Sr. Principal, Legal Counsel, IP – Patents

Location: Seoul, South Korea

Company

hirify.global is a high-tech commerce company combining a startup culture with the resources of a large global public company to build products and services for South Korean commerce.

What you will do

• Own and evolve patent portfolios supporting hirify.global's products and services.
• Drive the full patent lifecycle, from invention harvesting and drafting through global filings and prosecution.
• Partner with engineers and product leaders to identify patentable innovations and align IP strategy with business priorities.
• Advise on patent risk and strategy, including freedom-to-operate, licensing, invalidity, and dispute-related matters.
• Build inventor engagement and patent awareness programs.
• Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, Engineering, Product, and business stakeholders on practical IP solutions.

Requirements

• Qualified Patent Attorney in the US or Korea.
• 15+ years of patent law experience in-house and/or in a law firm.
• Strong expertise in patent prosecution and portfolio management.
• Fluent English is required.
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable business guidance.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration, judgment, ownership, and problem-solving skills in fast-paced environments.

Nice to have

• Additional language fluency, especially Korean.
• Experience across both law firm and in-house environments.
• Technical background in computer science, electrical engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with software, platform, internet, or e-commerce technologies.
• Exposure to patent litigation, licensing, freedom-to-operate, or IP due diligence.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time regular employment with a 12-week probation period.
• Startup culture with the resources of a large global public company.
• Opportunities to work on high-impact innovation and new initiatives.
• Cross-functional exposure across technology, law, and business.

Hiring process

• Application review, phone interview, onsite or virtual onsite interview, and offer.
• Interview timing and results are communicated by email.