Senior Associate - Software

About the role

Lumenci is seeking a Senior Associate – Software to support high-impact patent litigation, IP strategy, and monetization engagements across advanced software technologies. This role is ideal for engineers with hands-on experience in software development, system architecture, distributed systems, embedded software, or AI/ML, who are eager to apply deep technical expertise in complex IP and legal environments.

Responsibilities

• Contribute as an individual contributor on client projects involving software systems, platforms, applications, and distributed architectures.
• Deliver patent analysis and IP monetization research related to software technologies, including technology due diligence, claim charting/infringement analysis, prior art searching, market research, and target scouting for software portfolios and products.
• Analyze and reverse engineer implementations of software systems and architectures, such as:
• Backend systems, APIs, and distributed/cloud architectures
• Embedded and real-time software systems
• AI/ML models, data pipelines, and algorithmic implementations
• Design and execute technical analysis plans and experiments to evaluate software architectures, system behavior, performance characteristics, and algorithmic implementations, and connect the resulting findings to patent claims, standards, and accused products.
• Review datasheets, design documentation, system architecture diagrams, API specifications, developer documentation, and standards documents related to software systems, and map technical details to patent claims and commercial implementations.
• Support Expert Witnesses and attorneys on IP litigation matters, including:
• Technical analysis for expert and consulting reports
• Review of source code, system architecture, design documentation, and logs
• Preparation for depositions, hearings, and trials
• Collaborate with project leads and senior consultants to prepare client deliverables and presentations that clearly explain complex software architectures, system designs, and algorithmic concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Aid in maintaining relationships with existing and prospective clients by supporting technical discussions, demos, and workshops focused on software and IP opportunities.
• Collaborate with Lumenci’s product teams to provide input on requirements, testing, and roadmap for technology platforms related to software analysis, technical content build, and IP analytics.
• Contribute to thought leadership in software and IP, including blogs, whitepapers, research summaries, and internal training on software systems, architectures, and IP strategy.
• Collaborate across the organization with in-person and distributed global teams; attend internal and external meetings, workshops, conferences, code reviews, depositions, and trials as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related field with a focus on software systems, architectures, or application development.
• 2–4 years of hands-on experience working with software or software-adjacent systems in an R&D, development, systems, test, or consulting role (for example, software development, backend systems, distributed systems, embedded software, or application engineering), including implementing, analyzing, or optimizing software systems or architectures.
• Strong understanding of core software fundamentals, such as data structures, algorithms, system design, operating systems, networking, and software architecture patterns.
• Experience working with software development flows, tools, or reference implementations for one or more domains, such as:
• Backend / distributed systems (e.g., microservices, cloud platforms, APIs)
• Embedded or systems software (e.g., real-time systems, firmware)
• AI/ML systems or data platforms (e.g., model pipelines, data processing frameworks)
• Demonstrated proficiency in one or more relevant programming/scripting languages (e.g., Python, Java, C/C++, JavaScript, or similar) for software development, data analysis, or automation.
• Ability to clearly explain complex technical topics in writing and verbally to both technical and non-technical audiences, especially when translating software technical detail into IP and business implications.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced consulting environment.
• Approximately 40% domestic travel (for client meetings, expert meetings, code reviews, depositions/trials, and conferences).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting IP litigation, licensing, standards-related work, or patent monetization related to software systems, platforms, or applications.
• Familiarity with common software analysis and reverse-engineering workflows, such as static/dynamic code analysis, debugging, instrumentation, protocol analysis, and performance profiling.
• Exposure to standardization activities, industry groups, or open-source ecosystems related to software technologies, platforms, or protocols.
• Experience with software design, development, or system architectures (e.g., distributed systems design, API development, cloud-native architectures, CI/CD pipelines) and familiarity with how these features are represented in patent claims.
• Experience in intellectual property services, such as patent drafting/prosecution support, technical support for licensing negotiations, or patent brokerage, particularly where software or software-adjacent technologies were involved.