Associate General Counsel, IP Strategy & Litigation

at Sila

Alameda

About Us

We are Sila, a next-generation battery materials company. Our mission is to power the world’s transition to clean energy. To create this future, our team is building a better lithium-ion battery from the inside out today. We engineer and manufacture ground-breaking battery materials that significantly increase the energy density of batteries, while reducing their size and weight. The result? Smaller more powerful batteries that can unlock innovation in consumer devices and accelerate the mass adoption of electric cars to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. We're tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time every day, and together we're redefining what's possible. Are you ready to be a part of a team committed to changing the world?

Who You Are

You will lead the intellectual property (IP) enforcement function in developing and executing the company’s global IP monetization strategy. This role combines hands-on patent litigation leadership with strategic partner engagements. The ideal candidate brings deep litigation experience, commercial instincts for extracting value from IP, and the executive presence to advise leadership on IP as a business driver.

Responsibilities and Duties

Design and execute IP monetization strategies through licensing, acquisitions and sales, and strategic partnerships to generate revenue from patent assets
Lead global patent litigation strategy and execution, including infringement actions, PTAB proceedings, and ITC investigations; manage outside counsel, budgets, and settlement decisions
Negotiate licensing and technology transaction agreements, in partnership with corporate development, sales, and the commercial transactions team
Provide guidance to our patent prosecution group on filing strategy, invention harvesting, and portfolio development to ensure alignment with business strategy and competitive positioning
Lead trade secret protection program, including information classification, confidentiality frameworks, and employee IP training
Support IP due diligence for M&A, investments, and strategic partnerships

Knowledge and Skill Requirements

J.D. and active bar membership; registered to practice before the USPTO; technical degree in materials science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a related STEM field (Master’s or PhD preferred)
10+ years of patent law experience (mix of law firm and in house experience preferred) with substantial U.S. and international IP litigation, and proven success in offensive licensing or monetization transactions for high tech products
Familiarity with federal funding IP requirements (Bayh-Dole Act, FAR/DFARS IP clauses, agency-specific grant terms) preferred
Experience managing outside counsel relationships and multimillion-dollar litigation budgets
Strategic thinker and skilled negotiator who connects IP decisions to business outcomes
Executive presence with the ability to communicate complex technical and legal matters to executive and board audiences

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Move long distances (such as from building to building) and be stationary for extended periods of time
Operate a computer and other office equipment, such as a laptop, copier/printer, etc in a fixed location
Travel for related meetings, negotiations, and litigation support (up to 25%)

The starting base pay for this role is between $229,000 and $290,000 at the time of posting. The actual base pay depends on many factors, such as education, experience, and skills. Base pay is only one part of Sila’s competitive Total Rewards package that can include benefits, perks and equity. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. #LI-Onsite

Working at Sila

We believe that building a diverse team at Sila helps us amplify our individual talents. We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive environment where good ideas are free to come from anyone. We are proud to celebrate diversity and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other status protected by law.