European Patent Attorney - Patent Counsel

Company:

Qualcomm Germany GmbH

Job Area:

Legal Group, Legal Group > Patent Counsel

General Summary:

Position Overview: 

Qualcomm is seeking a European Patent Attorney to develop, prosecute, and manage high-quality patent assets and maximize the strategic value of the patent portfolio. The role manages patent dockets and portfolios, advises on patent-related matters, and supports Intellectual Property department initiatives based on applicable law, legal principles, and department policies. 

The successful candidate will work with in-house portfolio managers and outside counsel on the strategic preparation and prosecution of patent assets. The role also collaborates with engineering and product teams to understand product and technology roadmaps, identify opportunities for IP development, and transform inventions into patent assets aligned with technology and business goals.  The role will also provide strategic and analytical support for patent licensing negotiations and litigation preparation, including evaluating claim scope, infringement, validity, and technical evidence; preparing claim charts and supporting analyses; and working with licensing teams, litigation counsel, technical experts, and business stakeholders.

This position requires comprehensive patent and legal analysis, sound judgment, and close partnership with engineers, outside counsel, support staff, and business leaders to deliver strategically aligned work product. 

This role requires full-time onsite work in our Munich office (5 days per week).  

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field. 
• Qualified as a European Patent Attorney, including successful completion of the European Qualifying Examination (EQE), and entitled to practice before the European Patent Office. 
• 3+ years of experience in patent preparation, prosecution, or patent litigation.
• Appropriate professional registration or authorization to practice in the jurisdiction in which the candidate is based, where required.  

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.  
• 5+ years of patent law experience in a law firm, in-house legal department, or a combination of both. 
• 3+ years of patent preparation and prosecution experience involving one or more of the following: systems-on-chip (SoCs); processors, including CPUs, NPUs, DSPs, or GPUs; artificial intelligence; multimedia; memory design; low-power circuitry; location technologies; Wi-Fi or local-area connectivity; or 5G/6G and cellular communications and computer-implemented inventions. 
• 2+ years of patent litigation, opposition, invalidity, or enforcement experience. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Develop patent assets and support the patent portfolio using knowledge of Qualcomm products, technologies, engineering principles, and business priorities. 
• Identify technologies within the assigned portfolio that may need increased, reduced, or differently focused IP protection. 
• Maintain current knowledge of European and international patent laws, rules, procedures, UPC and/or National case laws, and best practices relevant to worldwide patent preparation and prosecution. 
• Assess prior art and the strategic importance of claims, and develop persuasive written and oral positions for presentation to the European Patent Office and other patent offices.   
• Conduct patent analyses, including infringement, validity, patentability, and freedom-to-operate analyses, with limited guidance, and make recommendations concerning protection, litigation, licensing, and enforcement. 
• Develop claim chart analyses that integrate relevant patent, technical, and product information to support licensing and enforcement activities. 
• Advise on IP department initiatives and legal matters based on applicable law, department policies, best practices, business objectives, and legal risk. 
• Work with colleagues to recommend whether to appeal, continue prosecution, or file divisional, or other follow-on applications, as applicable, based on legal and portfolio analysis. 
• Manage patent dockets, matters, portfolios, and initiatives by planning resources, establishing expectations for deliverables, and tracking progress against milestones. 
• Collaborate with engineering teams to identify and develop inventions and promote invention disclosures that support portfolio development.   
• Keep leaders, team members, and stakeholders appropriately informed about assignments, risks, decisions, and status, and seek guidance when needed. 
• Participate in and, where appropriate, lead meetings, portfolio reviews, and case reviews with legal, technical, and business colleagues. 

Minimum Qualifications:

•    Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
•    Juris Doctorate from ABA accredited law school.
•    US: Admitted to a state bar in good standing.
•    2+ years of experience in patent preparation, prosecution, or litigation experience.
• Appropriately registered/licensed in candidate’s applicable jurisdiction.

*References to a particular number of years experience are for indicative purposes only. Applications from candidates with equivalent experience will be considered, provided that the candidate can demonstrate an ability to fulfill the principal duties of the role and possesses the required competencies.

Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.

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