---
title: 'IP Counsel at Mariana Minerals'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/ip-counsel-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-p7p8qadb6xg7'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# IP Counsel at Mariana Minerals

- **Company:** Mariana Minerals
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Compensation:** $130k–$185k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-10-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals/f51ebce6-d8a3-4006-8962-656c9701d233

## Job description

## About Mariana Minerals

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

## About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Intellectual Property Counsel to join our growing legal team. This is a hands-on, generalist IP role for an attorney who wants to own the full range of intellectual property issues at a company building first-of-a-kind technology. You will report to the General Counsel and will be the primary legal resource on patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyright, domain names, open source, and the IP aspects of our commercial transactions. As the first IP-focused hire, you will help build the infrastructure — policies, processes, templates, and outside counsel relationships — that protects the innovations behind Mariana’s technology and software platforms.

## Key Responsibilities

IP Strategy & Portfolio Management

- Develop and lead an IP strategy aligned with the company’s technology roadmap and business objectives in collaboration with the broader legal team
- Build and manage the patent portfolio, from invention capture through prosecution
- Establish a trade secret protection program, including guidance on when to patent versus protect as a trade secret
- Oversee the trademark, brand, and domain name portfolios

Transactions & Commercial Support

- Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreement provisions that involve intellectual property, including licenses, strategic partnerships, joint development and research collaborations, software agreements, and purchase agreements.
- Lead IP due diligence for financings, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships
- Act as a team player and trusted business partner to cross functional project teams to identify risks early and align legal strategy with operational realities
- Provide general legal support across the business as the company grows

Required Qualifications

- J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing
- 6+ years of intellectual property experience (law firm and/or in-house), with breadth across patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyright
- Demonstrated experience managing patent prosecution and portfolios, including working directly with inventors and directing outside counsel
- Experience drafting and negotiating IP-related commercial agreements, including licenses, joint development agreements, technology and software agreements, and IP provisions in broader commercial contracts
- Technical fluency and the ability to engage deeply with engineers and scientists on complex processes, hardware, and software, translating technical detail into sound IP strategy
- Strong drafting, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to calibrate risk and translate complex legal issues into clear, practical guidance for non-legal stakeholders
- Ability to work independently, manage multiple competing priorities, and operate effectively in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment with limited direction
- High degree of ownership and accountability — you see matters through from start to finish and have a low-ego and collaborative approach to tackle projects large and small across the organization

## Preferred Qualifications

- Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Technical degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, metallurgy, mechanical or electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field
- Experience in a fast-paced startup or similar organization, ideally including building an IP function or program from the ground up
- Experience with IP in mining, energy, chemicals, advanced materials, industrial processing, robotics, or other physical or deep-tech industries
- Experience with international filing strategy (including PCT practice), trade secret programs, and open-source governance
- Experience with IP due diligence, licensing transactions, and IP disputes or litigation support
- Experience building or improving processes from scratch, including by leveraging software and/or AI

Location

- San Francisco, CA or Houston, TX or Remote
- May include limited travel expectations as needed.

Our culture is built on four principles:

Everyone Gets Home Safe. We never put speed or cost ahead of people. Extreme Ownership. We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions. Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate. We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale. Share Your Legos. We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.

Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply!

## About Mariana Minerals

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company focused on supplying the minerals critical to modern energy, AI, and defense technologies.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A, $85M funding in July 2025)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: Not publicly available
- **Founders**: Turner Caldwell (Co-Founder & CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Metal Ore Mining / Critical Minerals
- **Target customers**: B2B – energy, AI, and defense supply chains (including downstream manufacturers and government entities)
- **Mission or purpose**: "Create a future of critical mineral abundance" by reimagining the global minerals supply chain with software, automation, and data-driven decision making.

