Senior Legal Counsel, Intellectual Property

IP Counsel

Department: Legal
Location: Somerville MA (on-site)

About Formlabs:

Do you want to change how the world creates

At Formlabs were building the tools that make it possible for anyone to bring their ideas to life from cutting-edge products to life-saving medical devices. Our 3D printing technology powers innovation at more than 50000 industry leaders worldwide including Apple Google Tesla New Balance and NASA. Together were helping everyone design prototype and manufacture faster than ever before.

Were a team of hands-on builders engineers and innovators reinventing how the world makes physical things. If youre ready to shape the future of fabrication come build it with us.

Your Impact:

This role owns strategy for our patent portfolio by building the metrics to inform a global strategy. Youll work closely with R&D and inventors who create new technologies to guide our future growth. Additionally we operate as a lean legal team so there is an exciting opportunity to expand your scope beyond IP work and advise business leaders globally on other areas of the law such as corporate commercial employment law and general litigation matters.

What Youll Do:

• Own patent portfolio value not just volume: build the metrics and criteria that determine what Formlabs patents maintains or cuts and track cost against actual competitive value.
• Set global patent strategy across the U.S. and internationally weighing where protection is worth pursuing given Formlabs cross-border risk.
• Draft file and prosecute patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and international patent offices including the European Patent Office (EPO) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
• Run freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses patentability assessments and portfolio risk reviews to keep Formlabs building on solid ground.
• Partner directly with R&D to catch patentable inventions early before theyre buried in a lab notebook.
• Manage outside counsel across prosecution opinions and any disputes keeping cost and quality in check.
• Support IP litigation opposition proceedings and enforcement when they come up.
• Step outside the patent portfolio to pitch in on key manufacturing vendor and supplier agreements as well as other strategic commercial contracts.
• Pick up other generalist legal matters as they surface from trade compliance to general litigation support so the legal team can work collaboratively and best support any area of the business that needs our help.

About You:

• J.D. and admission to at least one state bar plus registration to practice before the USPTO (patent bar).
• Undergraduate degree in engineering physics mathematics or a related technical field. You need to be able to read a claim chart and the underlying spec without a translator.
• Deep expertise in U.S. patent law plus working knowledge of major international patent systems; experience with trademark and trade secret law.
• A track record in patent drafting prosecution and portfolio management ideally where you can point to real decisions you made about what to file and what not to file.
• At least 3 years at a top-tier law firm focused on patent work.
• While you index on patent work youre excited about an expanded scope to learn to operate as a generalist taking on whatever tasks the business requires. You thrive in an every day is different environment and you enjoy the challenge of figuring out novel problems as they arise.
• Comfortable working independently in a fast-moving global company where youre juggling more than one live priority at a time.

Bonus Skills:

• In-house legal experience at a hardware or hard-tech company.
• Experience with Chinese manufacturing operations.
• Experience with matters before the EPO and CNIPA.
• Experience with global copyright law commercial transactions and licensing agreements.

Our Benefits & Perks:

• Robust equity program to build future wealth through RSUs
• Comprehensive healthcare coverage (Medical Dental Vision)
• 401K matching and access to financial advisors
• Generous paid Parental Leave (up to 16 weeks)
• Tenure-based paid Sabbatical Leave (up to 6 weeks)
• Flexible Out of Office Plan Take time when you need it
• Ample on-site parking & pre-tax commuter benefits
• Healthy on-site lunches snacks beverages & treats
• Regular sponsored professional development opportunities
• Many opt-in culture events across our diverse community
• And of course unlimited 3D prints

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin gender sexual orientation age marital status veteran status or disability status.

Even if you dont check every box but see yourself contributing please apply. Help us build an inclusive community that will change the face of 3D printing.