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Intellectual Property Engineer Jobs in California

Apple

Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Culver City, CA

$223K - $335K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Apple is seeking a Sr. IP Counsel to help drive IP strategy and negotiations on behalf of its engineering groups and business units. You will handle cutting-edge intellectual property issues, working ...

Apple

Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Culver City, CA

$223K - $335K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Apple is seeking a Sr. IP Counsel to help drive IP strategy and negotiations on behalf of its engineering groups and business units. You will handle cutting-edge intellectual property issues, working ...

Apple

Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Culver City, CA

$223K - $335K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Apple is seeking a Sr. IP Counsel to help drive IP strategy and negotiations on behalf of its engineering groups and business units. You will handle cutting-edge intellectual property issues, working ...

Apple

Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Culver City, CA

$223K - $335K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Apple is seeking a Sr. IP Counsel to help drive IP strategy and negotiations on behalf of its engineering groups and business units. You will handle cutting-edge intellectual property issues, working ...

Apple

Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Culver City, CA

$223K - $335K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

Apple is seeking a Sr. IP Counsel to help drive IP strategy and negotiations on behalf of its engineering groups and business units. You will handle cutting-edge intellectual property issues, working ...

BW

Intellectual Property Attorney

Santa Clara, CA · On-site

Company Description Arista Networks is seeking an Intellectual Property Attorney to join its legal ... Strong academic background in engineering (electrical engineering or computer science background ...

Cerebras Systems

... intellectual property strategy ... You will partner with engineering, research, product, security, marketing, and executive leadership ...

NBCUniversal

Counsel, Intellectual Property

Universal City, CA · Hybrid

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film ... The Counsel, Intellectual Property position within the Copyright & Trademark team will provide ...

NBCUniversal

Counsel, Intellectual Property

Universal City, CA · Hybrid

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film ... The Counsel, Intellectual Property position within the Copyright & Trademark team will provide ...

NBCUniversal

Counsel, Intellectual Property

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film ... The Counsel, Intellectual Property position within the Copyright & Trademark team will provide ...

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All JobsIntellectual Property Engineer JobsIntellectual Property Engineer Jobs in California

Intellectual Property Engineer information

See California salary details

$36

$57

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How much do intellectual property engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for intellectual property engineer in California is $57.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44.86 and $70.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Intellectual Property Engineer vs Patent Analyst?

AspectIntellectual Property EngineerPatent Analyst
Required CredentialsEngineering degree, IP certificationsLegal or technical background, patent law knowledge
Work EnvironmentR&D labs, tech companies, patent departmentsLegal firms, patent offices, corporate IP teams
Employer & Industry UsageTechnology, manufacturing, R&D sectorsLegal, consulting, patent firms
Common Search & ComparisonTechnical IP roles, patent processPatent research, patent valuation

Intellectual Property Engineers focus on developing, managing, and protecting a company's IP assets, often working closely with R&D teams. Patent Analysts primarily conduct patent research, analysis, and valuation to support patent filing and legal decisions. While both roles require technical knowledge and familiarity with patent processes, the Engineer role is more technical and development-oriented, whereas the Analyst role emphasizes research and legal support.

How does an intellectual property engineer typically collaborate with legal teams and R&D departments?

Intellectual Property Engineers often act as a bridge between technical and legal teams, working closely with R&D to understand innovations and with legal professionals to ensure robust patent filings and IP protection. They translate complex technical concepts into clear documentation, facilitate invention disclosures, and assist in prior art searches. Regular meetings and cross-functional teamwork are common, requiring strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical ideas in legal contexts. This collaboration ensures that valuable innovations are properly protected and aligned with the company's business strategy.

What is an intellectual property engineer?

An Intellectual Property (IP) Engineer is a professional who specializes in protecting, managing, and leveraging intellectual property assets within technology-driven organizations. They often work at the intersection of engineering, law, and business to help companies identify patentable inventions, prepare technical documentation for patent filings, and ensure compliance with IP regulations. IP Engineers may also assist in analyzing patent portfolios, conducting freedom-to-operate searches, and supporting legal teams in IP litigation or licensing deals. Their role is crucial for safeguarding innovations and maintaining a competitive edge in the marketplace.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an intellectual property engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Intellectual Property Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering or science, combined with an understanding of patent law and intellectual property processes, often supported by a relevant degree and patent agent or bar registration. Familiarity with patent databases, IP management systems, and technical documentation software is essential. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you interpret inventions and collaborate with inventors and legal teams. These skills ensure accurate protection and management of innovations, maximizing value and minimizing legal risks for organizations.

What does an intellectual property engineer do?

An intellectual property engineer specializes in managing and protecting a company's patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. They analyze inventions, assist with patent applications, and ensure compliance with IP laws, often using technical knowledge and legal understanding to support innovation and legal protection.
What are popular job titles related to Intellectual Property Engineer jobs in California? For Intellectual Property Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Intellectual Property Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Intellectual Property Engineer jobs in California are:
Intellectual Property Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Intellectual Property Engineer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, and 18% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $119,500 per year, or $57.5 per hour.

Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property

Socket.dev

Culver City, CA • On-site

$230 - $360/hr

Other

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

Apple is seeking a Sr. IP Counsel to help drive IP strategy and negotiations on behalf of its engineering groups and business units. You will handle cutting-edge intellectual property issues, working closely with other legal professionals and senior Apple executives. This includes transactions covering all forms of intellectual property, technology licenses and development agreements, IP dispute resolution, and IP licensing. Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Do you possess a passion for strategic thinking? Working for a company that invents entire categories and industries means you'll dive deep into understanding technologies that the public won't know about for years to come, and be challenged to creatively apply your deep legal expertise to rare and often unexplored aspects of the law. We are looking for brilliant IP strategist and negotiator with great judgment and a demonstrated ability to manage the day-to-day progress of complex disputes and negotiations. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who already has the experience needed to hit the ground running.

Description

As a key attorney in Apple's Intellectual Property Licensing and Litigation team, you will partner closely with Apple engineers and executives to solve thorny problems. You will personally be formulating and driving strategy as well as working with a number of cross-functional teams and stakeholders across all product areas. The position requires the ability to figure things out independently, and a relentless focus on how every decision affects Apple shareholder value. You will operate as part of a supportive and fun team of lawyers, legal specialists and support staff who work closely together to protect Apple's interests.

Minimum Qualifications
  • At least 8-10 years experience in both technology licensing and pure IP licensing, including in nine- or ten-figure transactions.
  • Trained in complex IP negotiations at a major technology industry law firm, at a Fortune 100 company, or both.
  • Expertise in every form of intellectual property, including patent law, copyright law, trademark law, trade secret law, and others.
  • JD or equivalent and admission to at least one US state bar.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or a related discipline strongly preferred.
  • Deep and intuitive understanding of the key intellectual property strategies of Fortune 50 Silicon Valley companies.
  • Able to parse and understand a single sentence that's three pages long, with flawless accuracy.
  • At least some familiarity with the differences in intellectual property law between the legal systems of other major industrialized nations.
  • A lifelong passion for technology.
  • Patent prosecution or intellectual property litigation experience.
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