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Intellectual Property Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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Intellectual Property information

See California salary details

$50.8K

$118.3K

$195.4K

How much do intellectual property jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for intellectual property in California is $118,307.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,200.00 and $138,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an intellectual property professional?

Intellectual Property (IP) professionals are experts who help individuals and organizations protect, manage, and enforce their intellectual property rights. These rights include patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. IP professionals may work as attorneys, agents, consultants, or in-house specialists, providing legal advice, filing applications, conducting searches, and handling disputes. Their work ensures that creators and inventors can safeguard their innovations and creative works from unauthorized use.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an intellectual property professional?

To thrive as an Intellectual Property professional, you need a strong understanding of patent, trademark, and copyright laws, often supported by a law degree or specialized IP certification. Familiarity with IP management software, patent databases like USPTO or EPO, and legal research tools is essential. Outstanding analytical thinking, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help you effectively protect and advocate for intellectual assets. These competencies are crucial for navigating complex legal frameworks, advising clients, and ensuring robust IP protection in a competitive market.

What are common challenges faced by intellectual property professionals?

Professionals in Intellectual Property (IP) roles often navigate complex legal frameworks and must stay updated on evolving laws and international treaties. A typical challenge is balancing the protection of innovations with ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions. Additionally, coordinating with inventors, legal teams, and business stakeholders requires strong communication and project management skills. Managing tight deadlines, especially for patent or trademark filings, is also a frequent aspect of the role.

What is the difference between Intellectual Property vs Patent Examiner?

AspectIntellectual PropertyPatent Examiner
CredentialsLegal, technical, or patent law backgroundEngineering or technical degree, patent law knowledge
Work EnvironmentLegal firms, corporations, government agenciesPatent offices, government agencies
Industry UsageBroadly used across industries for rights managementSpecific to patent application review

Intellectual Property is a broad field encompassing rights like patents, trademarks, and copyrights, while a Patent Examiner specializes in reviewing patent applications within the patent system. The examiner's role is focused on assessing patentability, whereas Intellectual Property professionals manage and strategize across various rights. Both roles require technical or legal credentials and are integral to protecting innovations in various industries.

What does an intellectual property specialist do?

An intellectual property specialist manages and protects a company's intellectual assets, such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. They conduct patent searches, prepare and file applications, and ensure legal compliance, often working closely with legal teams and using specialized IP management tools.

What are the most commonly searched types of Intellectual Property jobs in California?

The most popular types of Intellectual Property jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Intellectual Property jobs in California?

For Intellectual Property jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Intellectual Property jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Intellectual Property jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Intellectual Property jobs?

Cities in California with the most Intellectual Property job openings:

Intellectual Property jobs near you
Infographic showing various Intellectual Property job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,307 per year, or $56.9 per hour.

Senior Director, Intellectual Property

Kardigan

South San Francisco, CA • Hybrid

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

Position Title: Senior Director, Intellectual Property 

Department: Legal 

Reports To: Vice President, Intellectual Property 

Location: South San Francisco, CA or Princeton, NJ - On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs) 

Job Overview 

The Senior Director of Intellectual Property (IP) is a highly experienced, strategic, and driven intellectual property attorney who can provide advice and counseling to the business on a broad range of scientific and IP legal issues. This key member of the legal team will report to the Vice President, Intellectual Property and will be responsible for providing IP legal support to a number of different programs at various stages of development. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of patent law, Orange Book listings, ANDA litigation and bring creative and strategic approaches to protecting Kardigan's efforts. 

This position is hybrid and will be primarily located in South San Francisco, CA or Princeton, NJ.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

  • The Senior Director of Intellectual Property will be able to conceptualize, develop, implement and manage intellectual property portfolio strategies worldwide to maximize value and utility of IP assets for current and future commercial assets 
  • Independently provide expert IP advice to senior scientific and business leaders and demonstrate thoughtful risk management in decision making 
  • Responsible for identifying preparation of patent applications, patent prosecution, and annual patent portfolio management to ensure the efficient use of our resources 
  • Collaborate with various functions within Kardigan to foster a science-driven and innovative environment that ensures that IP is effectively identified, captured and filed 
  • Oversee strategies for addressing competitor IP, including administrative proceedings such as oppositions, post-grant reviews, inter-partes reviews, and re-examinations
  • Provide IP transactional support for business transactions, clinical agreements, collaborative research agreements, and license and acquisition agreements
  • Manage the relationships and agreements with external legal counsel, and vendors 

Qualifications and Preferred Skills 

  • Advanced degree in chemical sciences with synthetic laboratory experience is required (Ph.D. organic chemistry is beneficial) 
  • Law degree from an ABA-accredited law school 
  • Admitted to the bar of at least one U.S. State or the District of Columbia 
  • Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) 
  • 10-20 years of professional legal experience as a patent professional (e.g., patent agent or patent attorney, etc.) 
  • Prior experiences as a member of an in-house legal team in a pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or biotechnology company, including management of complex patent portfolio and pharmaceutical product support
  • Experience supporting a commercial product is a plus, but not required 

Apply