Senior Director, Patents - Audio

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.

The successful candidate will be an experienced patent attorney and strategist with deep understanding of the audio patent landscape, industry dynamics, and pool licensing practices. Responsibilities include supporting complex licensing programs, devising innovative patent monetization strategies, offering thought leadership, and cultivating vital patent portfolios. The successful candidate will provide unique insight to identify and assess opportunities and to acquire associated patents for strategic impact. The position includes a variety of additional responsibilities such as managing a team of highly skilled patent attorneys and agents, supporting technology standardization, capturing invention disclosures, performing and managing prosecution, analyzing third-party patents, and leading due diligence related to potential acquisitions.

This position will be located in San Francisco or Sunnyvale, and reports to the Vice President, Chief Patent Counsel.

Responsibilities:

• Align a growing, worldwide and high impact patent portfolio with a dynamic business, including the capture and review of invention disclosures and the preparation of recommendations for the invention review committee
• Conceptualize and implement patent monetization strategies
• Manage domestic and foreign outside counsel in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications
• Draft and prosecute patent applications of particular importance to Dolby’s business
• Participate, as a skilled specialist, in the acquisition, development, and commercialization of third-party technologies and related intellectual property matters
• Advise on third-party patent claims against products and technologies
• Support patent licensing and enforcement activities
• Provide information and training to internal groups as required regarding patent protection procedures and programs
• Manage a team of patent attorneys and agents
• Provide such other patent, licensing and intellectual property support as may be assigned

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience as a patent attorney in a top-tier law firm and in-house, with people management responsibilities
• Juris doctor degree
• Admission to the California State Bar and USPTO
• In-depth understanding of audio compression and processing
• Masters degree in electrical engineering or physics or bachelors degree with equivalent experience
• Experience in patent licensing and litigation, including issues with FRAND
• Experience in standard development organizations and patent pools
• Management of worldwide patent strategies

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The San Francisco/Bay Area base salary range for this full-time position is $277,900 - 345,200, 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.

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.