We are looking for an Intellectual Property Specialist with a strong technical foundation and hands-on experience in drafting and filing patents for software products. The role will build and protect our patent portfolio, work closely with product and engineering teams to identify and capture inventions, and support the organisation's broader IP strategy. Familiarity with telecom products is an advantage but not a prerequisite.

What you’ll be Responsible for?

- Work with engineering, product and R&D; teams to identify, evaluate and capture patentable inventions across software products and platforms.
- Conduct invention disclosure reviews and prior art / patentability searches, and assess novelty, inventiveness and commercial value.
- Draft, file and prosecute patent applications in India and key international jurisdictions, in coordination with external patent counsel and attorneys.
- Manage responses to office actions, examination reports and oppositions through to grant.
- Build, maintain and periodically review the patent portfolio, aligned with product roadmaps and business priorities.
- Conduct freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses and infringement and risk assessments for new products and features.
- Support IP due diligence in partnerships, licensing, M&A; and customer or vendor contracts, including review of IP, licensing and open-source clauses.
- Monitor competitor patent filings and industry IP trends and provide insights to leadership.
- Run IP awareness and invention-harvesting programs, including inventor recognition and training for technical teams.
- Maintain IP records, docket and annuity or renewal timelines, and manage budgets and outside counsel relationships.
- Support protection and enforcement of other IP assets,



including trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, as required.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Exposure to product companies with a solid IP culture and a track record of building and managing sizeable patent portfolios.
- Knowledge of telecom, including core telecom network architecture and network security.
- Understanding privacy and data protection laws and their implications for technology products and inventions.
- Experience with IP management and docketing tools, and with patent landscaping and analytics platforms.
- Understanding of open-source licensing and its IP implications.
- Experience designing invention-harvesting, incentive or IP awareness programs.

Key Competencies:

- Technical depth combined with sound legal and analytical judgement.
- Ownership of the patent lifecycle, from invention capture through to grant and maintenance.
- Collaborative approach, with the ability to engage and influence engineering and product teams.
- Commercial and strategic outlook on how IP supports business goals.
- Integrity and strict handling of confidential and proprietary information.

What we’ll look in you ?

- Technical graduate (B.E. / B.Tech. in Computer Science, Electronics, Information Technology or a related discipline).
- Law degree (LL.B.) with specialisation in Intellectual Property.




- 10+ years of relevant experience in intellectual property, with demonstrated hands-on experience in drafting and filing patents for software products.
- Prior experience in a software product company, working directly with product and engineering teams.
- Robust understanding of patent law and practice, including patentability criteria for computer-implemented inventions and software-related subject matter, and of the PCT process and filing in multiple jurisdictions.
- Proven ability to understand complex technical concepts (such as software architecture, algorithms, cloud, AI/ML and data platforms) and translate them into transparent patent claims.
- Ability to understand and assess the impact of AI on inventions, including patentability, inventorship and ownership of AI-related and AI-assisted inventions, and to identify and protect AI/ML innovations in the product portfolio.
- Experience conducting prior art searches and FTO analyses, and working with external patent attorneys and law firms.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.

Why join us?

- Impactful Work: Play a key role in strengthening HR operations and delivering a seamless employee experience across the organisation.
- Tremendous Growth Opportunities: Be part of a rapidly growing company with opportunities to build and improve HR processes and practices.
- Innovative Environment: Work alongside a collaborative team in a dynamic environment where ownership, accountability and innovation are valued.

Tanla is an equal opportunity employer. We champion diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. www.tanla.com

📌 Associate Director of Intellectual Property (Hyderabad)
🏢 Tanla Platforms
📍 Hyderabad