Intellectual Property Legal Assistant

Intellectual Property Legal Assistant

Final date to receive applications: 31 March 2026

Department: Recruiting Done

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Santa Monica

Compensation: $110,000 - $120,000 / year

Our client is seeking a Legal IP / Patent Manager to build and oversee the company’s intellectual property framework, from patents, trade secrets, trademarks, NDAs, and licensing agreements, in close coordination with R&D, product teams, the CFO and executive teams.

This position bridges technology and law: the ideal candidate will have hands-on experience managing patent portfolios and IP operations within a hardware-software or AI-driven engineering environment. The role requires a strong grasp of technical concepts, an understanding of how IP protections align with product development, and the ability to ope rationalise complex IP and compliance processes in a fast-moving, R&D-focused startup.

This role calls for someone who has worked in IP operations, understands the patent and invention lifecycle, and can translate that expertise into practical systems tailored to what our client designs and builds.

• Develop and maintain the intellectual property roadmap and filing strategy, under CFO oversight.
• Conduct and coordinate prior-art searches, invention disclosures, and patent filings.
• Manage trademarks, licensing agreements, and technology-transfer documentation.
• Oversee IP budgeting, renewal deadlines, and audit readiness.
• Work directly with R&D and product leads to identify patentable inventions and define protection pathways.
• Translate technical innovations into clear, defensible invention disclosures.
• Ensure documentation aligns with DoD, DFARS, and export-control frameworks.
• Liaise with outside patent counsel and IP law firms for drafting, prosecution, and maintenance.
• Support the CFO in due-diligence reviews and IP risk assessments for partnerships, grants, or acquisitions.
• Manage IP-related contracts (NDAs, licensing, collaboration agreements) in coordination with the CFO.
• Maintain the IP Register and integrate it into company compliance systems (CMMC/NIST SP 800-171 data integrity).
• Track and brief management on updates in U.S. and international IP law, particularly in AI, robotics, and embedded-systems domains.
• Assist in audit preparation and grant documentation involving IP ownership or technology conveyance.

• 3+ years of experience in intellectual property, patent management, or legal operations — ideally in a tech, engineering, or R&D-focused company.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline; additional studies in IP Law, Patent Practice, or Paralegal Certification preferred.
• Strong understanding of patent lifecycle management (from invention disclosure to issuance and maintenance).
• Familiarity with USPTO, WIPO/PCT, and international IP processes.
• Working knowledge of contracts, NDAs, and IP clauses in federal or defense-sector projects.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills; able to bridge legal and technical vocabulary.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder).
• Background in AI, robotics, sensors, or hardware/software integration.
• Prior work with outside counsel or IP law firms in patent drafting and prosecution.
• Comfort working in a startup environment where flexibility, pragmatism, and cross-functional collaboration are key.

• Collaborative, supportive team culture where cross-functional work is the norm, and everyone contributes to problem-solving.
• Fast-paced, innovation-driven culture that values creativity, problem-solving, and technical mastery.
• Flexible PTO and comprehensive benefits that support work–life balance.