Patent Agent

Job Description

About the team: The US Patent Agent will collaborate with European and Asian IP Counsel and will provide daily operation oversight in managing current and future intellectual property to develop and implement overall directives. Particular aspects of this role will be US portfolio management, inhouse US patent drafting and patent prosecution, and publication review. The US Patent Agent will be an integral working partner with the company's global business units and product development organizations, handling intellectual property assets and collaborating with intellectual property teams thereby supporting many of the ZF divisions.

What you can look forward to as a US Patent Agent:

• This position will report to a ZF Lead US Counsel and will hold responsibility for certain facets of the intellectual property in-house practice
• Manage invention disclosure process and work closely with internal clients on all matters relating to inventions.
• Internal preparation of patent applications and patent prosecution matters in the US. 
• Provide expertise to Engineering teams relating intellectual property policies, procedures and topics.
• Conduct patent searches for assessing patentability of inventions.

Your profile as a US Patent Agent:

• Technical degree in electrical, electronics, computer engineering, physics, electro-mechanical or related field
• USPTO patent bar admission or fully eligible to sit for the USPTO patent bar
• 2+ years of experience in working in engineering and/or the intellectual property field in the area of electronics-based technology including automotive experience in the field valued.
• Electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics or physics background valued.
• Expertise in filing patent applications and related prosecution filings with the USPTO.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to establish effective working relationships with engineers, and colleagues within the intellectual property teams and ability to work effectively in an international multi-cultural environment. 
• Hard working, well organized, able to manage numerous projects simultaneously under deadline pressure, and experience managing and completing complex projects in a demanding environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication and negotiation skills required.
• Must possess commitment to professionalism, integrity, and collegiality.
• Ability to multi-task and accomplish tight deadlines in a team environment