Director, Intellectual Property (Semiconductor)

Location: Austin, TX, United States of America; other locations include Aurora, IL; Riegelwood, NC; Decatur, TX; Danbury, CT; and Billerica, MA.

Salary: $185,000–$250,000 per year, commensurate with experience.

Company

hirify.global is a technology-driven organization focused on innovation and advanced materials-related business activities.

What you will do

• Advise executive leadership and critical business units on intellectual property strategy, risk management, and portfolio optimization.
• Develop and execute enterprise-wide IP strategies aligned with business growth, innovation priorities, technology investments, and competitive differentiation.
• Lead patent, trade secret, licensing, technology transfer, dispute, and commercialization-related matters.
• Partner with legal, business, engineering, and R&D teams throughout technology roadmaps, invention harvesting, new product development, and commercialization.
• Direct patent agents, technical subject matter experts, and outside counsel on U.S. and international patent preparation, prosecution, maintenance, and related matters.
• Lead freedom-to-operate, patentability, validity, clearance, competitive landscape, whitespace, and competitor analyses; negotiate IP provisions and support disputes and enforcement.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Typically 7+ years of progressive intellectual property experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, or combination of both.
• Experience developing and leading IP strategy for technology-driven organizations.
• Extensive experience in patent portfolio management, licensing, freedom-to-operate analysis, IP transactions, and dispute management.
• Experience preparing and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications and directing patent agents and outside counsel.
• Experience negotiating IP terms in joint development, licensing, university, collaboration, and technology transfer agreements.
• Experience supporting global operations and international intellectual property portfolios.
• Expert knowledge of U.S. and international intellectual property law and practice, with strategic thinking, business acumen, communication, negotiation, relationship management, and executive influence skills.
• Ability to translate complex IP issues, patent analytics, and competitive intelligence into actionable business recommendations; influence innovation, product development, and commercialization; lead ambiguous, high-risk initiatives; and mentor legal and technical professionals.

Nice to have

• Registered Patent Attorney status with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience in semiconductor, advanced materials, manufacturing, life sciences, or a related industry.

Culture & Benefits

• Employee growth is supported through a culture focused on expertise, collaboration, and innovation.
• The role partners with executive leadership, business leaders, R&D teams, external stakeholders, customers, partners, universities, industry organizations, and outside counsel.