Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property (Patent)

Perplexity AI is looking for a Senior Counsel, Patents to build and lead our intellectual property strategy from the ground up. As one of the fastest-growing AI companies in the world, protecting our innovations in search, AI reasoning, and retrieval-augmented generation is a critical strategic priority and this role is central to that mission. You'll be our first dedicated patent attorney, responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive patent portfolio strategy that reflects the depth and pace of our engineering and product innovation. The ideal candidate brings a technical foundation in computer science or a related field, significant experience in patent prosecution and portfolio strategy at a top IP firm or in-house at a technology company, and genuine enthusiasm for working closely with engineers and researchers to identify and protect what makes Perplexity unique. This is a rare opportunity to shape IP strategy at a defining moment in AI..

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Develop and execute a comprehensive patent portfolio strategy for Perplexity's core technologies, including AI search, retrieval-augmented generation, ranking systems, and enterprise AI infrastructure.

- Lead patent harvesting efforts by conducting regular invention disclosure sessions and working closely with engineering, research, and product teams to identify patentable innovations early in the development cycle.

- Manage the full patent prosecution lifecycle from invention disclosure through filing, prosecution, and grant working with outside patent counsel to ensure quality, efficiency, and strategic alignment.

- Evaluate patent applications for eligibility, novelty, relevance, and detectability to build a portfolio that provides meaningful competitive protection and business value.

- Advise on AI-specific IP considerations, including patentability of AI/ML-implemented inventions, freedom-to-operate analyses, and the evolving USPTO and global regulatory landscape for AI pa...