Patent Agent — Mechanical & Solar Tech Innovator

Nextpower; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Dental and vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Unlimited paid time off

Company bonuses

Life and disability insurance

Job summary

Nextpower, a leader in intelligent solar tracking technology, seeks an experienced patent professional to partner with engineers to identify patentable inventions and manage the U.S. and international prosecution of patent applications.

You will review drafts, perform prior-art analyses, and help shape a strategic IP portfolio. Ideal candidates have 3+ years in patent preparation/prosecution, strong technical writing, and the ability to coordinate with external counsel and internal teams across

Qualifications

• Registered to practice before USPTO as a Patent Agent.
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Civil/Structural Engineering, Physics, or equivalent.
• Approximately 3+ years of patent preparation and prosecution experience.
• Demonstrated experience drafting high-quality utility patent applications and responding to USPTO Office Actions.
• Strong ability to understand mechanical systems and communicate with engineers and inventors.
• Excellent technical writing, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Ability to independently manage multiple patent matters and deadlines.
• Practical judgment about what should be patented and how claims support business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Partner with engineers to identify potentially patentable inventions.
• Lead invention-disclosure meetings and document innovations in writing.
• Oversee outside counsel drafts of U.S. patent applications.
• Conduct prior-art searches and patentability analyses.
• Recommend protection strategies including utility/design patents, trade secrets, or defensive publications.
• Help develop patent portfolios around key products and platforms.
• Coordinate domestic and international patent prosecution with outside counsel.
• Support foreign filing decisions and international prosecution.
• Assist with freedom-to-operate and competitive patent analyses with counsel.
• Monitor competitor patent activity and IP trends in solar tracking and related tech.
• Maintain clear patent portfolio records and prosecution status.
• Establish IP processes and training integrated into R&D/Lifecycle processes.
• Evaluate Nextpower portfolio and opportunities for continuations or additional claims.
• Maintain portfolio in online management system.

Skills

USPTO Patent Agent

Mechanical Eng

Electrical Eng

Mechatronics

Patent Prosecution

Technical Writing

Project Management

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical/Electrical/Mechatronics/Physics

Tools

IPfolio platform

Job description

Nextpower, a leader in intelligent solar tracking technology, seeks an experienced patent professional to partner with engineers to identify patentable inventions and manage the U.S. and international prosecution of patent applications.

You will review drafts, perform prior-art analyses, and help shape a strategic IP portfolio. Ideal candidates have 3+ years in patent preparation/prosecution, strong technical writing, and the ability to coordinate with external counsel and internal teams across