Assistant General Counsel, IP

It started with a simple idea: what if surgery could be less invasive and recovery less painful? Nearly 30 years later, that question still fuels everything we do at Intuitive. As a global leader in robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive care, our technologies—like the da Vinci surgical system and Ion—have transformed how care is delivered for millions of patients worldwide.

We’re a team of engineers, clinicians, and innovators united by one purpose: to make surgery smarter, safer, and more human. Every day, our work helps care teams perform with greater precision and patients recover faster, improving outcomes around the world.

The problems we solve demand creativity, rigor, and collaboration. The work is challenging, but deeply meaningful—because every improvement we make has the potential to change a life.

If you’re ready to contribute to something bigger than yourself and help transform the future of healthcare, you’ll find your purpose here.

Role Summary

As Assistant General Counsel – IP, you will collaborate cross-functionally across the business, and work closely with project teams, to protect and utilize the company’s intellectual property.  You will strategically develop and manage invention disclosure and IP portfolios, advise the business on intellectual property matters, and support transactional and business development activities.  You will be an integral part of helping to make life-enhancing care available to patients worldwide.

Primary Function of Position

• Collaborating closely with engineers and business personnel at all levels to protect the company’s intellectual property.
• Managing and developing substantial invention and international patent portfolios for key business and technology areas.
• Leading invention identification meetings, reviewing invention disclosures for decisions on IP actions, overseeing outside counsel and foreign associates on patent filings and other IP activities, with spot-drafting as appropriate.
• Performing reviews of external patents and IP. 
• Supporting IP due diligence, transactional, licensing, and litigation activities as needed.  Leading or supporting special projects as requested.
• Advising the company on patent, trade secret, and other IP matters, such as: copyrights, open source software, trademarks, and designs.
• Providing IP training to company personnel.  Mentoring junior members of the IP team.

Qualifications

Job/Skill Requirements

• Juris Doctorate.  Registered with the USPTO.  Member of the California bar or eligible to be a California Registered In-House Counsel (RIHC).
• At least 12 years of experience in intellectual property, at least 8 of which is in patent preparation and prosecution.  Familiarity with patent prep & pros in U.S., WIPO, and outside-U.S. jurisdictions.
• Strong engineering or physical sciences background coupled with deep intellectual curiosity.  Mechanical engineering, physics, or similar degree, or equivalent experience, preferred.
• Self-starter with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.  Able to accurately prioritize and deftly juggle multiple simultaneous projects, and provide outstanding deliverables on-time.
• Excellent communications, teamwork skills, and attention to detail.
• Desire to thrive in dynamic environment, to foster a collaborative culture, and to learn and grow with a high-performing team.

If you are ready to make an impact at the forefront of surgical technology innovation—and you have the drive to expand your expertise with a world-class team—we encourage you to apply.

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

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR §743.13(b)), some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employees
who are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the government’s licensing process can take 3 to 6+ months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (“TCP”) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls, final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employee’s
start date, which may or may not be flexible, and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable, candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

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.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on

business need and/or on the selected candidate’s experience, knowledge and skills.

Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the

candidate’s qualifications, consistent with applicable law.

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 compensation ranges are listed.