Director, Intellectual Property Counsel

About the role

Cerebras Systems builds the world's largest AI chip, delivering training and inference speeds over 10 times faster than GPU-based cloud services. As Director, IP, you will lead the development and execution of Cerebras' global intellectual property strategy, partnering with engineering, research, product, security, marketing and executive leadership to build, protect and leverage the company's patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and open source assets. It is a hands-on, business-facing role for an IP attorney who works directly with inventors and technical leaders.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute Cerebras' enterprise IP strategy aligned with the product roadmap, business objectives and competitive positioning.
• Advise executive leadership on IP strategy, risks, licensing opportunities, standards participation and emerging AI legal developments.
• Build and maintain an integrated IP portfolio covering patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, domain names and other proprietary assets.
• Drive invention harvesting and patent portfolio development across the AI infrastructure stack, working with engineers, researchers and product leaders to improve invention disclosures.
• Manage U.S. and international patent preparation and prosecution, direct outside counsel, set claim strategy and control quality, cost and timing.
• Advise on IP issues for generative AI, foundation models and related regulatory developments.
• Support commercial, corporate and product counsel on IP provisions in customer agreements, supply chain and manufacturing relationships, university collaborations, licensing and other transactions.

Required profile

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar; California bar membership preferred.
• Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• 10+ years of experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications, preferably in AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, semiconductors, electrical engineering, computer science, systems, networking or cloud infrastructure.
• Technical undergraduate degree or equivalent technical experience; electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, physics or a closely related discipline preferred.
• Preferred: prior in-house patent counsel experience at a high-growth technology, semiconductor, AI infrastructure, cloud or advanced computing company.
• Preferred: experience with AI accelerator and data center patent portfolios, patent assertions, invalidity and infringement analysis, foreign filing strategy (including PCT), and building reporting and dashboards for invention intake and portfolio review.

Required skills

• Ability to turn complex AI hardware, systems and software into actionable patent claims.
• Experience managing outside patent counsel and global patent portfolios.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organization and attention to detail.