Director, Intellectual Property / USG Data Rights (Remote)
About The Position
The Director, Intellectual Property / USG Data Rights drives intellectual property engagement within the business and provides timely advice to senior management, legal counsel, engineers, and commercial colleagues. The role advises on patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright law, related disputes, and intellectual-property provisions in agreements with customers, suppliers, and partners. The director collaborates with clients to develop and implement IP strategies aligned with business objectives, and engages on IP issues throughout product development. Responsibilities include identifying and assessing inventions, preparing and prosecuting patent applications, protecting trade secrets, monitoring third-party patents and applications for infringement risk and validity, and evaluating potential competitor infringement. The role advises senior management on infringement issues and oversees litigation as required. The director also develops SBU IP strategies, reviews and clears IP-related content for publication, conducts IP due diligence for M&A matters, and uses internal and third-party tools to improve legal operations. The position is remote, with travel expected 10% of the time, and requires U.S. citizenship.
Requirements
- Typically, a university degree and at least 14 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree in a related field and at least 12 years of experience.
- Juris Doctor degree.
- Admission to the bar of one or more U.S. states.
- At least 5 years of IP legal experience.
- Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
- At least 5 years of significant U.S. Government Data Rights experience, such as FAR, DFARS, or OTA experience.
- U.S. citizenship.
Nice To Haves
- Aerospace experience, such as experience as an engineer, in-house attorney, or patent prosecutor.
- Law firm and in-house IP legal experience.
- IP contract negotiation experience with customers and suppliers.
- Patent preparation and prosecution, transactions, and litigation experience.
- Engineering experience.
Responsibilities
- Drive intellectual property engagement within the business.
- Provide concise and timely advice to senior management, legal counsel, engineers, and commercial colleagues on IP matters, including patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright law and related disputes.
- Negotiate and advise on IP agreements and IP aspects of broader agreements with customers, suppliers, and partners.
- Develop and implement IP strategies for key enterprises, products, and technologies aligned with business objectives.
- Engage on IP issues throughout product development processes.
- Work with engineers and outside counsel to identify protectable inventions, assess invention disclosures, prepare and prosecute patent applications, and protect trade secrets.
- Monitor and assess third-party patents and applications for infringement risk and validity, addressing legal risks before products reach market.
- Work with engineers to monitor competitor products and advise whether competitors may infringe Collins Aerospace patents.
- Advise senior management on potential infringement issues and oversee litigation as required.
- Learn and implement IP department tools and policies and work toward continuous improvement of department processes.
- Use internal and third-party tools to improve legal operations.
- Develop SBU IP strategies that support business goals.
- Review and clear IP-related content for publication.
- Conduct IP due diligence for M&A matters in areas of technical responsibility.
- Resolve issues independently where appropriate and consult with peers, the Chief IP Counsel, and the General Counsel when needed.
- Travel 10% of the time.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
- 401(k) plan with employer matching funds and a separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option.
- Tuition reimbursement program.
- Student Loan Repayment Program.
- Life insurance and disability coverage.
- Optional pet, home and auto, additional life and accident, critical illness, group legal, and identity theft protection coverage.
- Birth, adoption, and parental leave benefits.
- Fertility and family planning support through Ovia Health.
- Adoption assistance.
- Autism benefit.
- Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions.
- Healthy You Incentives wellness rewards program.
- Doctor on Demand virtual doctor visits.
- Bright Horizons child and elder care services.
- Teladoc Medical Experts second-opinion program.
- Eligible for relocation assistance.
- Flexible work schedules.
- Paid time off and holidays.
- Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation may be available, depending on position level and other factors.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
