Legal Counsel, IP

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Legal team is responsible for providing legal and compliance guidance across all aspects of Anduril’s rapidly growing business. This mission-driven and highly collaborative team provides critical support ranging from drafting and negotiating license and services agreements, to bid protests and litigation, to handling intellectual property, compliance, and employment matters. You will represent the legal team in relationships with outside counsel, vendors, engineers, executives, customers, and regulators, tackling novel legal challenges that arise from deploying advanced technology in the defense sector.

ABOUT THE JOB

Anduril’s Legal Team seeks an exceptional in-house IP attorney to help us shape the future of defense technology. This is not a traditional in-house role. You will work across nearly every aspect of Anduril’s business—working with business development, supply chain, marketing, design, and engineering teams. This role offers tremendous opportunities for ownership and professional growth, and you will be a key member of Anduril’s dynamic Legal team. Our team is passionate about the law and policy of defense technology and you should have an independent interest in the key issues in this field. This position reports to the Associate General Counsel, IP, and will be based in Costa Mesa, CA.

Anduril is a fast-growing company at the early stages of growth. Consistent with this fast growth, members of Anduril’s Legal Team must be resourceful, creative, and eager to take ownership of complex matters. This role will require creativity, resourcefulness, and a genuine desire to help Anduril deploy its path-making technology into operational settings for the United States and its allies. While your primary focus relates to IP, you will contribute to a wide variety of other aspects of Anduril’s business, from U.S. government contracts, to negotiating license and services agreements, to bid protests and litigation, to supporting compliance and employment matters. Experience across all these areas is not expected, but a willingness to learn and adapt is essential.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Drive the strategic development and management of Anduril’s worldwide IP portfolio, coordinating with internal teams to align IP strategy with corporate goals.
• Draft and negotiate complex IP provisions for a wide variety of agreements, including procurement, development, manufacturing, partnership/teaming, and licensing agreements, with the goal of protecting Anduril's core IP assets.
• Provide legal counsel on all IP-related matters; conduct IP risk assessments, investigations, and due diligence; investigate government contract IP issues and relevant laws, regulations, and policies.
• Partner directly with our engineering and product teams from conception through deployment, guiding them through the patent lifecycle and embedding best practices for IP protection into our development process.
• Cultivate high-trust professional relationships with internal teams (e.g., engineering, marketing, business development) and external partners, including government and commercial customers.
• Manage and direct outside counsel advising on IP matters.
• Embrace the unique nature of a fast-paced startup by advising on and contributing to a diverse array of legal matters as they arise.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• JD degree from a top-tier accredited law school, an active license to practice law in the United States, and a Patent Bar License in good standing.
• 6+ years of legal experience in IP law, particularly patent prosecution.
• Deep understanding of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law, as well as knowledge of U.S. government data rights (under FAR/DFARS) and IP issues in government contracts (including Bayh-Dole Act).
• Experience drafting and negotiating IP provisions for a wide variety of agreements, including procurement, development, manufacturing, partnership/teaming, and licensing agreements.
• The initiative and strategic judgment required to own multiple high-stakes projects from end-to-end.
• Quick learner with the ability and willingness to contribute across a broader legal function.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• U.S. Person status is required due to access to export-controlled data.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Technology transactions experience.
• Strong technical background and legal experience related to software, including familiarity with software licensing models.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• IP litigation experience, including familiarity with various venues and pre-litigation dispute resolution.
• A combination of law firm and in-house experience.
• A genuine interest in the law and policy of defense acquisitions, with informed opinions on industry challenges and potential solutions.
• Active or eligibility to obtain Top Secret security clearance.
• Prior experience in the military or working within the defense or national security sectors.

US Salary Range

$191,000—$253,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including: 

Healthcare Benefits 

• US Roles: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans at little to no cost to you. 
• UK & AUS Roles: We cover full cost of medical insurance premiums for you and your dependents. 
• IE Roles: We offer an annual contribution toward your private health insurance for you and your dependents.

 

Additional Benefits 

• Income Protection: Anduril covers life and disability insurance for all employees. 
• Generous time off: Highly competitive PTO plans with a holiday hiatus in December. Caregiver & Wellness Leave is available to care for family members, bond with a new baby, or address your own medical needs. 
• Family Planning & Parenting Support: Coverage for fertility treatments (e.g., IVF, preservation), adoption, and gestational carriers, along with resources to support you and your partner from planning to parenting. 
• Mental Health Resources: Access free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and life coaching. Additional work-life services, such as legal and financial support, are also available. 
• Professional Development: Annual reimbursement for professional development 
• Commuter Benefits: Company-funded commuter benefits based on your region. 
• Relocation Assistance: Available depending on role eligibility.

 

Retirement Savings Plan 

• US Roles: Traditional 401(k), Roth, and after-tax (mega backdoor Roth) options. 
• UK & IE Roles: Pension plan with employer match. 
• AUS Roles: Superannuation plan.

 

The recruiter assigned to this role can share more information about the specific compensation and benefit details associated with this role during the hiring process. 

Protecting Yourself from Recruitment Scams

Anduril is committed to maintaining the integrity of our Talent acquisition process and the security of our candidates. We've observed a rise in sophisticated phishing and fraudulent schemes where individuals impersonate Anduril representatives, luring job seekers with false interviews or job offers. These scammers often attempt to extract payment or sensitive personal information.

To ensure your safety and help you navigate your job search with confidence, please keep the following critical points in mind:

• No Financial Requests: Anduril will never solicit payment or demand personal financial details (such as banking information, credit card numbers, or social security numbers) at any stage of our hiring process. Our legitimate recruitment is entirely free for candidates.

• Please always verify communications:

  • Direct from Anduril: If you receive an email from one of our recruiters, it will only come from an @anduril.com address.
  • Via Agency Partner: If contacted by a recruiting agency for an Anduril role, their email will clearly identify their agency. If you suspect any suspicious activity, please verify the agency's authenticity by reaching out to contact@anduril.com.

   

• Exercise Caution with Unsolicited Outreach: If you receive any communication that appears suspicious, contains grammatical errors, or makes unusual requests, do not engage. Always confirm the sender's email domain is @anduril.com before providing any personal information or clicking on links.

• What to Do If You Suspect Fraud: Should you encounter any questionable or fraudulent outreach claiming to be from Anduril, please report it immediately to contact@anduril.com. Your proactive caution is invaluable in protecting your personal information and upholding the security and trustworthiness of our recruitment efforts.

Data Privacy

To view Anduril's candidate data privacy policy, please visit https://anduril.com/applicant-privacy-notice/.