2

Entry Level Patent Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Entry Level Patent information

See Minnesota salary details

$60.6K

$165K

$223.6K

How much do entry level patent jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level patent in Minnesota is $165,045.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $166,600.00 and $206,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level patent?

An entry level patent job typically refers to positions such as patent analyst, patent examiner, or patent agent trainee, where individuals assist in reviewing, researching, and processing patent applications. These roles are often designed for recent graduates or those new to intellectual property law and require skills in technical analysis, legal research, and attention to detail. Entry level patent professionals work under the guidance of experienced attorneys or examiners, learning about patent laws and procedures while helping to protect inventions and innovations.

What types of projects and responsibilities can an entry level patent professional expect in their first year?

As an entry-level patent professional, you will typically assist with preparing and filing patent applications, conducting prior art searches, and drafting patent claims under the guidance of experienced attorneys or agents. You may also be involved in responding to office actions from patent examiners and performing legal research. Collaboration with inventors, engineers, and legal teams is common, giving you a chance to develop both technical and legal skills. The first year is a valuable learning period where you'll gain exposure to various technologies and the fundamentals of patent law.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level patent agent, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Patent Agent, you need a strong background in science or engineering, excellent analytical skills, and typically a bachelor’s degree in a technical field. Familiarity with patent databases, USPTO filing systems, and, ideally, completion of the Patent Bar exam are important technical qualifications. Attention to detail, clear written communication, and strong organizational skills set outstanding candidates apart. These skills are crucial for accurately preparing patent applications, navigating legal requirements, and effectively supporting clients’ intellectual property needs.

What is the difference between Entry Level Patent vs Patent Agent?

AspectEntry Level PatentPatent Agent
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree, often in science or engineering; some may pursue patent-related certificationsSame as Entry Level Patent; typically requires passing the patent bar exam
Work EnvironmentSupport roles in law firms, corporate legal departments, or patent agenciesLegal practice, patent prosecution, and client consultations
Industry UsageEntry-level position in patent law and intellectual property sectorsLicensed professionals authorized to file patents and represent clients before patent offices

While Entry Level Patent roles involve supporting patent applications and research, Patent Agents are licensed professionals authorized to prepare and file patents, often with more responsibility and client interaction. Both roles require technical backgrounds, but Patent Agents have passed the patent bar exam, enabling them to practice independently in patent prosecution.

What are the most commonly searched types of Patent jobs in Minnesota?

The most popular types of Patent jobs in Minnesota are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Patent jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Patent jobs in Minnesota are:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Patent job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 90% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 67% Physical, 10% Hybrid, and 23% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $165,045 per year, or $79.3 per hour.

ASIC Design Verification Engineer

ForwardEdge ASIC LLC

Saint Paul, MN • On-site

$115K - $135K/yr

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

Position Description: At ForwardEdge ASIC we specialize in best-in-class ASIC technology, 100% domestically traceable microelectronic solutions designed for performance in commercial, aerospace, defense, and security sectors. FEASIC operates a full-scale ASIC design shop with cross-disciplinary fluency between digital logic, analog/mixed-signal design, and physical layout, and sits at the intersection of advanced ASIC, FPGA, and microelectronics design. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, we combine the agility of a startup with the stability and scale of a Fortune 100 leader. We operate in a nimble, fast-paced environment of 80+ highly experienced and specialized engineers with over 25 years of ASIC/FPGA experience and more than 300 patents. We are looking for an entry-level Design Verification Engineer to join our growing verification team. This role is ideal for a recent graduate or early-career engineer who is interested in digital design verification, SystemVerilog, UVM, simulation, debugging, and advanced ASIC/SoC development.At ForwardEdge ASIC, you will work alongside experienced engineers, learn industry-standard verification methodologies, and contribute to the development of high-quality custom silicon solutions.Position SummaryAs a Design Verification Engineer, you will support the verification of ASIC, SoC, IP, subsystem, and FPGA designs. You will help develop testbenches, create tests, run simulations, debug failures, and contribute to coverage-driven verification under the guidance of senior engineers.This is a hands-on technical role with strong mentorship and learning opportunities. You will gain experience with modern verification methodologies, EDA tools, scripting, simulation debug, and the process of taking complex designs from specification through verification closure.Key Responsibilities• Support verification activities for ASIC, SoC, IP, subsystem, and FPGA designs.• Develop and maintain verification components using SystemVerilog and, where applicable, UVM.• Create and run directed and constrained-random tests to verify design functionality.• Assist in developing testbench components such as drivers, monitors, scoreboards, checkers, sequences, and coverage models.• Analyze design specifications and work with senior engineers to understand verification requirements.• Run simulations and regressions using industry-standard EDA tools.• Debug test failures using simulation logs, waveforms, assertions, and guidance from senior engineers.• Help collect and analyze functional coverage, code coverage, and regression results.• Document verification work, test results, debug findings, and issue resolutions.• Collaborate with design, verification, firmware, FPGA, and project teams to resolve issues.• Learn and apply best practices in verification methodology, automation, scripting, and reusable testbench development.• Participate in design reviews, verification reviews, and technical discussions.Qualifications• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.• Academic, internship, co-op, research, or project experience related to digital logic design, verification, computer architecture, embedded systems, or FPGA development.• Basic understanding of digital logic, RTL design concepts, and hardware description languages.• Exposure to SystemVerilog, Verilog, VHDL, or another hardware description/verification language.• Familiarity with simulation, debugging, test development, or verification concepts.• Basic scripting or programming experience using languages such as Python, Perl, Tcl, shell scripting, C, or C++.• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.• Willingness to learn modern ASIC verification methodologies, including UVM, constrained-random verification, assertions, and coverage-driven verification.• Ability to read technical documentation, specifications, and design descriptions.• Good written and verbal communication skills.• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative engineering environment.Preferred Qualifications• Internship, co-op, academic, or project experience with ASIC, FPGA, SoC, or digital design verification.• Coursework or project experience with SystemVerilog, Verilog, digital design, computer architecture, embedded systems, or VLSI design.• Exposure to UVM or object-oriented programming concepts.• Experience writing testbenches for RTL modules.• Familiarity with waveform debugging tools and simulation flows.• Exposure to industry-standard EDA tools for simulation, debug, or coverage analysis.• Experience with FPGA development boards, embedded processors, or hardware/software integration.• Familiarity with protocols or interfaces such as AMBA, AXI, APB, AHB, PCIe, Ethernet, DDR, USB, MIPI, SPI, I2C, or UART.• Exposure to assertions, functional coverage, code coverage, or regression automation.• Experience using version control systems such as Git.• Interest in ASIC design services, custom silicon development, or customer-focused engineering environments.Why Join ForwardEdge ASIC?At ForwardEdge ASIC, you will have the opportunity to begin your career working on advanced ASIC and FPGA programs with an experienced engineering team. You will receive mentorship from senior verification engineers, gain hands-on exposure to industry-standard tools and methodologies, and contribute to high-quality custom silicon solutions for leading-edge applications.What We Offer• Work-Life Balance: Flexible 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off• Competitive Comp & Benefits: Healthcare and medical coverage options, 401(k) retirement benefits with company contribution, generous holidays and PTO• Incentives: Eligibility for short-term and long-term incentive programsJoin ForwardEdge ASIC and be part of a team that thrives on innovation and excellence in ASIC design. Together, we build the technology that enables a safer, more resilient world. $115,000.00 - $135,000.00 Annually