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Contract Patent Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Patlytics

AI Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

About Patlytics: Patlytics is the fastest-growing AI-native patent intelligence platform ... contracts that define product quality * Build and maintain a rigorous evals framework: define ...

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All JobsContract Patent Engineer Jobs

Contract Patent Engineer information

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$74K

$152.7K

$300K

How much do contract patent engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract patent engineer in the United States is $152,666.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,500.00 and $180,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Contract Patent Engineer vs Patent Agent?

AspectContract Patent EngineerPatent Agent
CredentialsEngineering degree, patent law knowledgeLaw degree, patent bar admission
Work EnvironmentContract basis, engineering firms, R&D departmentsLegal practice, patent law firms, corporate legal teams
Industry UsageTechnology, engineering, manufacturingLegal, technology, patent prosecution

While both roles involve patent processes, Contract Patent Engineers focus on technical patent drafting and analysis, often on a contract basis, whereas Patent Agents are licensed legal professionals specializing in patent prosecution and legal advice. The choice depends on whether the focus is technical engineering work or legal patent practice.

More about Contract Patent Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Patent Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Contract Patent Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Patent Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Patent Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Patent Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Patent Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Contract Patent Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Patent Engineer jobs are:
Contract Patent Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Patent Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 58% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 19% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $152,666 per year, or $73.4 per hour.
Experienced Patent Agent/Technical Specialist

Experienced Patent Agent/Technical Specialist

Barnes and Thornburg LLP

Indianapolis, IN • On-site

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Assist with the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications in technology-driven industries.

  • Support the development and management of patent portfolios.

  • Conduct technical research and analysis related to inventions, prior art, and patentability.

Barnes & Thornburg rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

10th of 17 rated law firms

Job description

Barnes & Thornburg seeks an experienced Patent Agent or Technical Specialist with 3+ years of experience with deep AI concepts to support our growing needs across multiple practices. We offer the opportunity to work on innovative projects in artificial intelligence within a collaborative team environment focused on next-generation technology. This position can be based in either our Chicago, Indianapolis, or Minneapolis offices
Qualifications:
  1. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering; a Master's degree is preferred
  2. At least 3 years' experience with deep AI concepts is a significant asset, technical capability is our highest priority
  3. Must demonstrate strong technical skills, initiative, good character, and interpersonal skills
  4. Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or intent to sit for the patent bar within 12 months of being hired as a technical specialist

Responsibilities:
  1. Assist with the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications in technology-driven industries
  2. Support the development and management of patent portfolios
  3. Conduct technical research and analysis related to inventions, prior art, and patentability
  4. Communicate technical concepts clearly for legal documentation and correspondence
  5. Collaborate with attorneys, clients and inventors to understand and protect innovative ideas
  6. Stay current on advancements in deep AI concepts, including review of relevant white papers

We will not consider resumes submitted by external agencies or recruiters for this position. Recruiters and agencies will not be compensated for assisting Barnes & Thornburg LLP in recruiting for this position, regardless of whether such party has a recruiting contract with us.
Equal Employment and Opportunity Statement:
Barnes & Thornburg is committed to equal employment opportunity in both principle and as a matter of policy. We will recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate and provide benefits to all applicants and employees without regard to ancestry, sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, religion, religious creed, mental and/or physical disability, medical condition, military and/or veteran's status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all recruiting, hiring, promotions, upgrades, layoffs, compensation, benefits, terminations and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The firm complies fully with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws.

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