Senior Patent Counsel

Introduction to the role

Within ASML, the Corporate Intellectual Property (CIP) department is responsible for maximizing ASML’s global IP position to protect and support ASML’s business. In particular, the CIP department strives to preserve freedom to operate for ASML, to establish and maintain a portfolio of IP rights, and to mitigate IP risk. The CIP department includes about 85 members distributed across four worldwide locations (Veldhoven in the Netherlands; and Wilton, San Diego, and San Jose in the USA).

Role and responsibilities

The CIP department is seeking a qualified U.S. patent attorney to be based in San Diego, CA USA. You’ll be a member of the San Diego IP team reporting to the local IP line manager and providing services to a corps of scientists, engineers, and management that is driving ASML’s EUV and Cymer’s DUV light source research and development.

You’ll help to establish, prosecute, and maintain a worldwide patent portfolio in the field of light sources for lithography systems, and to evaluate and mitigate patent risks from a worldwide perspective. Furthermore, you’ll contribute to the completion of IP-related projects, such as patent portfolio reviews and process updates, and contribute to the development of IP tactics.

As a Senior IP/Patent Attorney, you’ll:

• Actively develop and support management of a global patent portfolio, including assessing invention disclosures, presenting at invention review meetings, and recommending strategic portfolio development and maintenance.
• Supervise and direct outside counsel to properly prepare and prosecute patent applications, including critically reviewing drafts and providing response suggestions.
• Contribute to the execution of ASML IP strategies, including patent filing and product clearance.
• Contribute to developing the tactics for the IP strategy.
• Collaborate with various internal stakeholders (e.g., Research, and Development & Engineering groups) to build a detailed knowledge of current and future ASML products and business goals, align the patent portfolio with the business goals, identify opportunities to establish IP protection, determine existence of patent risks and mitigate such risks.
• Assess patent and other IP positioning of competitors (i.e., freedom to operate)
• Evaluate third party patent infringement claims against Company subject matter areas of interest including research, products, or technologies.
• Assist with analyzing, advising, and/or negotiating IP-related terms of various contracts, including supply agreements, service agreements, R&D agreements and patent licenses as directed and/or requested by CIP and/or Company management.
• Conduct and/or direct administrative staff in the conduct of legal research directed to resolving legal and/or procedural issues encountered in the advancement of, or challenges to, Company intellectual property assets.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and experience

To help us secure a strong intellectual property position, you’ll need experience working in the field of intellectual property including substantial experience in patent law. As a senior IP/patent attorney, you’ll need:

• An active license to practice law in at least one U.S. state or the District of Columbia and a Juris Doctor (J.D.), from an accredited law school with excellent academic performance.
• A Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in engineering or physical science disciplines, such as mechanical engineering, mechatronics, physics, optics, electrical engineering, or comparable technical fields. An advanced degree in one of those fields is considered a plus.
• An active license to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• At least 6 years of relevant patent prosecution experience.
• Experience managing outside counsel and assuring their preparation and prosecution of patent applications is completed in a cost efficient manner (preferred).

Skills

Working at the cutting edge of technology, you’ll face new challenges to your technical knowledge and legal creativity. To thrive in this job, you’ll need the following skills:

• Broad foundational technical knowledge, and intellectual flexibility and curiosity to quickly assimilate complex technical and physical principles.
• Ability to conduct detailed technical analysis while maintaining a high-level strategic view.
• Full understanding of area of specialization with ability to resolve a wide range of issues in creative ways.
• Strong analytical and communication skill, including ability to translate and analyze data and to effectively present analysis and propose future action through written and/or graphic formats.
• Excellent judgment and critical thinking skills.
• Decisiveness and initiative.
• Stress-resilience.
• Ability to work proactively and effectively both independently and in teams with a diverse group of colleagues and internal clients in multiple countries and to maintain strong communication with team.
• Excellent client service ethics and skills, with an advanced understanding of client relationship-building.
• Proficient ability to plan and direct administrative staff and others in activities supporting the Company’s legal work and objectives.
• Ability to provide guidance to junior staff members with aspects of their job.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, at least one IP database, and on-line research principles.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with fluency in English (verbal, reading, and writing).

Other Information

• This position is located on-site in San Diego, CA . It requires onsite presence to attend in-person work-related events, trainings and meetings and to further ensure teamwork, collaboration and innovation.
• A flexible workplace arrangement may be available to employees working in roles conducive to remote work (up to two days a week).
• Routinely required to sit; walk; talk; hear; use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch. Occasionally required to move around the campus.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Must be willing to work in a clean room environment, wearing coveralls, hoods, booties, safety glasses and gloves for entire duration of shift.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee routinely is required to sit; walk; talk; hear; use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch.

The current base annual salary range for this role is currently:

Pay scales are determined by role, level, location and alignment with market data. Individual pay is determined through interviews and an assessment of several factors that that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and pay relative to other team members.

The Company offers employees and their families, medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are able to participate in the Company’s 401k plan. Employees will also receive eight (8) hours of vacation leave every month and (13) paid holidays throughout the calendar year. For more information, please contact the Recruiter or click on this link Compensation & Benefits in the US.

All new ASML jobs have a minimum application deadline of 10 days.

This position requires access to controlled technology, as defined in the United States Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. § 730, et seq.). Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to access such controlled technology prior to beginning work. Business demands may require ASML to proceed with candidates who are immediately eligible to access controlled technology.

Inclusion and diversity

ASML is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that inclusion and diversity is a driving force in the success of our company.

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Request an Accommodation

ASML provides reasonable accommodations to applicants for ASML employment and ASML employees with disabilities. An accommodation is a change in work rules, facilities, or conditions which enable an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform the essential functions of a job, and/or enjoy equal access to the benefits and privileges of employment. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete an application, participate in an interview, or otherwise participate in the employee pre-selection process, please send an email to [email protected] to initiate the company’s reasonable accommodation process.

Please note: This email address is solely intended to provide a method for applicants to initiate ASML’s process to request accommodation(s). Any recruitment questions should be directed to the designated Talent Acquisition member for the position.