Patent Counsel
Snap Inc. is a camera company. We believe that reinventing the camera represents our greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate. Our products empower people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together.
The Legal & Policy Team is Snap’s dedicated in-house law firm, policy consultant, lobbyist, thought partner, and all-around advisor. We help Snap do the right thing the right way, make better decisions, understand and manage risks, and creatively navigate challenges, both external and internal. We value diversity and know it powers us as we build an innovative and inclusive leadership culture centered on Snap's values of Kind, Smart, and Creative.
Snap’s IP Team, which sits within Legal & Policy, leads the development and enforcement of intellectual property covering Snap’s cutting-edge products and brands. We partner with product and marketing teams across Snap to develop IP, file patents/trademarks/copyrights, mitigate IP risk in product decisions, advise on IP issues in contracts and M&A, and ensure that Snap is strategically positioned in our key markets across the world.
We’re looking for a Patent Counsel to join the IP Team! As Patent Counsel working from our Santa Monica headquarters, you’ll have an exciting opportunity to work with Snap’s business and product teams to build a world-class patent portfolio. You’ll participate in all aspects of our patent program including securing patent protection for our inventions. You’ll also have an opportunity to handle a wide range of other IP issues including supporting litigation, licensing, M&A, and counseling on open source software projects.
What you’ll do:
Conduct invention disclosure sessions with inventors
Manage U.S. and international patent prosecution
Conduct education and training sessions
Support patent acquisition efforts
Assist with patent assertions and litigation, patent licensing, and provide IP support in commercial and M&A transactions
Serve as a Legal point of contact for open source software issues
Knowledge, skills, & abilities:
USPTO registration
Experience with a wide range of technological areas including, software, business processes, hardware, etc.
Patent analysis skills, including patentability, patent claiming strategies, and development of non-infringement and invalidity positions
Excellent legal and business judgment, strategic thinking, and ability to manage multiple matters at once
Outstanding communication and organization skills
Detail-oriented, business-friendly, team player, with an ability to accommodate tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Minimum qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field of study
Juris Doctor Degree
4+ years of patent drafting and prosecution experience
Valid California bar registration (or another state bar plus eligible for Registered In House Counsel status)
Preferred qualifications:
Experience counseling on open source compliance and mitigating risks associated with open source software, including the impact on patent rights
Some knowledge running an in-house open source program
Some experience handling patent assertions and litigation, patent licensing, and M&A
Our Benefits: Snap Inc. is its own community, so we’ve got your back! We do our best to make sure you and your loved ones have everything you need to be happy and healthy, on your own terms. Our benefits are built around your needs and include paid maternity & paternity leave, comprehensive medical coverage, emotional and mental health support programs, and compensation packages that let you share in Snap’s long-term success.
At Snap, we believe that having a team of diverse backgrounds and voices working together will enable us to create innovative products that improve the way people live and communicate. Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please don’t be shy and contact us at [email protected].