## Products & Services
- **Copper One (formerly Lisbon Valley Copper Mine)**: World’s first autonomous mine, located in Utah. Produces copper using integrated automation and software control. Restarted production in April 2026.
- **Lithium One**: Lithium project (on the roadmap or early development).
- **Other mineral projects**: Graphite, Uranium, Rare Earth Metals, Cobalt, Nickel, Aluminium – at various stages (stealth or roadmap).
- **CapitalProjectOS**: Internal software platform for capital project management (mentioned in leadership bio).
- **Technology Stack**: React, dbt, TypeScript, Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, microservices, SCADA, Autodesk, and many others – indicating a strong software engineering backbone.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding – $85M Series A (July 2025, 1 investor)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Lead investor not publicly disclosed (Andreessen Horowitz was pitched but not confirmed as an investor). Partners include Bot Auto, WeRide, Pronto, Atoms (based on LinkedIn mentions). Also works with UMA (Utah Mining Association).
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 3,575% YoY to 107 employees (as of mid-2026). 73 active job postings. Opened the world’s first autonomous mine (Copper One) in April/May 2026, generating significant industry news and social media engagement.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Software-first approach**: The company builds automation and data systems from the ground up, rather than layering tech onto legacy mining operations. This enables fully autonomous mining.
- **Vertical integration**: They develop, own, and operate mineral projects, controlling the entire value chain from extraction to processing.
- **Deep tech stack**: Use of AI/ML (TensorFlow, PyTorch), simulation, and real-time control systems to optimize mining operations.
- **First-mover in autonomous mining**: Copper One is claimed to be the world’s first autonomous mine, giving them a significant lead in operational efficiency and safety.

## Strategic Focus
- Scale autonomous mining operations beyond copper (lithium, graphite, uranium, etc.)
- Secure domestic supply of critical minerals for U.S. energy, AI, and defense needs.
- Continue aggressive hiring across engineering, operations, and field roles.
- Expand from Utah to additional sites (Houston engineering office, potential new projects).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture principles**: "Extreme Ownership", "Engineer Out Requirements, Then Automate", "Share Your Legos" – emphasizing accountability, simplification, and collaboration.
- **Work environment**: High-growth startup with a mission-driven focus on critical infrastructure. Offices in San Francisco (HQ), Houston (Engineering), and La Sal, Utah (mine site). Hybrid/remote policy not explicitly stated, but multiple office locations suggest flexibility for field vs. office roles.
- **Notable perks**: Opportunity to work on cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI in a traditional industry. Strong engineering culture with modern tech stack (React, Python, ML). Rapid career growth due to company expansion.
- **Talent sources**: Attracts talent from Tesla, Redwood Materials, Lilac, ExxonMobil, Amazon Web Services, and other tech/energy companies – indicating a high-caliber peer group.

## Sources
1. [marianaminerals.com](https://marianaminerals.com/)
2. [marianaminerals.com/careers](https://marianaminerals.com/careers)
3. [marianaminerals.com/about](https://marianaminerals.com/about)
4. [jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/marianaminerals)
5. [linkedin.com/company/mariana-minerals](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mariana-minerals)

## Other roles at Mariana Minerals

- [Commercial Counsel](https://feeny.ai/job/commercial-counsel-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-c0kbyd0vszp7) — San Francisco, CA
- [Maintenance Training Opportunities](https://feeny.ai/job/maintenance-training-opportunities-mariana-minerals-moab-sd5f5z532gz1) — Moab, UT
- [Commissioning Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/commissioning-engineer-mariana-minerals-houston-370gtt85kmfw) — Houston, TX
- [Production Planner](https://feeny.ai/job/production-planner-mariana-minerals-houston-xf1gadffk1h4) — Houston, TX
- [Sr./Staff Process Engineer - Detailed Engineering and Plant Design](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-staff-process-engineer-detailed-engineering-and-plant-design-mariana-sfmfv4wge0eb) — Houston, TX
- [Sr. Technical Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-technical-recruiter-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-hr9b2676c4vw) — San Francisco, CA
- [Logistics Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/logistics-analyst-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-y00p556jbf2y) — San Francisco, CA
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- [Pilot Plant Operations Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/pilot-plant-operations-manager-mariana-minerals-houston-s78cx16gdpcm) — Houston, TX
- [Logistics Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/logistics-manager-mariana-minerals-san-francisco-5cmp9kj3hfpj) — San Francisco, CA