Senior Patent Counsel

• Job title Senior Patent Counsel
• Function Legal & Compliance
• Sub function Law Business Partners
• Category Director, Law Business Partners (P9)
• Location San Diego / Cambridge / New Brunswick / Spring House / United States of America
• Date posted May 21 2026
• Requisition number R-077538
• Work pattern Hybrid Work

This job posting is anticipated to close on Jun 01 2026. We may however extend this time period, in which case the posting will remain available on www.careers.jnj.com to accept additional applications.

Description

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

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Job Description:

We are searching for the best talent for Senior Patent Counsel to join our Global Legal Organization located in San Diego, CA; Cambridge, MA; Spring House, PA; or New Brunswick, NJ.

As Senior Patent Counsel, you will join a collegial team supporting Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine’s Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, with opportunities to contribute across other therapeutic areas. This role offers a dynamic blend of strategic intellectual property work, stakeholder engagement, and professional growth within a leading multinational pharmaceutical company.

About Neuroscience

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Our Neuroscience team tackles the world’s toughest brain health challenges including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, myasthenia gravis, epilepsy, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism. This patient-focused team helps address some of the most complex diseases of our time.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

Key Responsibilities

This role will provide business strategy-aligned support through frequent stakeholder interaction and by:

• Drafting and prosecuting patent applications;
• Advising the business on patent and regulatory exclusivity strategy;
• Reviewing, drafting, and advising the business on IP-related contracts;
• Partnering with the litigation department in patent-related litigations and disputes;
• Conducting third-party and reverse patent due diligence;
• Educating stakeholders on IP-related topics.
  

Key attributes:

• Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence.
• Ability to convey complex legal issues clearly and concisely to all organizational levels and business functions.
• Effective time management and sound judgment in prioritizing tasks.
• Intellectual curiosity and perseverance.
• Ability to work effectively across business functions, cultures, and multiple time zones. San Diego candidates must be able to accommodate frequent early morning video conferences (typically starting at 7 AM).
  

Qualifications

• A J.D. or LL.M. with admission to and good standing with the bar of one state or the District of Columbia is required. Admission to the USPTO is required.
• Degree in molecular biology or related field. Graduate degree (MS or PhD) is preferred.
• Five or more years of experience drafting and prosecuting biologics (large molecule pharmaceuticals) patent applications at a law firm or legal department of a multinational corporation.
• The following are not required, but would be an advantage:
  • Experience in one or more of the following areas: patent due diligence; patent-related disputes; non-infringement opinions; advising on regulatory exclusivity strategies; or patent license drafting or counseling.
  • Ability to provide IP support for data/software related innovations, siRNA, small molecule pharmaceuticals, or drug/device combinations.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers .Internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

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