Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property (Patent)

Perplexity•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Perplexity AI is looking for a Senior Counsel, Patents to build and lead our intellectual property strategy from the ground up. As one of the fastest-growing AI companies in the world, protecting our innovations in search, AI reasoning, and retrieval-augmented generation is a critical strategic priority and this role is central to that mission. You'll be our first dedicated patent attorney, responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive patent portfolio strategy that reflects the depth and pace of our engineering and product innovation. The ideal candidate brings a technical foundation in computer science or a related field, significant experience in patent prosecution and portfolio strategy at a top IP firm or in-house at a technology company, and genuine enthusiasm for working closely with engineers and researchers to identify and protect what makes Perplexity unique. This is a rare opportunity to shape IP strategy at a defining moment in AI.

Requirements

A technical undergraduate degree (or equivalent experience), preferably a CE or Computer Science degree.
10+ years of relevant experience including experience as in-house counsel in patent preparation and prosecution, strategic portfolio development, foreign filing, and licensing.
JD and in good standing with an active US state bar membership
Registration to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Outstanding interpersonal skills: written and verbal, organizational abilities, and attested attention to detail.
Ability to navigate and break down complex legal issues into actionable advice covering a broad range of interdependent issues, balance risk with business need, and ask tough questions
Hands-on attitude to tackle projects large and small, low-ego approach to working across the organization
Positive collaborative attitude, comfort with change and a fast pace, high level of integrity, and intellectual curiosity
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive patent portfolio strategy for Perplexity's core technologies, including AI search, retrieval-augmented generation, ranking systems, and enterprise AI infrastructure.
Lead patent harvesting efforts by conducting regular invention disclosure sessions and working closely with engineering, research, and product teams to identify patentable innovations early in the development cycle.
Manage the full patent prosecution lifecycle from invention disclosure through filing, prosecution, and grant working with outside patent counsel to ensure quality, efficiency, and strategic alignment.
Evaluate patent applications for eligibility, novelty, relevance, and detectability to build a portfolio that provides meaningful competitive protection and business value.
Advise on AI-specific IP considerations, including patentability of AI/ML-implemented inventions, freedom-to-operate analyses, and the evolving USPTO and global regulatory landscape for AI patents.
Negotiate and manage IP transactions, including patent licenses, cross-licenses, and IP-related provisions in commercial and partnership agreements, working alongside the Commercial (Enterprise) team as needed.
Build and maintain an open source software compliance program including OSS scanning, risk mitigation, and proper attribution in partnership with Engineering and Security teams.
Conduct internal training sessions for engineering and product teams on IP best practices, invention identification, and the strategic value of the patent program.
Monitor the competitive patent landscape and provide strategic intelligence on competitor filings, emerging technology trends, and potential IP risks.
Establish scalable IP processes, tools, and policies to support Perplexity's rapid growth and expanding global footprint.