Intellectual Property Engineer

This role will ensure intellectual property is captured and protected across the company. You will assist the technical teams to identify IP, and manage the process of moving inventions and know-how to patents or trade secrets. This will include working with IP counsel to draft, file, and prosecute patent applications. You will also ensure the company’s IP position is protected in contracts and collaborations. You will play an important role in defining and executing the IP strategy and enhancing the IP culture.

Key Responsibilities and Outcomes

• Manage the identification, documentation, and development of know-how, inventions, and trade secrets generated across the company’s functions.
• Work with technical teams to transform ideas and inventions into protectable IP.
• Conduct prior art searches to assess patentability and freedom-to-operate, and develop patent landscapes.
• Manage and assist IP counsel in preparing, filing, and prosecuting domestic and foreign patent applications.
• Maintain the patent database and generate patent portfolio reports.
• Build and improve internal systems to manage and streamline IP processes.
• Review draft contracts and R&D agreements to ensure IP is protected.
• Work with the Head of IP to execute strategies and key actions to build and strengthen the company’s IP portfolio.
• Educate and advise stakeholders on all IP matters, including preparing and delivering IP training.

Requirements

To be successful in this role you should have a combination of the below knowledge, skills, and experience:

• A degree qualified Chemical Engineer (preferred) or Mechanical Engineer or Chemist.
• Strong experience in protecting and managing patents and trade secrets.
• Experience working with inventors to capture know-how, inventions, and trade secrets.
• Proven experience in the preparation, prosecution, and maintenance of patent applications.
• Experience with effectively managing external IP counsel.
• Proven experience in patent searching, patentability and freedom-to-operate assessments, and patent landscaping.
• Experience safeguarding IP protection measures in commercial contracts and negotiating IP arrangements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills.

Benefits

• Hybrid working arrangement – 2 days a week in the office
• When you are in the office, you will be in our new and stylish London HQ, with a great location for transport and social events
• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Private Healthcare (family cover available for all colleagues)
• Health Cash Plan
• Income Protection and Critical Illness Cover
• Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programme
• Generous pension contribution – minimum of 5% contributed by the company
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Perks scheme
• Support towards professional memberships
• The opportunity to continue to develop both personally and professionally, in our rapidly growing company
• A brilliant company culture that encourages initiative, collaboration, and positivity at work