Intellectual Property Leader (Remote role) at Cummins in Columbus, Indiana

Job Description:

We are looking for a talented Intellectual Property Leader to join our team specializing in Engineering. This role is remote in United States.

In this role, you will make an impact in the following ways:

• Provide expertise related to Intellectual Property (IP) to all development programs worldwide


• Being involved at all stages of the product development process, from IP creation to exploitation. 


• Responsible for aligning the goals of Cummins IP strategies with the wider Engine Business approach, based on the business drivers.


• Work in close collaboration with the product platform leaders, technical project leaders, the Legal Counsels, and the other IP Leaders in order to lead the IP function for the Engine Business Unit.


• Coach, develop, and train others in aspects of Intellectual Property, to ensure awareness of this important area of Cummins’ business.


• Work proactively with Product Preceding Technology (PPT) (i.e., technology development), Value Package Introduction (VPI) (i.e., product development), Value Package Change (VPC) (i.e. current product support), and Aftermarket New and Recon Parts (NRP) and other customer support teams to ensure that patent assets are appropriately protected and managed. 


• Manage Intellectual Property (IP) through coordinating Invention Review Committee meetings, ensuring record keeping, and collaborating with external Counsel


• Lead the process for Patent landscaping of key competitors to identify new technologies, potentially relevant patents, published patent applicants, and other publications that are relevant to EBU.


• Create, facilitate, track, and report on the status of the competitive patents.


• Summarize and present overall patent status for major program/project gate reviews.


• Partner with Advanced Engineering to lead workshops to identify new invention disclosure opportunities on key technology themes for EBU. Work across BUs to champion IP generation across adjacent teams at a system level.  


• Collaborate on cross-function/cross-BU IP initiatives.


• Participate in EBU technology scouting network and support long-term technology road-mapping activities.


• Develop expert level knowledge of industry technology trends as well as competitor technology directions. Stay up to date on Cummins global technology directions. 


• Participate in program core team meetings, workshops, and technical reviews, as required.


• Provide IP training, guidance & direction to various Cummins personnel.


• Miscellaneous projects and initiatives related to patent matters, including supporting the IP Functional Excellence development efforts.

To be successful in this role you will need the following:

• Systems Thinking - Defines the system of interest by drawing the boundaries, identifying its context within its environment, its interfaces, and that it has a lifecycle to aid in planning the problem statement, scope and deliverables ; analyzes linkages and interactions between elements that comprise the system of interest by using appropriate methods, models and integration of outcomes to understand the system, predict its behavior and devise modifications to it in order to produce the desired effects.


• Decision quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.


• Communicates effectively - Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.


• Builds networks - Effectively building formal and informal relationship networks inside and outside the organization.


• Manages complexity - Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.


• Cultivates innovation - Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.


• Optimizes work processes - Knowing the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement.


• Manages ambiguity - Operating effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear.


• College, university, or equivalent Bachelor's degree in Engineering or other relevant technical disciplines is required.
  
  This position may require licensing for compliance with export controls or sanctions regulations.


• Demonstrated success having worked in a Specialist role on high complexity product development activities.


• Awareness and experience of patents and intellectual property is desirable. This is viewed as remote role and can be performed from a different location. 

Compensation and Benefits

Base salary rate commensurate with experience. Additional benefits vary between locations and include options such as our 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, Cash Balance Pension Plan, Medical/Dental/Life Insurance, Health Savings Account, Domestic Partners Coverage and a full complement of personal and professional benefits.

Cummins and E-verify

At Cummins, we are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer dedicated to diversity in the workplace. Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, gender, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity and/or expression, or other status protected by law. Cummins validates right to work using E-Verify. Cummins will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.