Job Overview

A law firm is seeking a highly qualified Engineering Patent Agent to join their team in Palo Alto, CA. The candidate will be responsible for evaluating patentability, drafting patent applications, and assisting with the global prosecution of complex patent families. The role requires a strong background in electrical or mechanical engineering, proficiency in patent law, and the ability to handle various tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Job Duties

• Evaluate the patentability of innovations and invention disclosures.
• Prepare, draft, and file patent applications.
• Draft responses to domestic and foreign Office Actions.
• Conduct research and analysis, guiding on patent and Intellectual Property issues.
• Perform prior art database searches for patentability and freedom to operate analyses.
• Prepare draft amendments to patent claims, specifications, and abstracts.
• Assist patent attorneys with the global prosecution of complex patent families.

Requirements

• 2 years of experience drafting original patent applications and prosecuting pending applications in the electrical and mechanical arts.
• A degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or equivalent technical experience.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Candidates currently licensed to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as an agent are strongly preferred.
• Consideration will be given to candidates with extensive experience planning to take the Patent Bar.
• Familiarity with Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) practice is preferred.
• Proficiency in Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office Suite and/or related software.
• Excellent academic credentials and references.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage time effectively, handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Excellent organization and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail.

Education and Certifications

• Degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, or equivalent technical experience.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Candidates currently licensed to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as an agent are strongly preferred.

Skills

• Proficiency in patent law and patent prosecution.
• Familiarity with Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) practice.
• Proficiency in Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office Suite and/or related software.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organization and communication skills, both oral and written.

Job Location

• Palo Alto, CA

Despite its cultivated friendliness, this is a large and sophisticated firm in which attorneys learn to take an imaginative, adaptable approach to client matters rather than simply applying a certain transaction structure or litigation technique. This environment grants attorneys a breadth of experience unavailable to narrow specialists, which is essential for complex, multidistrict transaction and litigation matters.