Patent Agent (Engineering)

Job Overview
A law firm seeks a Patent Agent with an engineering background to join their Patent & Intellectual Property department in Boston, MA. The role involves advising clients on patent portfolios, life cycle strategies, and due diligence, leveraging technical knowledge to drive commercial success.

Duties

• Draft patent applications.
• Prosecute patent applications in the US and direct global prosecution.
• Conduct freedom-to-operate searches and analyses.
• Perform IP landscape and due diligence analyses.
• Conduct invalidity and non-infringement analyses.
• Counsel clients on prosecution strategy.
• Monitor competitor patent applications and file observations.
• Assist with contested cases at the US Patent Office or in US district court.
• Support agreements for licenses and research collaborations.

Requirements

• 2-5 years of experience as a patent agent or associate.
• Prior firm experience and USPTO registration.
• Advanced degree in engineering (Ph.D. preferred; master's with substantial experience considered).
• Excellent academic record and superior organizational and communication skills.
• Commitment to exceptional client service and a creative IP perspective.
• Experience in litigation and/or post-grant proceedings is a plus.

Education

• Advanced degree in engineering.

Certifications

• USPTO registration.

Skills

• Strong technical background in engineering.
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.

Benefits

• Market-based compensation and bonus opportunities.
• Generous benefits package.

This large Boston firm has a surprisingly good government and regulatory practice, with the added bonus that their attorneys do not have to split their work with Washington DC lawyers in the same practice. This is a firm made up of well-rounded but most certainly well-pedigreed attorneys who come off unusually polished and professional. Associates here are generally quite satisfied, if not a little put off by what at times can be a bit of a competitive environment, both inside and outside the office. The strengths are that associates generally know whether they are 'on track' to make partner, and work in an environment that is designed with the appropriate mentoring and support staff to help associate development and training along.