IP TECHNOLOGIST
A career-expanding opportunity for a curious, technically deep engineer.
Job Title: IP Technologist
Location: San Francisco, on-site/ hybrid 3 days in office
Reports To: SVP, Chief IP Counsel
Employment: Full-Time | Hybrid
Travel: 10–25% domestic and international
Must be legally authorized to work for any US Employer
Experience: 2-10 years Max
THE COMPANY
We are a professional intellectual property services company headquartered in Silicon Valley, with a presence in Europe and Asia. We serve our clients globally with trusted executive, business, technical, legal, and licensing expertise — helping the technology industry through focused patent aggregation, licensing programs, and consulting and expert services.
Our vision is to optimize the global high-tech IP environment to be efficient, respected, and balanced — giving technology companies predictable design freedom while ensuring fair compensation for innovators. VideoLabs is well funded, rapidly growing, and built around a core team of highly experienced IP, business, and legal professionals. Learn more at www.videolabsinc.com.
WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT
If you've ever wondered what happens to technology after it's invented — how patents are valued, contested, and licensed at the highest levels of industry — this is where you find out.
Most engineering roles ask you to build within a system. This one asks you to understand systems at a level most engineers never reach. You'll dissect products, trace technologies back to their foundational claims, and sit at the intersection of deep technical knowledge and high-stakes business strategy.
You don't need to be a patent attorney. You don't need years of IP experience. What you need is intellectual curiosity, technical depth, and the ability to communicate complex ideas with precision and confidence. We'll invest in your IP training and surround you with experienced licensing and legal professionals who will help you grow fast.
This role offers something rare: the chance to leverage your engineering background in a way that directly drives business outcomes — and to build expertise in a specialized, high-value field that most engineers never access.
THE POSITION
The IP Technologist will be a key technical contributor to VideoLabs' patent licensing and monetization programs. You will analyze patents, map claims to real-world products across video and digital media technologies, software, semiconductors, networking, and consumer electronics — and help build the technical cases that underpin our licensing campaigns.
You'll work closely with our licensing managers, outside counsel, and leadership team. While your focus will be largely internal, you'll occasionally engage directly with licensing targets and litigation counsel — giving you a front-row seat to how IP strategy plays out in practice.
This position reports directly to the SVP, Chief IP Counsel.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
- Analyze patents and create detailed, accurate claim charts mapping patent claims element-by-element to accused products across software, hardware, networking, and consumer electronics — with a particular focus on video and digital media technologies.
- Conduct infringement, validity, and enforceability analysis to support licensing campaigns, deals, and litigation matters.
- Develop patent/product heat maps against licensing targets to accurately size infringing revenue and guide the team's strategy.
- Participate in reverse engineering activities — working with internal engineers and third-party RE experts — to build technically rigorous infringement positions.
- Support licensing negotiations as the technical voice: presenting claim charts, responding to non-infringement arguments, and helping counsel understand the technology.
- Evaluate incoming patent portfolios for acquisition potential, assessing claim scope, infringement strength, and licensing viability.
- Collaborate with litigation counsel on patent matters in active disputes, providing subject matter expertise on infringement and validity questions.
- Track technology trends, product roadmaps, and industry developments across target sectors to continuously identify new licensing opportunities.
- Help maintain VideoLabs' patent knowledge base — building systems that make portfolio insights accessible and actionable for the broader team.
- Take on additional responsibilities as directed by the SVP, Chief IP Counsel.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We're casting a wide net. If your background is in software, hardware, semiconductors, networking, or systems engineering and you're excited by the idea of applying that expertise in a new way, we want to hear from you.
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree a plus.
- 3–10 years of hands-on engineering or technical experience across one or more of the following: software/algorithms, semiconductors/hardware, networking/telecom, consumer electronics — with depth in video and digital media a strong plus.
- Some prior exposure to IP, patents, or claim analysis is helpful but not required; intellectual curiosity about how technology intersects with law and business matters more.
- Strong ability to read technical documentation, product specifications, and standards documents, and to synthesize findings into clear, well-structured written analysis.
- Comfortable working across multiple technology domains and levels of abstraction — from IC and component level up to system and platform.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences including attorneys, executives, and licensing targets.
- Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams independently, prioritize effectively, and deliver high-quality output under deadline.
- Experience at a patent assertion entity, licensing firm, Big Tech company, or semiconductor organization is valued — but not a prerequisite.
- Fluent English required; additional languages a plus.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally; 10–25% travel expected.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN
- Structured IP training and mentorship from seasoned patent licensing professionals and IP attorneys — a genuine investment in your development.
- Exposure to high-value, complex patent portfolios and licensing matters across cutting-edge technology sectors.
- A direct line between your technical work and real business outcomes — your analysis drives licensing revenue.
- A lean, collaborative team where your voice carries weight and your work is visible to leadership.
- The opportunity to build rare, highly specialized expertise at the intersection of technology, law, and business strategy.
COMPENSATION
An attractive and highly commensurate compensation package is available, including base salary, performance-based bonus tied to licensing program outcomes, and benefits. Details will be discussed with qualified candidates.
Pay: $140,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in San Francisco, CA 94116
