IP Counsel
Department: Legal
Location: Somerville, MA (on-site)
About Formlabs:
Do you want to change how the world creates?
At Formlabs, we're building the tools that make it possible for anyone to bring their ideas to life, from cutting-edge products to life-saving medical devices. Our 3D printing technology powers innovation at more than 50,000 industry leaders worldwide, including Apple, Google, Tesla, New Balance, and NASA. Together, we're helping everyone design, prototype, and manufacture faster than ever before.
We're a team of hands-on builders, engineers, and innovators reinventing how the world makes physical things. If you're ready to shape the future of fabrication, come build it with us.
Your Impact:
This role owns strategy for our patent portfolio by building the metrics to inform a global strategy. You'll work closely with R&D and inventors who create new technologies to guide our future growth. Additionally, we operate as a lean legal team, so there is an exciting opportunity to expand your scope beyond IP work and advise business leaders globally on other areas of the law, such as corporate, commercial, employment law, and general litigation matters.
What You'll Do:
- Own patent portfolio value, not just volume: build the metrics and criteria that determine what Formlabs patents, maintains, or cuts, and track cost against actual competitive value.
- Set global patent strategy across the U.S. and internationally, weighing where protection is worth pursuing given Formlabs' cross-border risk.
- Draft, file, and prosecute patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and international patent offices, including the European Patent Office (EPO) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA).
- Run freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses, patentability assessments, and portfolio risk reviews to keep Formlabs building on solid ground.
- Partner directly with R&D to catch patentable inventions early, before they're buried in a lab notebook.
- Manage outside counsel across prosecution, opinions, and any disputes, keeping cost and quality in check.
- Support IP litigation, opposition proceedings, and enforcement when they come up.
- Step outside the patent portfolio to pitch in on key manufacturing, vendor, and supplier agreements, as well as other strategic commercial contracts.
- Pick up other generalist legal matters as they surface, from trade compliance to general litigation support, so the legal team can work collaboratively and best support any area of the business that needs our help.
About You:
- J.D. and admission to at least one state bar, plus registration to practice before the USPTO (patent bar).
- Undergraduate degree in engineering, physics, mathematics, or a related technical field. You need to be able to read a claim chart and the underlying spec without a translator.
- Deep expertise in U.S. patent law, plus working knowledge of major international patent systems; experience with trademark and trade secret law.
- A track record in patent drafting, prosecution, and portfolio management, ideally where you can point to real decisions you made about what to file and what not to file.
- At least 3 years at a top-tier law firm focused on patent work.
- While you index on patent work, you’re excited about an expanded scope to learn to operate as a generalist, taking on whatever tasks the business requires. You thrive in an “every day is different” environment, and you enjoy the challenge of figuring out novel problems as they arise.
- Comfortable working independently in a fast-moving, global company where you're juggling more than one live priority at a time.
Bonus Skills:
- In-house legal experience at a hardware or hard-tech company.
- Experience with Chinese manufacturing operations.
- Experience with matters before the EPO and CNIPA.
- Experience with global copyright law, commercial transactions, and licensing agreements.
Our Benefits & Perks:
- Robust equity program to build future wealth through RSUs
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage (Medical, Dental, Vision)
- 401K matching and access to financial advisors
- Generous paid Parental Leave (up to 16 weeks)
- Tenure-based paid Sabbatical Leave (up to 6 weeks)
- Flexible Out of Office Plan – Take time when you need it
- Ample on-site parking & pre-tax commuter benefits
- Healthy on-site lunches, snacks, beverages, & treats
- Regular sponsored professional development opportunities
- Many opt-in culture events across our diverse community
- And of course… unlimited 3D prints
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Even if you don't check every box, but see yourself contributing, please apply. Help us build an inclusive community that will change the face of 3D printing.
