Role Overview
This position supports the identification, protection, and strategic management of intellectual property across key business divisions. The Patent Engineer will work closely with engineering, legal, and business teams to ensure innovations are captured and secured through patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. The role emphasizes proactive risk mitigation, particularly in the context of new product development and market entry.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the creation and ongoing management of the organization’s IP assets, including patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.
- Conduct freedom to operate analyses to identify potential legal risks associated with new products and recommend practical solutions.
- Perform patentability and landscape searches using USPTO, EPO, and other databases to inform R&D and business strategy.
- Collaborate with external legal counsel on patent drafting, prosecution, and trademark filings.
- Prepare and present findings to stakeholders, translating complex legal and technical issues into clear, actionable insights.
- Lead regular IP review meetings to evaluate invention disclosures and portfolio performance.
- Develop and deliver training to technical and business teams on IP fundamentals and best practices.
- Advise on design-around strategies, non-infringement opinions, and invalidity assessments to support product development.
- Ensure IP expenditures are aligned with business goals and managed responsibly.
- Help shape IP policy and contribute to long-term strategic planning.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Biomedical, or Electrical Engineering.
- At least six years of engineering experience, with a minimum of three years in an IP law firm, corporate legal department, or equivalent setting.
- Proven experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications before the USPTO, WIPO, and EPO.
- Strong familiarity with patent databases and IP research tools.
- Experience conducting patentability, freedom to operate, and competitive landscape analyses.
- Ability to communicate technical and legal findings effectively to non-specialists.
- Strong organizational skills, with the capacity to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and IP-specific software platforms.
- High attention to detail and a commitment to confidentiality and discretion.
Preferred Qualifications
- Registration to practice before the USPTO.
- Background in medical device technology or related industry.
Work Environment
This is a hybrid role with occasional travel, estimated at around 15%, to support cross-functional collaboration and project needs. The candidate must be able to work independently and contribute effectively within a structured, compliance-driven environment.
