Sr. Principal, Legal Counsel, IP – Patents

 

Company Introduction
We exist to wow our customers. We know we're doing the right thing when we hear our customers say, "How did I ever live without Coupang?" Born out of an obsession to make shopping, eating, and living easier than ever, we are collectively disrupting the multi-billion-dollar commerce industry from the ground up and establishing an unparalleled reputation for being leading and reliable force in South Korean commerce.

We are proud to have the best of both worlds — a startup culture with the resources of a large global public company. This fuels us to continue our growth and launch new services at the speed we have been since our inception. We are all entrepreneurs surrounded by opportunities to drive new initiatives and innovations. At our core, we are bold and ambitious people that like to get our hands dirty and make a hands-on impact. At Coupang, you will see yourself, your colleagues, your team, and the company grow every day.

Our mission to build the future of commerce is real. We push the boundaries of what's possible to solve problems and break traditional tradeoffs. Join Coupang now to create an epic experience in this always-on, high-tech, and hyper-connected world.

Role Overview
As Legal Counsel, IP (Patents), you will play a central role in protecting and scaling Coupang's innovation portfolio. You will partner closely with engineering and product teams to identify high-impact inventions, guide patent strategy, and enable the business to move fast while managing risk.

This is a hands-on role with broad exposure across patent lifecycle management, innovation strategy, and patent advisory—including freedom-to-operate, licensing, and disputes. You will operate at the intersection of technology, law, and business, helping translate innovation into competitive advantage.

What You Will Do
• Own and evolve patent portfolios across key technology areas supporting Coupang's products and services
• Drive end-to-end patent lifecycle execution, from invention harvesting and drafting to global filings and prosecution
• Partner with engineers and product leaders to identify patentable innovations and align IP strategy with business priorities
• Advise on patent risk and strategy, including freedom-to-operate (FTO), licensing, invalidity, and dispute-related matters
• Enable a culture of innovation by building and enhancing inventor engagement and patent awareness programs
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Legal, Compliance, Engineering, Product, and business stakeholders to deliver practical, business-oriented IP solutions

Basic Qualifications
• Qualified Patent Attorney (US or Korea)
• 15+ years of patent law experience (in-house and/or law firm)
• Strong expertise in patent prosecution and portfolio management
• Fluency in English is a must. Additional language fluency especially Korean is desired but not a must
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable business guidance
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally in fast-paced, high-growth environments
• Strong judgment, ownership mindset, and problem-solving capability

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working across both law firm and in-house environments
• Technical background in computer science, electrical engineering, or related fields
• Experience with software, platform, or internet technologies (e.g., UI/UX, video, systems, e-commerce)
• Exposure to patent litigation, licensing, FTO, or IP due diligence
• Experience operating in global or technology-driven organizations

Recruitment Process and Others

Recruitment Process
• Application Review - Phone Interview - Onsite (or Virtual Onsite) Interview – Offer
• The exact nature of the recruitment process may vary according to the specific job and may be changed due to scheduling or other circumstances.
• Interview schedules and the results will be informed to the applicant via the e-mail address submitted at the application stage.

Details to Consider
• This job posting may be closed prior to the stated end date for application if all openings are filled.
• Coupang has the right to rescind an offer of employment if a candidate is found to have submitted false information as part of the application process.
• Those eligible for employment protection (recipients of veteran's benefits, the disabled, etc.) may receive preferential treatment for employment in accordance with applicable laws.
• Job titles and responsibilities may be subject to change depending on the candidate's overall experience, etc. This will be communicated to the candidate at the appropriate time before the offer.
• Hiring may be restricted in case the legal qualifications required for hiring and work performance is not met.
• This is a full-time regular position and includes 12 weeks of probation period; provided, however, the probationary period may be either skipped, shortened or extended if necessary for business purposes.

Privacy Notice
• Your personal information will be collected and managed by Coupang as stated in the Application Privacy Notice located below.
https://privacy.coupang.com/en/land/jobs/

Document Return Policy
1. This notification is given pursuant to Article 11 (6) of the Fair Hiring Procedure Act.
2. A job applicant, who has applied but not been finally selected for a position at Coupang (the "Company"), may request the Company to return his/her hiring documents submitted pursuant to the Fair Hiring Procedure Act. However, this will not apply where the hiring documents were submitted via the website of the Company or e-mail, or where the job applicant submitted those documents voluntarily without a request from the Company. In addition, if the hiring documents were destroyed due to a natural disaster or any other reasons not attributable to the Company, such documents will be deemed to have been returned to the job applicant.
3. A job applicant who wishes to request the return of his/her hiring documents pursuant to the main sentence of paragraph 2 above should fill out a "Request for Return of Hiring Documents" [Annex Form No. 3 in the Enforcement Rule of the Fair Hiring Procedure Act] and submit it by email ([email protected]). In such case, within fourteen (14) days from the date of identifying the receipt of the request, the Company will send the hiring documents to the job applicant's designated address via registered mail. Please be informed that the job applicant is required to pay the postage on the registered mail.
4. In preparation for a job applicant's request for the return of hiring documents pursuant to the main sentence of paragraph 2 above, the Company shall retain the original hiring documents submitted by the job applicant for 180 days from the completion of the recruiting process. If no request is made until the end of this period, all his/her hiring documents will be destroyed immediately in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act.
5. The above paragraphs 1 - 4 shall only apply when the labor-related laws of Korea govern the application. They are otherwise not applicable.