Director, IP Counsel (remote)

Date Posted:

2024-01-26

Country:

United States of America

Location:

HNC01: UTAS Headquarters (HS) 2730 West Tyvola Road, Charlotte, NC, 28217 USA

Position Role Type:

Remote

Each of Collins Aerospace’s six strategic business units (SBUs) focus on a particular suite of aerospace technologies that span a range of commercial and military aerospace systems, including avionics solutions, aircraft & engine sensors, fire protection systems, space systems, landing systems, and many others as well as airport solutions.  Each represents a multinational client base and a diverse mix of business models. In addition to our SBUs, Collins also has key central functions to help ensure successful operations for our customers, employees, leaders, and shareholders.

This position requires a leading IP expert that is forward thinking, drives to create new and innovative solutions, makes sound decisions, sets and implements short and long-term strategies, communicates effectively with top leadership, and excels in solving exceptionally highly complex problems.  With this skill set, the career possibilities are numerous within Collins and the other Raytheon Technologies companies.  

This position provides flexibility for a fully remote working arrangement.  Proximity to a Collins’ facility is a plus.

Primary Responsibilities : 

• Driving IP engagement within the business

• Providing effective, concise and timely advice to senior management, general legal counsel, engineers and commercial colleagues on IP matters, particularly in the areas of patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright law, and related disputes.

• Negotiating and advising management and colleagues on various IP agreements and IP aspects of broader agreements with customers, suppliers and partners.  

• Collaborate with clients to develop and implement IP strategies for key enterprises, products and technologies aligned with business objectives.  Active engagement on IP issues throughout product development processes.

• Interacting with engineers and supervising outside counsel with regards to identifying protectable inventions, assessing invention disclosures, preparing, and prosecuting patent applications, and protecting trade secrets.

• Monitoring and assessing third party patents and applications, particularly with regards to questions of infringement risk and/or validity, with goal of addressing legal risks before products are brought to market.

• Working with engineers to monitor competitor products and advising as to whether competitors infringe Collins Aerospace patents.  Advising Senior Management as to potential infringement issues and overseeing litigation as required.

• Learning and implementing current IP department tools and policies, and working willingly with members of IP department with the goal of continuous improvement of department processes.

• Reviewing and clearing IP-related content for publication. 

• Conducting IP due diligence with regards to M&A matters in technical areas of responsibility.

• Striving to independently resolve issues arising in area of responsibility but consulting with peers, the Chief IP Counsel and the General Counsel when appropriate.

• Must be willing and able to travel 10% of the time

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) unless prohibited by local laws/regulations and minimum 14 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 12 years of experience or in absence of a degree, 18 years of relevant experience 

• Must have a Juris doctor degree

• 7 plus years of IP legal experience

• Admitted to the Bar of one or more US States

Preferred Qualifications:

• Aerospace (e.g., as an engineer, in-house attorney, or patent prosecutor) 

• Law firm and in-house IP legal experience

• Patents: preparation & prosecution; transactions, and litigation  

• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

• US government contracts intellectual property

• Engineering experience is beneficial

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio, and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market. 

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