Hardware Royalty & Licensing Manager, Indirect Procurement
$180k - $200k USD
Teamwork makes the stream work.
Roku is changing how the world watches TV
Roku is the #1 TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and we've set our sights on powering every television in the world. Roku pioneered streaming to the TV. Our mission is to be the TV streaming platform that connects the entire TV ecosystem. We connect consumers to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers unique capabilities to engage consumers.
From your first day at Roku, you'll make a valuable - and valued - contribution. We're a fast-growing public company where no one is a bystander. We offer you the opportunity to delight millions of TV streamers around the world while gaining meaningful experience across a variety of disciplines.
About the role
The Hardware Royalty & Licensing Manager will oversee Roku’s end-to-end management of hardware royalty costs for Roku-branded televisions and other devices. They will read, interpret, and negotiate license agreements—particularly with patent assertion entities—and translate those terms into transparent, operational processes with our Royalty Accounting and Product Management teams to ensure compliance, accurate reporting, and cost optimization.
For California Only - The estimated annual base salary for this position is between $180,000 - $200,000 annually. Compensation packages are based on factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, certifications, and specific geographical location. This role is eligible for health insurance, equity awards, life insurance, disability benefits, parental leave, wellness benefits, and paid time off.
What you'll be doing
- License strategy and negotiations: Lead and support negotiations with patent assertion entities, licensing administrators, and patent pools; develop deal structures, redlines, and negotiation strategies in partnership with Legal and relevant stakeholders.
- Contract interpretation to operations: Translate executed agreements into digestible instructions, product/SKU mappings, and compliance checklists; ensure terms are integrated into procurement processes and reporting processes.
- Royalty operations and compliance: Establish reporting cadences, calendars, and controls with Royalty Accounting; manage audits, information requests, and timely/accurate filings and payments.
- Cost management and analytics: Model royalty exposure across current and roadmap products; build scenarios and sensitivities; partner with FP&A to forecast accruals and with Product to influence design and roadmap decisions that optimize total cost.
- Cross-functional leadership: Partner closely with Legal/IP, Product Management, Engineering, Finance/FP&A, Supply Chain/OEM partners, and Royalty Accounting to align on requirements, timelines, and risk mitigations.
- Market and risk intelligence: Monitor relevant patent landscapes, assertion activity, renewals, and termination windows; maintain a calendar and risk register; recommend proactive strategies to avoid or mitigate exposure.
- Vendor and partner management: Coordinate external counsel and licensing advisors where needed; manage engagement scope, performance, and spend.
- Process and tooling: Maintain a system of record for agreements, obligations, and reports, and drive continuous improvement of templates, playbooks, dashboards, and training materials.
We're excited if you have
- 5–6+ years of experience in procurement, IP licensing, royalty management, or a closely related function in consumer electronics, media/streaming, or adjacent tech industries.
Proven experience interpreting and negotiating license agreements, including with patent assertion entities and/or patent pools; strong redlining skills and familiarity with key terms (e.g., field-of-use, territory, MFN, caps, rate structures, audit rights, grant-back). - Ability to connect legal terms to operational compliance and accurate royalty reporting across product lines/SKUs.
- Strong financial and analytical skills (Excel modeling, scenario analysis, forecasting) with the ability to quantify options and communicate tradeoffs succinctly.
- Effective cross-functional communicator who can influence and align Legal/IP, Engineering, Product, Finance, and external counterparties.
- Working understanding of technologies relevant to connected TVs and streaming devices (e.g., wireless standards, video/audio codecs, HDMI/HDCP, DRM) and how they drive licensing obligations.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. An advanced degree (JD, MBA) or technical degree is a plus but not required.
- Experience in a hardware-centric environment with royalty accounting processes and systems; familiarity with CLM and royalty tooling (e.g., contract repositories, reporting systems).
- Background interfacing with Finance/FP&A on accruals, variance analysis, and close processes.
- Exposure to litigation strategy or dispute resolution related to IP/licensing (in partnership with Legal).
- Success Measures:
- Year-over-year royalty cost savings/avoidance and improved commercial terms.
- Zero missed reporting deadlines and clean audit outcomes.
- Forecast accuracy for royalty accruals and timely visibility to variances.
- Positive stakeholder feedback from Legal, Product, Engineering, and Finance.
- Roku values you’ll embody
- Pragmatic problem-solving, crisp communication, and strong ownership.
- Curiosity for the technology behind our products and the business models that monetize them.
- Respectful, direct negotiation style that represents Roku’s interests professionally.
#LI-SB2
Our Hybrid Work Approach
Roku fosters an inclusive and collaborative environment where teams work in the office Monday through Thursday. Fridays are flexible for remote work except for employees whose roles are required to be in the office five days a week or employees who are in offices with a five day in office policy.
Benefits
Roku is committed to offering a diverse range of benefits as part of our compensation package to support our employees and their families. Our comprehensive benefits include global access to mental health and financial wellness support and resources. Local benefits include statutory and voluntary benefits which may include healthcare (medical, dental, and vision), life, accident, disability, commuter, and retirement options (401(k)/pension). Our employees can take time off work for vacation and other personal reasons to balance their evolving work and life needs. It's important to note that not every benefit is available in all locations or for every role. For details specific to your location, please consult with your recruiter.
Accommodations
Roku welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and provides reasonable accommodations and adjustments in accordance with applicable law. If you require reasonable accommodation at any point in the hiring process, please direct your inquiries to EmployeeRelations@Roku.com.
The Roku Culture
Roku is a great place for people who want to work in a fast-paced environment where everyone is focused on the company's success rather than their own. We try to surround ourselves with people who are great at their jobs, who are easy to work with, and who keep their egos in check. We appreciate a sense of humor. We believe a fewer number of very talented folks can do more for less cost than a larger number of less talented teams. We're independent thinkers with big ideas who act boldly, move fast and accomplish extraordinary things through collaboration and trust. In short, at Roku you'll be part of a company that's changing how the world watches TV.
We have a unique culture that we are proud of. We think of ourselves primarily as problem-solvers, which itself is a two-part idea. We come up with the solution, but the solution isn't real until it is built and delivered to the customer. That penchant for action gives us a pragmatic approach to innovation, one that has served us well since 2002.
To learn more about Roku, our global footprint, and how we've grown, visit https://www.weareroku.com/factsheet.
By providing your information, you acknowledge that you want Roku to contact you about job roles, that you have read Roku's Applicant Privacy Notice, and understand that Roku will use your information as described in that notice. If you do not wish to receive any communications from Roku regarding this role or similar roles in the future, you may unsubscribe at any time by emailing WorkforcePrivacy@Roku.com.