Patent Attorney - Mechanical Engineer

Lee & Hayes, PC is a pre-eminent intellectual property (IP) law firm. Lee & Hayes’ mission is “to serve as trusted partners with the world’s leading innovators and brands.” We aim to be the best IP-centric firm and the world's greatest place to work by living out our core values every day and in every decision. Our core values are:

• Service excellence : Clients come first. We succeed when our clients succeed. We strive to exceed expectations and provide exceptional service.
• Relationship-centered : We invest in and build meaningful relationships founded on mutual trust and respect. We care about each other and our clients. We are more than service providers. We are partners.
• Stewardship : We are committed to maintaining and strengthening the foundation the firm is built upon. We work hard and take a long-term view and understand that each of us are stewards in all regards. The firm exists to serve more than our own needs. We are accountable to service our clients, colleagues, families, and communities.

We create a positive work environment that supports our employees’ professional and personal success. This is accomplished through flexible scheduling, a culture of compassion and respect, mentorship, and regular opportunities for feedback. We believe that by providing our employees with these resources, we can foster a productive, positive, and inclusive work atmosphere.

Lee & Hayes is committed to recruiting and retaining a professional workforce that reflects the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of our client base and the communities where we live and work. To attain this goal, the Firm undertakes focused and targeted efforts through participation in minority law school association events, diversity fellowship programs, and active participation in specialty and minority bar associations. We are Mansfield Certified for 2025-2026. The Certification focuses on systemic changes to processes and practices that broaden the slate of diverse talent considered for leadership roles and advancement activities.

Requirements

• USPTO Registration or commitment to take USPTO Registration Examination within 6 months of start date.
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in engineering (e.g., mechanical engineering or other engineering field), physics, or related discipline.
• Conscientious and detail-oriented.
• Ability to communicate promptly and effectively with clients, attorneys, and staff.
• Team player with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels.
• Technical understanding of:
• Mechanical systems;
• Industrial Equipment;
• Machinery and manufacturing equipment;
• Construction equipment;
• Robotics; and/or
• Medical Devices.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of patent preparation and prosecution experience.
• Mechanical Engineering Degree
• Juris Doctorate
• Experience using AI tools for patent drafting, prosecution, searching, and other job functions.
• Technical understanding of:
• Hydraulics;
• Electrochemical systems;
• Lithium processing;
• Materials science (particularly steels and treatment thereof);
• Surgical robot systems;
• Autonomous Vehicles; and/or
• Medical Diagnostics (e.g., vital signs monitoring, vision testing, etc.).

Duties

• Patent preparation and prosecution across various technology areas with a focus on mechanical systems and medical devices.
• May also include managing foreign prosecution and rendering opinions to clients.
• Extensive and timely interaction with in-house attorneys, inventors, and Firm practitioners.

Compensation & Benefits

The annualized salary range for this position in Washington is $110,000 to $250,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate’s education, training, experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. Our compensation program also provides annual incentive bonuses based on work production and may offer merit bonuses. Qualified employees are eligible for health insurance, dental insurance, vision care, long-term disability, Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), life insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, 401(k), paid parental leave, vacation and sick leave, at least ten paid holidays each year, and an employee assistance program. Additional voluntary benefits programs include voluntary accident insurance, voluntary life, voluntary disability, voluntary long-term care, and pet insurance. The Firm also offers extensive wellness benefits and work flexibility to support the work-life balance of each employee.

Awards & Recognition

Lee & Hayes is recognized as one of the nation’s highest-quality patent law firms across a broad spectrum of industry sectors and organizations such as:

• Intellectual Asset Management - IAM Strategy 300 & 1000
• Chambers & Partners - USA Guide 2026 : Washington
• IP Stars from Managing IP
• World Trademark Review - WTR 1000
• U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
• Super Lawyers®
• USPTO Data - Among Top Producers of Originally Drafted Patents
• Intellectual Property Owners Association
• Best Places to Work - Inland Northwest

Lee & Hayes is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and strongly supports diversity in the workforce.