General Patent Counsel

Ayar Labs is the pioneer of optical I/O, delivering chiplet-based photonic interconnect solutions (TeraPHY® optical I/O chiplets and SuperNova™ light sources) that let CPUs, GPUs, and AI accelerators move data at multi-terabit speeds with a fraction of the power and latency of copper. As AI infrastructure scales, Ayar Labs' optical I/O patent portfolio is a core strategic and financial asset — protecting the company's technology moat and supporting its valuation as it grows toward and through the public markets.

About the role

Ayar Labs is seeking an experienced General Patent Counsel to serve as senior in-house patent leader for the company's U.S. portfolio. Reporting to the General Counsel and partnering closely with the engineering team, this role sets patent prosecution strategy, advises engineering and product teams on IP protection and freedom-to-operate, leads IP due diligence on transactions and partnerships, and drives cost discipline across outside counsel spend — prioritizing portfolio quality over raw filing volume. The role also serves as Ayar's liaison to ALPACA (the Ayar Labs Patent Advisory Committee/Alliance). This is a senior people-leadership role for an experienced patent attorney who combines deep technical fluency with sound business judgment about where patent investment actually protects enterprise value.

The deep technical fluency starts with Ayar Labs products, e.g. semiconductors, photonics, packaging, and testability through our customer products, architectures, and applications including systems, predictive failure analysis, artificial intelligence, and complex algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute U.S. patent prosecution strategy for Ayar Labs' optical I/O and semiconductor patent portfolio, working directly with inventors, outside counsel, and the General Counsel.
• Provide strategic IP counsel on portfolio building, portfolio analysis, and gap identification against the competitive and technology landscape.
• Lead IP due diligence for M&A activity, strategic partnerships, and commercial transactions.
• Advise engineering and product teams on invention harvesting, IP protection strategy, and freedom-to-operate analysis.
• Develop and support licensing strategy and licensing transaction execution.
• Manage outside patent counsel relationships and budget, driving cost discipline and prosecution efficiency without sacrificing portfolio quality.
• Support portfolio valuation analysis for internal planning and, as applicable, public financial reporting (Exchange Act) purposes.
• Serve as Ayar's liaison to ALPACA on cross-functional patent strategy matters.
• Mentor and, as the team grows, manage patent attorneys, agents, and paralegals supporting the portfolio.
• Partner with the General Counsel on IP-related risk assessment, budget planning, and board- or investor-facing IP reporting as needed.

Requirements

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school; active member in good standing of the California State Bar (or eligible for reciprocity/registered in-house counsel status, CA admission).
• Active registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Patent Bar).
• 10+ years of patent prosecution experience, including substantial experience managing or contributing to a U.S. semiconductor, electronics, or related deep-tech patent portfolio.
• Demonstrated experience running or contributing to global patent filing strategy (U.S., PCT, and key foreign jurisdictions).
• Experience conducting IP due diligence in transactional contexts (M&A, licensing, or strategic partnerships).
• Strong technical fluency in semiconductor devices, integrated circuit design, or photonics sufficient to work directly with engineering teams on invention disclosures and claims strategy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the judgment to advise engineering, product, and executive stakeholders in plain, business-relevant terms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced technical degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related field, and/or prior hands-on experience as a semiconductor or IC design engineer.
• Direct experience with photonics, optoelectronics, optical interconnect, or co-packaged optics technology.
• Experience managing or mentoring a team of patent attorneys, agents, and paralegals.
• Previous patent portfolio valuation experience, particularly in support of financial reporting or capital-raise due diligence.
• Hands-on, direct experience representing venture-backed or newly public semiconductor, photonics, or deep-tech companies.
• Experience with licensing negotiations and standards-essential patent considerations.

Pay

$225,000 - $260,000