Job Description
First Solar reserves the right to offer you a role most applicable to your experience and skillset.
Basic Job Functions:
- Advise the business on all aspects of IP (patents, technical data, trade secrets, copyrights, and trademarks) such as strategies, enforcement, protection, avoidance, and collaborations.
- IP portfolio management of trademarks and patents on a world-wide basis.
- Advise, draft, and negotiate various complex IP collaboration agreements as well as provide support for IP issues related to purchase, sales, and non-disclosure agreements.
- Merger and Acquisition IP lead/support (advise, draft, negotiate) including working with external counsel on IP due diligence and managing post-acquisition IP integration.
- Handles IP infringement issues including responding to third party IP issues.
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations related to IP.
- Conduct legal, technical, and scientific research and gather evidence.
- Explain, clarify, and simplify complex technical information.
- Patent licensing in/out bound.
Education and Experience:
- BS degree in either Electrical Engineering, or Physics discipline.
- JD degree from an accredited university, and admission to a state bar.
- Registered Patent Attorney in the USPTO.
- 8+ years of experience as a registered Patent Attorney.
- 5+ years of complex IP agreement drafting and negotiation experience required.
Required Skills/Competencies:
- Transactional experience in drafting and negotiating various complex IP agreements.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- Strong academic credentials.
- Ability to work with clients in a team-oriented partnership to help them arrive at solutions to their problems.
- Flexibility to accept new and different challenges in a fast paced, high tech environment.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Essential Responsibilities
- Draft and negotiate a wide variety of IP related agreements (e.g., JDA, NDA, service, software, products, partnership, and M&A).
- Conduct product clearances and respond to adversely held patent assertions.
Reporting Relationships:
- This position will report to the Chief Counsel, Intellectual Property
Travel:
- Limited travel is required 5 – 10%
Estimated Annual Salary Range:
- $125,000 – $170,000 Annual Salary
US Physical Requirements:
Office Physical Requirements:
All positions in our office require interaction with people and technology while either standing or sitting. In order to best service our customers, internal and external, all associates must be able to communicate face-to-face and on the phone with or without reasonable accommodation. First Solar is committed to compliance with its obligations under all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. In keeping with this commitment, it attempts to reasonably accommodate applicants and employees in accordance with the requirements of the disability discrimination laws. It also invites individuals with disabilities to participate in a good faith, interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made without imposing an undue hardship.
Potential candidates will meet the education and experience requirements provided on the above job description and excel in completing the listed responsibilities for this role. All candidates receiving an offer of employment must successfully complete a background check band any other tests that may be required.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: First Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.