + Engineering; Bedford (MA); Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Dental/Vision

Pension/401(k)

Paid leave

Tuition reimbursement

Mentorship programs

Work‑life balance

Job summary

Connexion Systems & Engineering Inc. is seeking a Senior Licensing Officer in Bedford, MA to drive technology licensing initiatives within the DoD ecosystem.

The role centers on identifying licensees, assessing IP assets, and negotiating licensing agreements that meet government and industry goals. You will work on technology transfer projects, collaborate with researchers, legal experts, and business leaders to commercialize IP while ensuring compliance with export controls and security

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage effectively with researchers, administrators, legal professionals, and industry representatives.
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and exercise sound judgment.
• Experience in government technology transfer is strongly preferred.
• U.S. citizenship is required and ability to obtain/maintain security clearance.
• Willingness to upgrade clearance to TS if needed.

Responsibilities

• Identify potential licensees among spinout/startup companies, small businesses, large industry leaders, and the defense industrial base.
• Assess the value proposition of IP assets, including patents and non‑patent assets, aligned with market trends and partner goals.
• Negotiate licensing and other agreements to meet licensees' and government sponsor objectives.
• Understand technology sensitivities related to national security and export controls during license negotiations.
• Collaborate with IP management to provide feedback on patent prosecution and IP protection strategies.
• Coordinate with research contracting to align sponsored research with licensing opportunities.
• Work with marketing and business development to maximize outreach effectiveness.
• Maintain productive relationships with Licensing Office staff and ensure best practices under IP Policy.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Independent work

Collaborative approach

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Advanced technical degree preferred

Job description

Senior Licensing Officer

Salary Range: $121,700–$161,200
Clearance: Ability to obtain Secret.
Must be willing to upgrade to TS if needed.
Hybrid: 4 days onsite, 1 day remote.

Senior Licensing Officer Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret-level DoD security clearance
Citizenship: U.S. citizenship required

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO) facilitates and oversees technology transfer to government and industry, fosters collaborative research with the private sector, and manages the Laboratory's Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio, in close collaboration with our Licensing Office, which has ultimate responsibility for the management and integrity of IP, of which IP is part. To support increased technology transfer opportunities in complex federal and private-sector environments, seeking a Senior Technology Licensing Officer. This position offers the opportunity to work with cutting‑edge technologies and collaborate with researchers, industry leaders, and legal experts to bring inventions to the global marketplace. The role encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, allowing candidates to leverage expertise in engineering and physical sciences while making a significant impact on the commercialization of intellectual property.

Essential Functions

• Identify potential licensees among spinout/startup companies, small businesses, large industry leaders, and the defense industrial base.
• Assess the value proposition of intellectual property assets, including patent and non‑patent assets, in the context of industry trends and partner business goals.
• Negotiate licensing and other agreements to simultaneously achieve the goals of licensees, government sponsors.
• Understand technology sensitivities related to national security classification and export controls and address them appropriately during license negotiations and execution.
• Collaborate with the TTO IP management team to understand available assets and provide feedback on patent prosecution and IP protection strategies based on licensee needs and progress.
• Work with the collaborative research contracting team to ensure strategic alignment between sponsored research agreements and parallel or future licensing transactions.
• Collaborate with marketing and business development teams to maximize the effectiveness of outreach efforts.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with Licensing Office staff to ensure effective information exchange, co‑management of overlapping cases, and adherence to best practices for technology transfer and commercialization under IP Policy.
• Manage an extensive portfolio of cases, developing licensing strategies such as express licensing, exclusive and non‑exclusive licensing, and open‑source approaches that align with government sponsor and national security goals.
• Ensure has the appropriate rights to license each case and complies with applicable government regulations.

Requirements

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering, with preference given to candidates with degrees in Electrical Engineering or Optical Engineering.
• Advanced technical degree preferred but not required.
• 8 years of direct experience in engineering and/or physical sciences industries, including at least 5 years in technology licensing, product management, business development, contract negotiation, or related activities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, address complex business, legal, interpersonal, and inter‑organizational issues, work independently, and exercise sound judgment and discretion.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage effectively with research staff, administrative personnel, legal professionals, and industry representatives.
• Strong organizational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and a collaborative approach to developing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Prior experience in government technology transfer strongly preferred.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans
• Funded pension
• Matching 401(k)
• Paid leave, including vacation, sick, parental, and military leave
• Tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs
• Mentorship programs
• Work‑life balance options

Salary and Compensation

The salary range represents base compensation only. Final compensation depends on experience, qualifications, internal equity, and other applicable considerations.

Additional Information

The selected candidate will be subject to a pre‑employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret‑level DoD security clearance.