Mechanical and Automation Patent Agent

Milwaukee Succeeds; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Well-being benefits

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

Rite-Hite is seeking a Patent Agent to join our team. In this role, you will support our legal department's intellectual property function, focusing on growing and protecting the company's innovation through patents and designs.

You will collaborate with inventors, engineers, and business stakeholders to strengthen claims, conduct patent searches, and coordinate with outside counsel for U.S. and international filings, especially in mechanical, automation, and controls technologies.

Qualifications

• Registered to practice before the USPTO.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or science discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of patent experience in a corporate legal department or IP law firm preferred.
• Expert knowledge of U.S. and international patent filing, prosecution, and maintenance requirements.
• Strong experience with patent searching, drafting, and prosecution.

Responsibilities

• Utilize extensive patent expertise to implement and execute patent prosecution strategies focused on strengthening claims that align with specific business goals and potential enforcement scenarios.
• Support and drive IP strategy, collaborating with inventors, engineers, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment with business goals.
• Monitor, analyze, identify opportunities leveraging patent trends and emerging complex technology trends in key areas relevant to the business.
• Conduct ideation and patent harvesting activities to identify invention disclosures and innovation opportunities that support the business strategy.
• Conduct and/or direct patent search and analysis efforts related to freedom-to-operate, patentability, partnerships, and competitive intelligence.
• Partner with outside counsel in preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, with a focus on mechanical, automation, controls, and related technologies.
• Support training and awareness initiatives to enhance innovation and patent culture across the company.
• Support IP enforcement matters, including providing technical expertise and patent analysis.
• Provide cross-functional support in areas involving intercompany agreements, licensing, contracts, and ownership.

Skills

Patent prosecution

Patent searching

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical versatility

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or science

Job description

Rite-Hite is seeking a Patent Agent to join our team. In this role, you will support our legal department's intellectual property function, focusing on growing and protecting the company's innovation through patents and designs.

You will collaborate with inventors, engineers, and business stakeholders to strengthen claims, conduct patent searches, and coordinate with outside counsel for U.S. and international filings, especially in mechanical, automation, and controls technologies.