Sr Director, Patent Prosecution

Company Description

At Intuitive, we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints. Our mission is to make surgery more effective, less invasive, and easier on surgeons, patients, and their families. Joining Intuitive Surgical means joining a team dedicated to using technology to benefit patients by improving surgical efficacy and decreasing surgical invasiveness, with patient safety as our highest priority. At Intuitive, we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints. Our mission is to make surgery more effective, less invasive, and easier on surgeons, patients, and their families. Joining Intuitive Surgical means joining a team dedicated to using technology to benefit patients by improving surgical efficacy and decreasing surgical invasiveness, with patient safety as our highest priority.

Job Description

Primary Function of Position
Reporting to the Vice President, Intellectual Property Litigation and Strategy, this attorney will bring exceptional patent preparation and prosecution skills and will manage Intuitive’s global patent prosecution efforts. In addition to providing business-centric legal advice, the Senior Director, Patent Prosecution will develop, manage, and execute comprehensive patent protection strategies for the Company’s portfolio of products. 

The Senior Director, Patent Prosecution attorney will be responsible for helping to lead Intuitive’s efforts to grow its patent portfolio, while setting strategic direction and priorities alongside legal and business leaders. This attorney  will also be responsible for providing advice on patent-related matters to Company’s legal and business teams, and training business teams on the importance of obtaining protection for valuable inventions.

Essential Job Duties

Roles and Responsibilities

• Manage the prosecution of Intuitive’s global patent portfolio across various product and technology areas, including invention harvesting, review, and strategic portfolio assessment.
• Effectively and efficiently manage outside counsel to prepare and prosecute patents.
• Collaborate with and develop internal patent prosecution teams.
• Guide Intuitive’s efforts to optimize its portfolio through patent workshops and other educational and strategic activities.
• Advise stakeholders on strategic patent-related issues.
• Network with other patent legal leaders globally to assess and benchmark best practices in prosecution
• Make efforts to stay current with patent law developments
• Support Intuitive’s legal and business teams on patent-related issues and train teams on the importance of obtaining protection for Company’s valuable inventions.
• Analyze technical trends and developments in the medical and surgical robotics industry and apply this analysis to the strategic direction of Company’s patent portfolio.
• Partner with team members at all levels of the global organization and develop positive and collaborative relationships with engineering, product management and legal teams to support the patent prosecution program.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

• Juris Doctorate degree and a member of the California State Bar or otherwise qualified to practice law in California as registered in-house counsel.
• Admission to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• Strong academic and/or professional background in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Physics, and/or Robotics preferred.
• 15+ years of experience as a practicing attorney in the area of patent prosecution, preferably with a mix of in-house and private practice experience.
• Demonstrated experience and track record of success in building and maintaining robust global patent portfolios, including portfolio creation, strategy, counseling and patent department operations.
• Experience in preparing and prosecuting domestic and international patent applications and providing patentability, validity, and infringement assessments.
• A strong understanding of patent law and principles, and the ability to efficiently review, interpret, and analyze complex legal information.

Additional Requirements

• Collaborative, resourceful and able to anticipate needs and navigate in a rapidly changing environment.
• Creative and strategic thinking; agile and flexible.
• Exceptional organizational skills, problem-solving abilities, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously within a rapidly changing environment.
• A collaborative mindset that is open to giving and receiving ideas, perspectives, and feedback working with a wide range of individuals and audiences.
• A strong sense of purpose and drive to develop high impact solutions.
• Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to develop and implement cross-functional processes and work collaboratively with team members.
• Outgoing yet humble with a “client first” orientation.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of our business and the role, please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside, or plan to reside, in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, or Tennessee.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, benefits, and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role, as actual pay will be determined based on several factors, including experience, skills, and qualifications. The target salary ranges are listed.