Career Area:

Legal and Compliance

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

It's More Than a Job, It's a Career

Caterpillar is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as Senior Corporate Counsel to execute our worldwide intellectual property strategy. Caterpillar’s legal team offers a very broad-based intellectual property practice, including:

Patent portfolio management, including invention harvesting and working with external counsel to have patent applications drafted and prosecutedIP risk management, including management of conflict matters and post-grant proceduresIP enforcement against third partiesIP agreements counselling and support

The Caterpillar IP team has broad international exposure to IP matters and provides the opportunity to work closely with colleagues spread over the globe. The role will require a highly motivated and experience individual that is looking for autonomy and flexibility, but also looking to be part of an enthusiastic team.

Job Summary:

The position will be primarily focused on developing and implementing a strategy for the effective enforcement of Caterpillar’s intellectual property rights against third parties, drafting and negotiating IP focused agreements, and providing general counseling to internal clients. The candidate will also be involved in identifying other commercial and IP legal issues and coordinating internally with other attorneys and subject matter experts to effectively counsel the client and mitigate legal risks.

Candidates must have experience with patent claim analysis and interpretation, as well as experience drafting and negotiating IP agreements. Experience in other aspects of intellectual property law may be considered. Whether your experience has been in-house or in private practice, you must demonstrate strong commercial judgement, excellent communication skills, and must also be prepared to undertake occasional business travel.

What You Will Do:

Advising senior management and providing clear recommendations on legal matters.Managing legal support of a business division or significant legal practice area through coordination of a network of attorneys or serving as a subject matter expert.Assisting with implementation of legal strategies and goals in line with company's business objectives; researching complex legal issues and reviewing and drafting complex legal documents.

What You Have:  

Legal Function: Extensive experience related to drafting and negotiating licensing, development, non-disclosure, collaboration, and other IP focused agreements with customers and other partnersOrganizational Leadership: Ability to collaborate vertically and horizontally, across levels and various business functions within the company, and with external partiesDecision Making and Critical Thinking: Results-oriented and willing to take initiative, identify risks, make decisions, and take action to resolve IP related problems and improve IP related resultsEffective Communications: The ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization, including direct counseling of executive leadersInfluencing: Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills with demonstrated ability to impact, influence, and negotiate with internal and external resources

Top Candidate Will Also Have Experience:

Implementing and/or managing global patent initiatives/processesDrafting and negotiating licensing, development, non-disclosure, collaboration, and other IP focused agreements with customers and other partnersCollaborating vertically and horizontally, across levels and various business functions within the company, and with external partiesCommunicating effectively with all levels of the organizationUsing excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills with demonstrated ability to impact, influence, and negotiate with internal and external resourcesUsing a results-oriented approach to working – willing to take initiative, identify risks, make decisions, and take action to resolve problems and improve resultsResolving intellectual property conflictsUnderstanding technology and business issues related to heavy machinery or other similar industriesPracticing and knowledge about international patents and agreements

Degree and Experience Requirements:

J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentialsActive Bar admission in any U.S. stateActive USPTO Bar admissionMust have significant legal experience, including in-house experience at a large company, drafting complex intellectual property focused agreements, patent claim analysis and interpretation relative to potentially infringing product, and negotiating agreements with opposing legal Counsel

Additional Info:

The primary location for this position is Peoria, IL but willing to consider Irving, TXDomestic relocation assistance is available for those who qualifySponsorship is not available5-10% travel is expected

What You Will Get:

Our goal at Caterpillar is for you to have a rewarding career. Our teams are critical to the success of our customers who build a better world.Here you earn more than just a salary because we value your performance.  We offer a total rewards package that provides benefits on day one (medical, dental, vision, RX, and 401K) along with the potential of an annual bonus. Additional benefits include paid vacation days and paid holidays.All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply.

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

Final details:

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

#LI

Summary Pay Range:

$174,240.00 - $261,360.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

401(k) savings plans*

Health Savings Account (HSA)*

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

Health Lifestyle Programs*

Employee Assistance Program*

Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

Career Development*

Incentive bonus*

Disability benefits

Life Insurance

Parental leave

Adoption benefits

Tuition Reimbursement

       

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

Posting Dates:

February 28, 2025 - March 30, 2025

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.     

EEO/AA Employer.  All qualified individuals - Including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply.

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