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SandboxAQ, an AI company spun out from Alphabet in 2022, is seeking a Senior Counsel for Intellectual Property to build and lead the company's IP function. This is an early legal hire opportunity to shape a forward-thinking, business-focused legal team at a high-growth, venture-backed company.
You will own the company's patent portfolio end-to-end, from invention harvesting and filing strategy through prosecution management and lifecycle decisions on continuations, abandonments, and annuities. You'll partner directly with world-class scientists and engineers—PhD physicists, chemists, and ML researchers—to identify patentable work early, manage invention disclosure and review processes, and create an efficient, high-value cycle with inventors.
Key responsibilities include directing and holding outside patent firms and foreign associates accountable on quality, cost, and timeliness; running freedom-to-operate and clearance analyses to inform product strategy and launches; serving as the IP voice in commercial, collaboration, and corporate transactions; and building the broader IP program including trade secret strategy, trademark clearance, prosecution, and enforcement across product brands.
You must have a J.D. or equivalent law degree with admission to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, plus 7+ years of substantive IP law experience with significant patent law depth. Strong technical fluency is essential—you'll need to engage credibly with PhD-level experts. You should be strategic and agile, thriving in fast-paced, high-growth environments with rapid decision-making, and collaborative with high emotional intelligence.
Highly desired qualifications include a combination of in-house and Big Law experience, USPTO registration or patent bar admission, an undergraduate or graduate STEM degree (physics, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering), and experience with AI/ML, life sciences, or computational chemistry subject matter, including Section 101 eligibility strategy. Experience building IP programs from early stage, government-funded contracts, trade secret program design, litigation or contested proceedings (IPR, PGR, oppositions), and AI tooling for legal work (prior art review, disclosure drafting, portfolio analytics, docket triage) are also valued.
The role is fully remote with flexible paid time off, company-wide seasonal breaks, and support for flexible work arrangements. SandboxAQ offers competitive base salary, performance-based incentives, equity participation, comprehensive medical/dental/vision coverage, retirement matching, paid parental leave, and inclusive family-building benefits.
