Intellectual Property Attorney - UKIFS Ltd.

Futureshaper.com; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 67,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in fusion energy is seeking a qualified Patent Attorney to manage intellectual property for its STEP programme. The role involves advising on IP matters, protecting innovations, and conducting risk analyses. The successful candidate will work in a collaborative environment, contributing to groundbreaking technologies aimed at achieving commercial fusion energy.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

Corporate bonus scheme up to 7%

Flexible working options

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous annual leave allowance

Career development opportunities

Inclusive culture

Qualifications

• Experience advising clients and managing IP matters.
• Extensive patent drafting and prosecution experience.
• Ability to work in a matrix, project-based environment managing multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Identify, protect, and manage IP generated by the STEP technology stream.
• Advise technology and engineering teams on IP matters.
• Perform landscape and freedom-to-operate searches.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Strategic thinking

Relationship-building

Attention to detail

Education

Patent Attorney UK and/or European qualified

Technical background in Scientific or Engineering discipline

Job description

Company Description

The UK Government has established UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) Ltd., a subsidiary of UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), to lead the charge in delivering fusion energy through design and delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype fusion plant. UKIFS is establishing itself, setting up the company, attracting talent, engaging with industry, developing a supply chain, and planning and constructing the STEP prototype.

Fusion energy, crucial for combating climate change and ensuring energy independence, is expected to be commercially viable by mid-century. The UK, led by UKIFS, aims for a prototype fusion plant, targeting first operations around 2040. UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd. will lead delivery, collaborating with industrial partners and building a fusion supply chain with an estimated global sector value of £7tn per year. Join UKIFS and the STEP programme to be involved in this ground-breaking journey.

As an employee of UKIFS, you will benefit from:

• Outstanding defined benefit pension scheme, details of which can be found at the end of this advert.
• Corporate bonus scheme up to 7% and a Relocation allowance (if eligible).
• Flexible working options including family-friendly policies and the right to request flexible working from the start of your employment.
• Employee Assistance Programme and trained Mental Health First Aiders,
• Generous annual leave allowance starting with 25 days, plus 3 days Christmas closure and 2.5 privilege days, in addition to UK bank holidays.
• Wide range of career development opportunities
• A vibrant culture committed to being fully inclusive

For more information on UKIFS, visit: https://careers.ukaea.uk/wp-content/uploads/download/UKIFS_CandidateRecruitmentPack.pdf

The salary for this role is £66,436, and our hybrid working policy/onsite working is expected for 3 days each week. We actively support requests for flexible working.

Employees of UKIFS can be based at any of our following sites: Culham, Oxfordshire, Rotherham, Yorkshire, or West Burton, Nottinghamshire.

This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including The Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions and possibly a search of open source data.

Job Description

STEP is a bold and ambitious programme, developing pioneering new technologies to achieve its goals. We are generating significant intellectual property to inspire and enable the fusion industry, strengthening the UK’s leadership in the field.

As the programme progresses, and our plant partners come on board, you will lead on various intellectual property matters generated by one of the STEP technology streams.

Your responsibilities include identifying, protecting, and managing IP generated by the STEP technology stream, performing landscape and risk analyses, and advising the technology and engineering teams on all aspects of intellectual property.

Key Accountabilities

Client Counselling

• Advise technologists and engineers on IP matters.
• Ensure IP decisions align with the IP strategy, always aiming for the best programme outcomes.
• Develop collaborative relationships with technical and engineering teams.
• Act as the go-to person for the specific technology stream.

Identifying & Protecting Innovation

• Support project teams in identifying potentially protectable intellectual property.
• Advise on protection options aligned with the IP strategy.
• Support the capture of IP and recordkeeping in the IP register.
• Assess patentability of inventions.
• Draft and prosecute patent applications or engage external counsel for support.
• Identify IP commercialization opportunities and work with the technology transfer team to enable and drive commercialization.
• Produce IP register reports documenting portfolio growth, value, and opportunities.

Landscape & Risk Analysis and Management

• Perform landscape and freedom-to-operate searches, engaging external experts if needed.
• Review search results, prioritize relevance, and communicate findings.
• Identify IP risks, analyze impacts, and generate freedom-to-operate opinions with external counsel support.
• Communicate IP risks and management strategies to stakeholders.

IP Portfolio Management

• Develop annual IP portfolio management processes, set KPIs, and define budgets.
• Manage the IP portfolio in line with strategy, always aiming for optimal programme outcomes.

IP Training

• Prepare and deliver IP training materials for various experience levels.
• Respond to additional training requests and manage the IP training register.

The above list is not exhaustive; other tasks may be assigned as needed.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Patent Attorney UK and/or European qualified with PQE.
• Experience advising clients and managing IP matters.
• Invention identification, prior art review, and assessment experience.
• Extensive patent drafting and prosecution experience.
• Experience managing an IP portfolio aligned with strategy, controlling costs, and producing stakeholder reports.
• Ability to work in a matrix, project-based environment managing multiple projects.
• Strong relationship-building skills across technical and executive levels.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Effective communication, prioritization, and attention to detail.
• Technical background in Scientific or Engineering discipline.

Desirable:

• Experience managing IP in an industry setting.
• IP risk assessment, freedom-to-operate analysis, and opinion generation experience.
• High-quality prior art, landscape, and freedom-to-operate searches.

Additional Information

For a full list of benefits, visit https://careers.ukaea.uk/life-at-ukaea/employee-benefits/.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including women in STEM, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and neurodiverse individuals. Our leadership actively promotes inclusion and diversity, and we strive to remove barriers to success.

Note: Vacancies are typically advertised for 4 weeks but may close earlier if filled.

For applicants outside the UK or with recent UK residence, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants. If your country isn't listed, we cannot process your application.