Lead Counsel (Intellectual Property)

Join Zipline, a leading company in the innovative field of autonomous scaled flight. As the Lead Counsel for Intellectual Property, you will be responsible for setting and executing the strategic direction of our global IP portfolio, managing outside counsel, and providing direct client counseling on IP issues arising from product development. You will work closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including Hardware, Autonomy, Software, and Product, and will report to the Deputy General Counsel, Corporate. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in a rapidly growing organization.

• Set and execute the strategic direction and management of Zipline's global IP portfolio, while managing outside counsel as strategically appropriate.
• Own the strategy that will determine where Zipline invests in patents by becoming an expert on the patent landscape, ultimately accelerating Zipline’s lead in autonomous scaled flight.
• Work closely with product and engineering teams, including training them on patentability and regularly meeting to understand what IP Zipline is developing on all fronts.
• Do you love patents?
• Are you excited by the opportunity to develop the IP portfolio of one of the most innovative companies in a new industry?
• Do you believe that a great IP strategy does not come from patent harvesting, has nothing to do with the quantity of patents but is a surgical, strategic endeavor that can create true, long-term competitive advantage for a company?
• If that’s you, the Zipline Legal Team is searching for an experienced counsel to lead our global IP portfolio initiatives, including patent and other intellectual property matters related to our business
• You’ll bring deep knowledge of IP, a passion for patents, and a positive attitude to everything you do
• If you're energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate and radically improve processes, and motivated by work that truly matters, we'd love to hear from you
• Experience with the IP aspects of commercial deals
• Have at least 10+ years of combined IP experience at innovative technology companies and law firms
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• You have been involved in every stage of the patent lifecycle from the strategy that determines what will be patented, claims architecture, prosecution, freedom to operate negotiations and IP litigation. You will use this knowledge to ensure that the early static decisions you make anticipate the future lifecycle of our IP to create long-term strategic value
• Member in good standing of at least one state bar
• A positive attitude and the willingness to collaborate with a broad range of stakeholders
• JD Degree required
• As part of a small team supporting a rapidly growing organization, the ideal candidate demonstrates sound judgment in handling complex work and thrives in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment
• You are a proactive and pragmatic problem solver - seeing risks and potential issues before they arise and proposing effective solutions
• Confidence to work independently and judgment to recognize when issues require escalation or input from others