Counsel, Patents & IP

Lyft•Seattle, WA

1d•$161,920 - $202,400•Hybrid

About The Position

Lyft is hiring a Counsel, Patents & IP to manage the company’s patent function and advise on intellectual property matters. The role leads patent portfolio strategy and day-to-day management, advises on open source, reviews technical publications before external release, and serves as a trusted IP advisor across the business. The position reports to the Senior Director, Associate General Counsel, IP. The role works closely with engineers, researchers, lawyers, and business stakeholders on matters involving Lyft’s global expansion, Lyft Urban Solutions’ mobility hardware and software business, and the deployment and expansion of autonomous vehicles on Lyft’s network. Lyft seeks someone who builds relationships, makes patent law approachable, and can adapt to a fast-moving environment. The position is hybrid and requires working in the office three days per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Hybrid team members may work from anywhere for up to four weeks per year. The expected base pay range for the Seattle area is $161,920–$202,400, excluding potential equity, bonus, or benefits.

Requirements

At least 5 years of patent prosecution experience in a relevant area.
Experience advising on open-source license compliance.
Membership in the Patent Bar and substantial understanding of patent law outside of litigation.
Juris Doctor degree.
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, engineering, or an equivalent technical field.
State bar membership.
Eligibility to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Proactive, self-directed, detail-oriented, and organized, with exceptional communication skills.
Adaptable and positive under shifting priorities, with the flexibility to move between in-depth legal work and high-volume counseling.
Demonstrated AI fluency and comfort using AI tools in day-to-day work.
Sense of humor and comfort with shifting priorities.

Nice To Haves

In-house patent portfolio building or management experience.

Responsibilities

Own the company’s patent portfolio end to end, including invention harvesting, invention disclosure meetings, portfolio mining, and directing outside patent counsel on application preparation and prosecution.
Set patent strategy and make filing, continuation, and abandonment decisions based on technical merit, competitive landscape, and cost; manage portfolio health and reporting against product roadmaps.
Counsel and collaborate with engineering on review and approval of inbound and outbound open-source licenses, including license compatibility and compliance risks.
Review papers, blog posts, conference talks, and other public technical disclosures for intellectual property and confidentiality risks, and provide related guidance.
Provide strategic and portfolio advice and counsel stakeholders on protecting and defending intellectual property rights worldwide.
Support intellectual property diligence for partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and vendor relationships.
Train and educate product and engineering teams on intellectual property matters, and build scalable tools, policies, and processes.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance options, with additional programs available when enrolled.
Mental health benefits.
Family-building benefits.
Child care and pet benefits.
401(k) plan with company match.
12 observed holidays.
Discretionary paid time off for salaried team members; 15 days of paid time off for hourly team members.
18 weeks of paid parental leave for biological, adoptive, and foster parents.
Subsidized commuter benefits.
Monthly Lyft credits and complimentary Lyft Pink membership.
Potential equity offering and bonus.