NetApp · 15 hours ago
Director of IP & IP Litigation
United States
Full-time
Remote
Director/Executive
$236K/yr - $352K/yr
10+ years expNetApp is looking for an experienced and strategic IP attorney to join its award-winning legal department. The successful candidate will manage and support NetApp’s patent portfolio and litigation functions, providing strategic guidance on IP-related matters while collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Cloud ComputingData ManagementData StorageInformation Technology
Responsibilities
Partner closely with engineering and product teams to identify and harvest strategic inventions
Oversee the patent portfolio, including conducting patentability assessments, drafting and prosecuting patent applications, and managing relationships with outside counsel, with strong software patentability experience
Manage outside counsel in the filing of new patent applications before the USPTO and other patent agencies internationally in prosecuting active cases
Manage patent litigation in US District Courts, ITC, and IPRs
Work closely with the "Innovation Capture Committee," including senior NetApp executives, to manage and strategize the patent portfolio
Collaborate with engineering and product marketing teams to align patent policy with company direction (e.g., cloud or hybrid technologies)
Identify existing and future projected competitors and assist the IP group to develop mitigation strategies (e.g., patent acquisition, cross licenses, etc.)
Identifying and managing defensive publication opportunities
Manage outside counsel for filing and prosecuting patent applications in the US and internationally
Manage the entire patent lifecycle, including identifying, protecting, and enforcing NetApp's patent assets
Ensure compliance with patent laws, regulations, and best practices in multiple jurisdictions. Patent due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships, providing strategic guidance and risk assessment
Advise internal stakeholders on patent-related matters, including licensing, validity, infringement, and litigation
Stay updated on emerging IP trends, changes in laws especially in patent eligibility, and competitive landscape to provide proactive guidance and recommendations
Qualification
Required
At least 10 years' experience in intellectual property law, including IP litigation, IPR, drafting and prosecuting patent applications in hardware and software technologies in the US and other countries, and management experience
Strong background in SaaS and in software patenting in the US and internationally
Strong personal communication skills, both written and oral
Strong work ethics and self-starter, with a growth mindset, in a fast-paced environment
Strategic thinker but can also be detail oriented
Flexibility in working hours in a global enterprise
Ability to travel domestically and internationally to visit R&D sites required
Ability to thrive in a high performance and fast-paced environment
Ability to prioritize effectively and execute quickly with excellent judgment
Solution-oriented and excellent problem-solving skills
Benefits
Health Insurance
Life Insurance
Retirement or Pension Plans
Paid Time Off
Various Leave options
Performance-Based Incentives
Employee stock purchase plan
Restricted stocks (RSU’s)
Company
NetApp
NetApp specializes in data storage, data infrastructure, and data management solutions.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
NetApp has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (189)
2024 (166)
2023 (143)
2022 (250)
2021 (193)
2020 (225)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$1.25BKey Investors
Sequoia Capital
2025-03-12Post Ipo Debt· $1.25B
1995-11-21IPO
1994-01-01Series Unknown
Leadership Team
George Kurian
Chief Executive Officer
Ben Bromhead
CTO
Recent News
2026-01-20
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