Director, Patent Licensing

Join the leader in entertainment innovation and help us design the future. At Dolby, science meets art, and high tech means more than computer code. As a member of the Dolby team, you’ll see and hear the results of your work everywhere, from movie theaters to smartphones. We continue to revolutionize how people create, deliver, and enjoy entertainment worldwide. To do that, we need the absolute best talent. We’re big enough to give you all the resources you need, and small enough so you can make a real difference and earn recognition for your work. We offer a collegial culture, challenging projects, and excellent compensation and benefits, not to mention a Flex Work approach that is truly flexible to support where, when, and how you do your best work.

The Legal Department provides core legal support to all Dolby functions, runs several IP-centric businesses, and leads government relations.

Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Patent Licensing – Strategy and Growth, this role is responsible for developing strategies to drive the licensing of standard-essential patents (SEPs) through patent pools or other joint licensing programs. The Director will lead program lifecycles, including reviewing, monitoring, and analyzing multi-year plans. In addition to strategy development, this position will help identify new technology areas for potential investment. This role collaborates across teams and builds strong working relationships both internally and externally with licensing professionals and technologists. The ideal candidate brings a collaborative mindset, a strategic approach, and a passion for developing innovative licensing models that support the adoption of open technology standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies for global FRAND (Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory) licensing of SEPs, primarily through pools, across a range of high-tech standards in the consumer entertainment and electronics sectors.
• Collaborate with standards and technology teams to align emerging and existing technologies with current or future licensing programs.
• Monitor developments and adoption timelines of standardized technologies, and provide insights to senior leadership on potential impacts to licensing activities.
• Contribute strategic input to business development efforts, including opportunities related to the acquisition of SEPs.

Leadership Expectations

• Demonstrates a deep understanding of the business, industry, and market and applies to strategy.
• Has to ability to think ahead, plan effectively, and anticipate future trends and consequences of different scenarios.
• Can adjust to new conditions and respond effectively to change: open to new ideas, flexible in approach, and courageous in the face of challenges.
• Demonstrates persistence, tenacity, and a commitment to achieving strategic objectives.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, software engineering, or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution.
• Experience developing long-term business plans within the IP licensing space.
• Minimum of three years of experience in patent prosecution, litigation, and/or licensing related to standard-essential patents.
• Minimum of three years of experience working on IP-related transactions involving innovative business models.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 35%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in electrical/software engineering, physics, or a related field.
• Experience participating in or developing joint SEP licensing programs such as patent pools.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex IP transactions, including patent pool participation and IP acquisitions.
• Knowledge of international regulations and practices related to joint licensing of SEPs.

The San Francisco/Bay Area base salary range for this full-time position is $225,000 to 318,000, which can vary if outside this location, plus bonus, benefits, and some roles may also include equity. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, competencies, experience, market demands, internal parity, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range and perks and benefits for your location during the hiring process.

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Dolby will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of San Francisco Police Code, Article 49, and Administrative Code, Article 12

Equal Employment Opportunity:
Dolby is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our success depends on the combined skills and talents of all our employees. We are committed to making employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, marital status, family status, medical condition, disability, military service, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.