Barnes & Thornburg
IP Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Associate
Indianapolis · Full-time · Posted Aug 17, 2026
- Experience
- 2-4 years of patent prosecution experience; preferably at a large law firm or boutique IP firm.
- Education
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. An advanced degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field is a plus.
About the job
Prepares and prosecutes U.S. and international patents for consumer electronics hardware and electromechanical inventions, while supporting patent analyses, opinions, and portfolio matters.
What you'll do
- Draft and prosecute patent applications, respond to USPTO Office Actions, and coordinate prosecution strategy with partners and clients.
- Conduct prior art searches and support patentability, freedom-to-operate, invalidity, and clearance analyses.
- Support inventor interviews, patent due diligence, post-grant proceedings, and docket management.
What they ask for
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and strong academic achievement.
- Registration in good standing before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; state bar membership or eligibility for admission where the position is based.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
- Demonstrated experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications in both mechanical and electrical engineering subject matter.
Nice to have
- Substantive familiarity with wireless device hardware.
- Experience with patent clearance and freedom-to-operate projects.
Tools
USPTO
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative