Senior Patent Attorney

Senior Patent Attorney– Pharmaceuticals, Small Molecule

Gaithersburg, MD

Global Legal

Hybrid Work- on average 3 days a week from office

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life-changing medicines and have a Bold Ambition to launch 20 new medicines by 2030. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together with the utmost integrity to make the impossible a reality. We’re passionate about the potential of science to address the unmet needs of patients around the world. We commit to those areas where we believe we can really change the course of medicine and bring big new ideas to life!

We are looking for a Senior Patent Attorney with experience in drafting and prosecution of pharmaceutical products to join our Global IP team and help turn those ideas into reality. This is a great opportunity to join a world-class in-house IP team in a leading biopharmaceutical company where you will play a vital role in protecting AstraZeneca’s fantastic pipeline. Taking on a role that bridges science and legal practice, you’ll be a global business IP advisor and will work closely with our scientists and global project teams to build and manage complex patent portfolios to protect our exciting pharmaceutical assets (including small molecules and other modalities) and innovations across R&D. As a U.S. Patent Attorney you will prosecute directly before the USPTO and partner with colleagues in the Global IP team as well as external legal counsel to obtain patents globally.  Working in-house, you will keep up to date with emerging legal and pharma developments to help set and implement the global IP strategy in your area in collaboration with the Assistant General Counsel.

Typical Accountabilities:

• Independently lead all aspects of build, maintenance, and defense of specific patent portfolios

• Identifying and managing all associated IP risks for your projects- presenting them to IP, legal and business teams

• Actively counsel members of Research & Development organizations to identify new inventions as well as devise and implement strategies for patent protection over the extended drug development life cycle

• Build and implement global strategic approaches toward building patent portfolios and contributing to increased business value

• Prepare and prosecute patent applications worldwide including effectively managing outside counsel as needed

• Lead all aspects of large intellectual property estates in AstraZeneca's core and opportunistic therapeutic areas

• Evaluate and monitor patent portfolios of third parties

• Develop and communicate IP guidance to partners across the business, including within R&D, Business Development, commercial and legal

• Review and analyze license agreements and other contracts

• Provide IP and technical analysis in support of patent litigation

• Managing external spend to meet budget targets

• You may also work on business development deals or coordinate our response to legal changes in a particular country or region

 Essential for the role:

• U.S. Patent Attorney who can practice before the USPTO with previous experience handling pharmaceutical patent portfolios

• Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry field

• 4+ years of relevant experience in life science patent prosecution

• Strong core chemical/small molecule pharmaceutical patent prosecution skills and ability to independently lead patent dockets and portfolios in multiple markets and jurisdictions

 Desirable for the role:

• Education to Ph.D. level or equivalent, and/or several years of laboratory experience in the relevant scientific area

• Experience in the biotech and/or pharmaceutical industry

• Combined law firm experience and in house experience, preferably at a global organization

• Experience in leading external service providers

• First-hand experience of IP-related litigation

• High level of integrity and motivation, ability to work independently

• Ability to balance multiple tasks and projects with constantly evolving priorities

• Ability to be an enterprise leader for the organization

Office Working Requirements
 

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That’s why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn’t mean we’re not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $175,454.40 - 263,181.60 USD. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans. ​

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Date Posted

11-Mar-2026

Closing Date

24-Mar-2026Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.