Senior IP Attorney

ASML•San Jose, CA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

ASML is a world leader in the manufacture of advanced technology systems for the semiconductor industry. With over 40,000 people in more than 80 locations worldwide, ASML has an international presence in the semiconductor industry. ASML’s headquarters is in Veldhoven, Netherlands, and the company has 18 office locations around the United States including main offices in Chandler, Arizona, San Jose and San Diego, California, Wilton, Connecticut, and Hillsboro, Oregon. Within ASML, the Corporate Intellectual Property (CIP) department is responsible for maximizing ASML’s global IP position to protect and support ASML’s business. In particular, the CIP department strives to preserve freedom to operate for ASML and to establish and maintain a portfolio of IP rights. The CIP department includes about 85 members distributed across four worldwide locations (Veldhoven in the Netherlands; and Wilton, San Diego, and San Jose in the USA). The CIP department is seeking a qualified patent attorney. This position will be based in San Jose, CA and will report to the local Head of IP. The San Jose IP team provides IP support to scientists, engineers and management responsible for ASML products in computational lithography, metrology, and inspection. The Patent Attorney will be responsible for working in close partnership with business units, engineers, cross-functional teams and other peers to provide a wide range of patent law related functions in the field of computational lithography, metrology, and inspection. Evaluate and protect company innovations and mitigate IP risk from a worldwide perspective. This is a great opportunity to join the local team of a well-established company with a global presence and get to work on cutting edge issues in an exciting, fast-paced environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in the engineering or physical sciences disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, systems and controls science, physics, materials, or optics.
3+ years of relevant patent experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications and rendering patentability, non-infringement opinions and general risk analysis is required.
Must be licensed to practice before the United States Patent Office.
Must be licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. state or the District of Columbia, California preferred.
Strong foundational technical knowledge.
Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, at least one IP database, and on-line research tools.
Strong English communication skills, including the ability to read, write, and discuss complex legal and technical matters.
Fully functioning in the job independently with only general direction required.
Strong professional drive to take on challenging assignments.
Decisive and self-initiating.
Ability to collaborate effectively with various teams across ASML including a diverse group of colleagues and internal clients in multiple countries.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent judgment and critical thinking skills to understand how assigned responsibilities advance ASML’s business objectives and the ability to provide practical and actionable solutions and advice.
Excellent client service ethics and skills, with an advanced understanding of client relationship-building.
Ability to conduct detailed technical analysis while maintaining a high-level strategic view.
Strong competency with the tools, systems, and procedures required to accomplish the job.
Be a team player.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in physics with experience in optics a plus.
Experience with physics, optics, electron optics, and/or semiconductor processing strongly preferred.
Prior in-house experience preferred, including experience with interacting, developing and discussing strategy with engineers and senior management.
Experience planning and directing administrative staff and others in activities supporting the ASML’s IP work and objectives.

Responsibilities

Actively develop and manage a global patent portfolio, including assessing invention disclosures, conducting inventor interviews, presenting at invention review meetings, and recommending strategic portfolio maintenance.
Manage outside counsel to effectively prepare and prosecute high-quality patent applications, draft petitions, appeals, and/or other exceptional or non-routine papers as necessary to gain allowance/issuance and also provide guidance to outside counsel consistent with ASML objectives and operating guidelines.
Contribute to the execution of ASML IP strategies, including patent filing and product clearance.
Evaluate patent and other IP positioning of third parties to provide risk assessment, freedom-to-operate analysis, product clearance, and mitigation strategies and also evaluate any third-party infringement claims against ASML.
Interact and work regularly with key stakeholders in engineering and business organizations to acquire a deep knowledge of current and future ASML products and business goals, and develop and align ASML patent portfolio with those business goals, identify opportunities to establish IP protection, determine existence of patent risks and mitigate such risks.
Provide guidance and counsel to business teams on a range of intellectual property matters as requested or deemed appropriate.
Conduct periodic training to employees on intellectual property matters.
Occasionally assist with advising or structuring and/or negotiating inbound or outbound patent licenses.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Flexible to work extended hours when necessary to meet project deadlines and business objectives.
Some travel, both domestic and international, will be required.