Senior Legal Counsel, Patents at OpenAI

San Francisco, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Artificial Intelligence, TechnologyIndustries

Requirements

7+ years of patent prosecution experience, with significant expertise in hardware technologies (e.g., circuits, processors, sensors, mechanical systems, or AI hardware)
BS or graduate degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or related hardware-focused field (advanced degree preferred)
JD and admitted to a state bar
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registration
Proven ability to develop patent strategy for hardware platforms, from invention harvesting to portfolio shaping
Strong technical background; AI or software experience a plus
Experience drafting and prosecuting both hardware and software patent applications
Experience counseling engineering teams and cross-functional partners on IP strategy
Ability to identify broader IP issues, such as licensing or trade secrets, for appropriate escalation or counseling
Detail-oriented, with exceptional organizational and project management skills
Excellent writing and communication skills
Prior in-house experience managing a patent portfolio is a plus
Nice to have: Experience with IP licensing, open source, or other complementary IP disciplines

Responsibilities

Lead patent portfolio development for hardware and related activities, including proactive invention identification, application preparation, and prosecution
Partner closely with engineering, product, and design teams to identify strategic hardware innovations and craft high-value patent filings
Manage outside counsel activities related to both hardware and software patent prosecution
Develop and execute patent strategy for hardware systems, aligning IP protection with business and technical priorities
Help scale patent development processes to support rapid growth

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Patent ProsecutionHardware PatentsPatent StrategyInvention IdentificationPatent DraftingUSPTO RegistrationElectrical EngineeringComputer EngineeringAI HardwareCircuitsProcessorsSensorsMechanical Systems

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary for the Senior Legal Counsel, Patents role?

The salary is $330K.

Is this role remote or based in an office?

This role is based in San Francisco, CA, with a hybrid work model requiring 3 days in the office per week. OpenAI offers relocation assistance to new employees.

What are the key qualifications and skills required for this position?

Candidates need 7+ years of patent prosecution experience with expertise in hardware technologies, a BS or graduate degree in electrical engineering or related field, JD with state bar admission, USPTO registration, and strong technical and organizational skills.

What is the work environment like at OpenAI?

The role involves partnering closely with world-class engineers and product leaders in a fast-paced environment, focusing on scaling patent development amid rapid innovation.

What makes a strong candidate for this Senior Patent Counsel role?

A strong candidate has deep technical experience in hardware patent prosecution, proven ability to develop patent strategy, experience counseling engineering teams, and prior in-house experience managing a patent portfolio.

OpenAI

Develops safe and beneficial AI technologies

About OpenAI

OpenAI develops and deploys artificial intelligence technologies aimed at benefiting humanity. The company creates advanced AI models capable of performing various tasks, such as automating processes and enhancing creativity. OpenAI's products, like Sora, allow users to generate videos from text descriptions, showcasing the versatility of its AI applications. Unlike many competitors, OpenAI operates under a capped profit model, which limits the profits it can make and ensures that excess earnings are redistributed to maximize the social benefits of AI. This commitment to safety and ethical considerations is central to its mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) serves all of humanity.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2015Year Founded

$18,433.2MTotal Funding

LATE_VCCompany Stage

AI & Machine LearningIndustries

1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Flexible spending account for healthcare and dependent care

Mental healthcare service

Fertility treatment coverage

401(k) with generous matching

20-week paid parental leave

Life insurance (complimentary)

AD&D insurance (complimentary)

Short-term/long-term disability insurance (complimentary)

Optional buy-up life insurance

Flexible work hours and unlimited paid time off (we encourage 4+ weeks per year)

Annual learning & development stipend

Regular team happy hours and outings

Daily catered lunch and dinner

Travel to domestic conferences

Risks

Elon Musk's legal battle may pose financial and reputational challenges for OpenAI.

Customizable ChatGPT personas could lead to privacy and ethical concerns.

Competitors like Anthropic raising capital may intensify market competition.

Differentiation

OpenAI's capped profit model prioritizes ethical AI development over unlimited profit.

OpenAI's AI models, like Sora, offer unique video creation from text descriptions.

OpenAI's focus on AGI aims to create AI systems smarter than humans.

Upsides

OpenAI's $6.6 billion funding boosts its AI research and computational capacity.

Customizable ChatGPT personas enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

OpenAI's 'Operator' AI agent could revolutionize workforce automation by 2025.

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