Sr. Intellectual Property Counsel - (B6)

Who We Are

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. We design, build and service cutting-edge equipment that helps our customers manufacture display and semiconductor chips – the brains of devices we use every day. As the foundation of the global electronics industry, Applied enables the exciting technologies that literally connect our world – like AI and IoT. If you want to push the boundaries of materials science and engineering to create next generation technology, join us to deliver material innovation that changes the world. 

What We Offer

Salary:

$212,000.00 - $291,500.00

Location:

Santa Clara,CA

You’ll benefit from a supportive work culture that encourages you to learn, develop, and grow your career as you take on challenges and drive innovative solutions for our customers. We empower our team to push the boundaries of what is possible—while learning every day in a supportive leading global company. Visit our Careers website to learn more. 

At Applied Materials, we care about the health and wellbeing of our employees. We’re committed to providing programs and support that encourage personal and professional growth and care for you at work, at home, or wherever you may go. Learn more about our benefits. 

Director, Intellectual Property Counsel

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director, Intellectual Property Counsel to join our Legal & Compliance Organization. Reporting into the IP Legal team, this role serves as a trusted partner & advisor to product organizations, technical leadership, and senior executives.

The Director provides high‑impact legal counsel across patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and IP‑related matters, enabling innovation while protecting and strengthening the company’s competitive position. This role emphasizes IP strategy, portfolio leadership, and cross‑functional partnership, working closely with internal commercial and transactional legal teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic IP counsel to engineering, business, and executive stakeholders across patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and core IP matters (e.g., NDAs, JDAs, SRAs).

• Lead IP landscape analysis, freedom‑to‑operate evaluations, and risk assessments, and develop long‑term, sustainable IP strategies aligned with business and technology roadmaps.

• Oversee assigned business unit’s global patent and trademark portfolios, including prosecution strategy, foreign filing decisions, portfolio optimization, and outside counsel management.

• Partner with legal colleagues across the organization to support IP portfolio development, protection, enforcement, and defensive strategies, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.

• Implement IP protection programs, including training, internal processes, and best practices to safeguard proprietary technology.

• Drive continuous improvement of IP operations, policies, and processes to support global business needs.

Skills and Attributes

• Strong intellectual rigor, judgment, and business acumen

• Ability to quickly understand complex technologies and translate business objectives into IP strategy

• Proven leadership, ownership mindset, and ability to operate independently

• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills in a fast‑paced environment

• Collaborative, adaptable, and effective across functions, cultures, and geographies

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.

• Active U.S. state bar membership in good standing (California preferred, not required).

• Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

• Technical degree in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field.

• 10+ years of intellectual property legal experience in a law firm and/or in‑house setting, with demonstrated expertise in:

  • U.S. and international patent portfolio development and management, including Asia.

  • Providing strategic IP guidance for IP‑intensive agreements, in partnership with commercial or transactional teams.

  • IP laws and practices in Asia, including China, Korea, and Taiwan.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience advising on or managing IP portfolios related to semiconductors and emerging technologies (e.g., photonics, optoelectronics, semiconductor‑adjacent technologies, quantum computing or communications).

Additional Information

Time Type:

Full time

Employee Type:

Assignee / Regular

Travel:

Yes, 25% of the Time

Relocation Eligible:

No

The salary offered to a selected candidate will be based on multiple factors including location, hire grade, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and with consideration of internal equity of our current team members. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, candidates may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and a stock award program, as applicable.

For all sales roles, the posted salary range is the Target Total Cash (TTC) range for the role, which is the sum of base salary and target bonus amount at 100% goal achievement.

Applied Materials is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

In addition, Applied endeavors to make our careers site accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact us via e-mail at Accommodations_Program@amat.com, or by calling our HR Direct Help Line at 877-612-7547, option 1, and following the prompts to speak to an HR Advisor. This contact is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.