Senior Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney

ABB•Cary, TX

5d•Remote

About The Position

ABB is seeking a senior-level IP attorney to join its US IP Legal team, reporting to the Head of IP for the US. The successful candidate will manage a wide range of complex intellectual property matters for new and existing product offerings, supporting various business stakeholders within ABB. This role involves close collaboration with the global IP Legal team, General Legal, and other company functions to provide strategic advice to technology and business leaders. The primary goal is to minimize IP risks for ABB while advancing business objectives. The team fosters a supportive, collaborative, and learning-oriented environment where unique contributions are valued to drive innovation and solve real-world problems.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school.
Active license to practice in at least one U.S. state.
USPTO registration required.
6+ years of broad intellectual property experience, including patent drafting and prosecution, trademarks, IP agreements, and opinion work.
Bachelor’s degree with a technical background aligned to relevant technologies (e.g., electrification, industrial systems, robotics, or automation).
Demonstrated experience in patent portfolio management, trademark counseling, and drafting/negotiating complex IP agreements (including ownership, licensing, and joint development).
Proven ability to collaborate with senior business and technical leaders, manage projects, deliver actionable IP strategies, and balance risk with business objectives.
Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Strong interpersonal effectiveness.
Highly organized, self-driven, and able to quickly learn new technologies while managing multiple priorities.
Must already have work authorization that would permit them to work for ABB in the US.

Nice To Haves

Law firm and in-house experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Patent Portfolio Management: Lead the decision-making process and implementation for invention disclosure harvesting, patent application drafting, prosecution, filing decisions, portfolio pruning, and IP strategy for a designated ABB technology/division, working with inventors, technology leaders, and outside counsel.
Trademark Counseling: Support trademark prosecution, enforcement, and portfolio strategy, including brand protection initiatives, and advise business stakeholders on these initiatives.
Copyright Counseling: Provide guidance on copyright matters such as disputes, licensing, strategy, and legal issues including fair use and AI-related topics.
IP Agreements & Other IP Work: Draft, negotiate, and advise on various IP-related agreements and clauses concerning IP ownership, indemnity, and other aspects in general business transactions, strategic partnerships, university collaborations, joint development, and software licensing.
Freedom to Operate / Risk Assessments: Learn and build skills in assessing third-party IP to advise the company on its freedom to operate.
IP Support to M&A projects: Provide intellectual property support for Mergers and Acquisitions.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams (General Legal, product management, sales, marketing, business IP coordinators) to deliver optimal IP services.
Communicate effectively with business stakeholders, ensuring accuracy of complex IP data, utilizing strong presentation and relationship skills.
Provide training to the business community on various IP topics as needed.

Benefits

Health, Life & Disability: Choice between two medical plan options (PPO Plan or High Deductible Health Plan with HSA), choice between two dental plan options (Core and Core Plus), Vision benefit.
Company paid life insurance (2X base pay).
Company paid AD&D (1X base pay).
Voluntary life and AD&D (100% employee paid up to maximums).
Short Term Disability (up to 26 weeks – Company paid).
Long Term Disability (60% of pay – Company paid, with ability to buy-up to 66 2/3% of pay).
Supplemental benefits (100% employee paid: Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance).
Paid Parental Leave.
Employee Assistance Program.
Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation, virtual health, and infertility/adoption.
Employee discount program.
401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions.
Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP).
11 paid holidays.
Vacation under a permissive time away policy for salaried exempt positions.
Eligible for a short-term incentive plan/annual bonus.