Senior Patent Counsel

Senior Patent Counsel

GE Aerospace is seeking a Senior Patent Counsel to strategically identify and develop high quality IP assets directed to GE Aerospace's technological differentiation in the marketplace, and craft IP strategies that protect our competitive advantage. Perfect for a seasoned IP practitioner who can design, lead, and execute pace-setting global strategies for developing and managing strategically impactful IP assets in a range of technologies, including aero-mechanical and propulsion systems, avionics, advanced manufacturing, advanced materials, semiconductors, software, data science, prognostics and diagnostics, and electrical power systems. The role will report into the GE Aerospace's IP Asset Development team, which is a core function of the GE Aerospace's IP Team. The role requires a candidate currently residing in the Cincinnati Ohio area or willing to relocate.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Align GE Aerospace's IP strategy with its market strategy, and/or provide leadership in the management of GE Aerospace's growing portfolio of patents, trade secrets, and technical know-how.
• Proactively and routinely engage with commercial and/or technical leaders to drive opportunities to leverage IP to enhance the ability of GE Aerospace to win in the marketplace, and/or R&D committees to cultivate, harvest, and evaluate invention disclosures.
• Develop and own a multi-year strategy for each assigned value-stream (products, services, enabling technologies, and state-of-the-art R&D), including short-term (current year) and long-term (5-20 year) goals for each.
• Collaborate to refine and execute the strategy for each value-stream, translating business and product-level strategy to a plan for each individual IP asset, with the goal of maximizing asset potential above minimum viable attributes.
• Translate legal assessment of the GE Aerospace's IP relative to competitor IP into actionable business insights.
• Create a tactical roadmap for development and integration of new IP assets, including by identifying the features and characteristics that drive differentiating and blocking effect, and leading the harvesting of new inventions, and/or managing patent preparation and prosecution by outside patent counsel, both in the U.S. and internationally.
• Identify and/or support opportunities and initiatives to monetize GE Aerospace's IP, including by directing the development of IP assets that are commercially valuable in the aerospace and other industries.
• Collaborate with other IP professionals to maximize the potential of each individual IP asset to enhance our competitive advantage.
• Lead and contribute to initiatives for increasing productivity and enhancing quality in the internal processes and tools governing management GE Aerospace's IP assets.
• Contribute to IP forecasting and budgeting cycle deliverables, and provide effective stewardship of resource allocations.
• Contribute to IP asset development training within GE Aerospace, including training for inventors, paraprofessionals and other IP team members.

Basic Qualifications

• BS and/or other advanced degree in aerospace, mechanical, chemical, materials, or electrical engineering or computer science is preferred, though degrees in physics and other hard sciences combined with significant software background may be considered.
• A minimum of seven years of experience drafting and prosecuting high quality strategic U.S. and global patent applications.
• A demonstrated understanding, command, and continued engagement with U.S. patent laws and regulations, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office practices and procedures, and Paris Convention rules. Familiarity with Patent Cooperation Treaty rules and practices.
• Must be registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Patent Counsel: Law Degree from an accredited law school, and must be a member in good standing of the bar of at least one U.S. state.

Desired Characteristics

• Three additional years of experience, prosecuting, litigating and/or licensing patents and trade secrets, managing large portfolios, or as a patent strategist.
• Demonstrated leadership ability.
• Works collaboratively to solve complex IP problems.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, follow-through, project management and business judgment.
• Business partner approach listens effectively and defines success from the stakeholder point of view.
• Effective advocacy and thought leadership brings value to commercial strategy discussions in relation to IP assets, far and above traditional legal advice.
• Business acumen a thorough understanding of the principles of market forces, competitive assessment, and technology development and maturation.
• Creativity transforms internal and external intelligence into novel solutions to demonstrate the value of IP as an enabling factor for market success.
• Expert grasp of principles of IP law, particularly regarding patents and trade secrets.
• Communication equally effective at delivering high-payload concise business-relevant information to commercial leaders, as at interacting in nuanced legal and technical conversations.
• Experience with establishing and controlling budgets, costs and expenses relating to patent procurement and maintenance.