Job Description

** THIS JOB IS LOCATED IN SAN DIEGO, RELOCATION IS REQUIRED **  To apply directly, please send your resume to: patent_engineer_a90ebbc82@ivy.greenhouse.io

COMPANY OVERVIEW _Come join a higher calling and find a deeper purpose!   _

As a multi-national Artificial Intelligence Technology Company, we are at the epicenter of the Autonomous Vehicle Universe. Our breakthroughs are leading the industry in autonomous trucking.  

While inventing the framework of Autonomous Driving, our current fleet of autonomous Trucks are helping communities receive much-needed supplies and medical equipment around the clock.   Our people are some of the most talented engineers and contributors who are leaving behind a historic legacy.  

TuSimple was founded half a decade ago with the goal of bringing the top minds in the world together to achieve the dream of a driverless truck solution. With a foundation in computer vision, algorithms, mapping, and Artificial Intelligence, TuSimple is working to create the first global commercially viable AUTONOMOUS FREIGHT NETWORK. 

JOB OVERVIEW:  The Patent Engineer directly supports the protection of the company's products and services with a specific focus on utility patent disclosures in the technological areas of mechanical, electrical, software, and materials, as well as design patents. The Patent Engineer works closely with a diverse and talented group of researchers, engineers, and inventors, as well as a dynamic legal group—both internal and external-to build and purposefully execute the patent portfolio strategy. This includes identifying patentable inventions; securing high quality disclosures; providing technical and legal analysis; drafting invention disclosures; managing IP challenges; driving and monitoring local IP performance; conducting patent training, and leading ideation sessions.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Builds and strengthens TuSimple's patent defensive position, drives due diligence on patent acquisitions and licensing, and engages with TuSimple's businesses on emerging technologies.
• Contributes engineering expertise to the overall patent strategy taking into account TuSimple's current and future product and technology roadmap, as well as, any and all existing and planned IP programs, litigation, projects and initiatives.
• Provides engineering advice to the TuSimple IP team on the design and operation of any and all  of TuSimple's products and inventions, including: wide area network communication, server and client architecture, image signal processing, image quality assessments, camera module systems, deep learning, software architecture, computer systems, autonomous driving principals and hardware and software integration.
• Collaborates with TuSimple attorneys in defense against third party assertions by conducting invalidity searches and drafting non-infringement arguments.
• Creates and applies advanced methodologies for patent characterization based on machine learning, proprietary taxonomy, classifications, family status, and semantic analysis.
• Designs and performs patent analysis projects, such as: prior art searches, competitive intelligence analyses, infringement/non-infringement analysis, portfolio analyses, validity/invalidity analysis, etc.
• Develops and leads patent training and invention harvesting meetings. Organizes and coordinates invention disclosure tracking, reviews and evaluations.
• Collaborates with management to prioritize invention disclosures and contributes to the refinement of TuSimple's global patent portfolio strategy.
• Interfaces across legal, engineering, finance, and other business functions.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• 5 years of experience in multiple disciplines of engineering, such as: Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering 
• 1 year of experience in at least one of the following areas: legal claim construction and current patent case law; patent mining and analysis; application of practical understanding of patent valuation: experience with licensing, encumbrances, exhaustion, standards obligations, royalties, infringement, and prior-art; and experience with third party tools for patent portfolio analysis and searches.

TECHNICAL SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES: 

• Manderin fluency, preferred. 
• Understanding of patents including claim construction and current patent case law. 
• Proficient in patent mining and/or analysis. 
• Understanding of technologies relevant to the Autonomous Driving industry.
• Ability to discuss and transition between high-level architecture and low-level implementation when discussing technologies. 
• Demonstrated understanding of patent valuation – licensing, encumbrances, exhaustion, standard obligations, royalties, infringement, and prior-art. 
• Ability to conduct patent research and formulate an opinion regarding infringement, validity, and economic impact. 
• Experience explaining technology and patents in layman's terms to a variety of audiences.
• Experience conducting patent landscapes. 
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings/plans/documents/data/etc. 
• Knowledge and experience utilizing engineering fundamentals and testing methods.

BEHAVIORAL SKILLS:  

• Exceptional written and oral communication skills. 
• Excellent analytical skills and business judgment. 
• A strong drive and willingness to own projects and see them to completion. 
• Proven ability to work in a matrix organization, tech start-up experience preferred. 
• Strong planning and execution abilities. 
• Proven ability to work under firm deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively influence at all levels of an organization. 
• Ability to maintain steady leadership throughout aggressive deadlines, changing priorities, and evolving operations, as common to progresive start-up environments. 
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. 
• Strong interpersonal skills; capable of effectively partnering with multiple internal customers, in-house and outside counsel, and third-party vendors/consultants.

PERKS:

• 100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for you and your family
• Work visa sponsorship available
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served every day
• Full kitchens on every floor with unlimited snacks, drinks, special treats, fruits, meals, and more
• Gym membership reimbursement
• Monthly team building budget
• Learning/education budget  
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employer-paid long and short disability

TuSimple is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above-listed items.

To apply directly, please send your resume to: patent_engineer_a90ebbc82@ivy.greenhouse.io