Patent Agent

Patent Agent (Engineering)

We are seeking a skilled Patent Agent with an engineering or technical background to draft, prosecute, and manage patent filings across a range of technologies. The Patent Agent will support patent prosecution before the USPTO and coordinate international filings (PCT, EPO), conduct prior art and landscape searches, prepare patentability and FTO opinions, and advise clients on IP strategy. The role requires strong claim drafting and specification writing, familiarity with patent offices and docketing systems, and the ability to translate technical inventions into robust patent protection.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and prosecute U.S. patent applications including provisional and non-provisional filings, continuation/divisional practice, and robust claim drafting.
• Draft clear, defensible patent specifications and claims that capture inventive concepts across engineering domains (biotech, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, mechanical, electrical, and software).
• Prepare and file international patent applications (PCT) and coordinate national phase entries; support EPO prosecution as needed.
• Manage responses to office actions, including substantive arguments, claim amendments, and interviews with examiners at the USPTO and foreign counterparts.
• Conduct prior art searches, patentability assessments, freedom-to-operate (FTO) analyses, patent landscaping and patent analytics to inform prosecution and portfolio strategy.
• Provide invalidity/validity analysis, infringement and claim construction assessments to support freedom-to-operate, licensing, enforcement, and litigation efforts.
• Support IP due diligence, licensing and assignment transactions, and provide technical input for patent monetization and portfolio management.
• Use patent databases and search tools (Derwent, PatBase, PATENTSCOPE, Espacenet, Google Patents) and classify patents using CPC/IPC for thorough prior art discovery.
• Maintain accurate records and manage deadlines in patent docketing systems (Anaqua, CPA Global, FoundationIP, Lecorpio) and perform filings via EFS-Web / USPTO Patent Center.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Engineering, Computer Science, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, or a related technical field.
• Registered Patent Agent with the USPTO (or qualified to sit for the USPTO registration exam); experience working with PCT and EPO procedures preferred.
• 2+ years of experience in patent prosecution, drafting, and claim drafting across multiple technical domains (mechanical, electrical, software, biotech/pharma preferred).
• Proven experience conducting prior art searches, patentability and FTO analyses, patent landscaping, and patent analytics.
• Strong knowledge of USPTO procedures, EFS-Web/Patent Center, PCT filings, and EPO prosecution practice.
• Familiarity with patent search databases and tools (Derwent, PatBase, PATENTSCOPE, Espacenet, Google Patents) and patent classification systems (CPC, IPC).
• Experience with patent docketing/practice management systems (Anaqua, CPA Global, FoundationIP, Lecorpio) and demonstrated attention to deadlines and docket accuracy.
• Demonstrated experience drafting robust patent specifications and responding effectively to office actions with persuasive legal and technical arguments.
• Experience providing litigation support, infringement/invalidity analysis, claim construction, and preparing expert materials for disputes.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills, with the ability to counsel clients and cross-functional teams on IP strategy and commercialization.