Barnes & Thornburg
IP Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Associate
Raleigh · Full-time · Posted Aug 18, 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
Prepare and prosecute U.S. and international patents involving consumer electronics hardware and electromechanical systems, and advise on related patent matters.
What you'll do
- Draft and prosecute patent applications, respond to USPTO Office Actions, and coordinate prosecution strategy.
- Conduct prior art searches and support patentability, freedom-to-operate, invalidity, and clearance analyses.
- Conduct inventor interviews and support patent portfolio due diligence and post-grant proceedings.
What they ask for
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school, with strong academic achievement.
- Registration in good standing before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
- State bar membership where the position is based, or eligibility for admission.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and demonstrated patent drafting and prosecution experience in 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