Barnes & Thornburg
IP Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Associate
$215K–$235K
Minneapolis · Full-time · Posted Aug 18, 2026
- Experience
- 2-4 years of patent prosecution experience.
- Education
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
About the job
Prepare and prosecute patent applications involving mechanical and electrical engineering, especially consumer electronics hardware and electromechanical systems.
What you'll do
- Draft and prosecute U.S. and international 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.
- Support patent due diligence and post-grant proceedings, conduct inventor interviews, and manage docket deadlines.
What they ask for
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and strong academic achievement.
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office registration in good standing; state bar membership where the position is based or eligibility for admission.
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
- 2-4 years of patent prosecution experience and demonstrated experience drafting and prosecuting applications involving mechanical and electrical engineering subject matter.
Nice to have
- Familiarity with wireless device hardware.
- Experience with patent clearance and freedom-to-operate projects.
Pay
$215K – $235K USD base salary
Tools
USPTO
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative