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Patent Engineer Jobs in Massachusetts (NOW HIRING)

Background in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering and/or computer science/software - Required * At least 3-5 years of experience in preparing and prosecuting patent ...

Background in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering and/or computer science/software - Required * At least 3-5 years of experience in preparing and prosecuting patent ...

Patent Assistant

Boston, MA · On-site

$73K - $110K/yr

Interface with internal legal colleagues, Brand Teams, Engineering, and Outside Counsel as needed. Administrative Functions * Process, and track patent expenses against budget and manage year end ...

Senior Patent Agent

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$106K - $132K/yr

This role works closely with inventors, attorneys, scientists, software engineers, and business stakeholders to identify inventions, draft and prosecute patent applications, and support strategic ...

The Patent Counsel II supports legal matters relating to Foundation Medicine's intellectual ... Partner with scientists, engineers, software developers, data scientists, and business leaders to ...

Patent Counsel II

Boston, MA · On-site

$156 - $196/hr

The Patent Counsel II supports legal matters relating to Foundation Medicine's intellectual ... Partner with scientists, engineers, software developers, data scientists, and business leaders to ...

Direct Counsel is seeking a Patent Agent or Patent Advisor to join a leading national firm's busy ... Degree in computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, or related field * Strong ...

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Patent Engineer information

See Massachusetts salary details

$80.8K

$166.7K

$327.6K

How much do patent engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for patent engineer in Massachusetts is $166,730.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,800.00 and $196,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a patent engineer do?

As a patent engineer, you review patent applications to help determine whether or not a patent agent should grant a patent for inventions or intellectual property. In this role, you may review a draft of the product, help research any similar existing products, and prepare additional documents and information as necessary. Despite the name, this job is more akin to being an attorney than an engineer, especially when it comes to checking for issues of copyright or patent infringement. Patent engineers should not be confused with patent agents. Patent agents generally have a senior position and make the final decision regarding application matters while patent engineers assist with research and paperwork.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a patent engineer?

To thrive as a Patent Engineer, you need a strong technical background—often a degree in engineering or science—paired with knowledge of intellectual property laws and patent drafting. Familiarity with patent databases, prior art search tools, and patent management software is typically required. Excellent analytical thinking, attention to detail, and strong written communication skills are crucial for interpreting inventions and preparing thorough documentation. These skills ensure accurate patent filings, effective communication with inventors and attorneys, and successful protection of intellectual property.

What are the most common challenges faced by patent engineers when collaborating with inventors and R&D teams?

Patent Engineers often encounter the challenge of translating complex technical innovations into clear, legally sound patent documents. Effective collaboration with inventors and R&D teams is essential, as it requires bridging the gap between technical details and patent requirements. Patent Engineers must ask precise questions, ensure thorough disclosure, and sometimes mediate differing perspectives about what aspects of an invention should be emphasized. Building strong communication skills and a solid understanding of both technology and intellectual property law are key to overcoming these challenges.

What is the difference between Patent Engineer vs Patent Agent?

AspectPatent EngineerPatent Agent
Required CredentialsEngineering degree, technical expertiseEngineering or scientific degree, patent law exam
Work EnvironmentR&D departments, patent departments in tech companiesPatent law firms, patent offices, corporate legal teams
Employer & Industry UsageTech, engineering, manufacturing sectorsLegal firms, patent agencies, corporations with patent portfolios
Common Search & ComparisonPatent Engineer vs Patent Agent

While both Patent Engineers and Patent Agents work closely with patents, Patent Engineers focus on technical analysis and patent drafting within companies, whereas Patent Agents are licensed to file and prosecute patents legally. The roles often overlap in technical background, but Patent Agents have legal authority to represent clients before patent offices.

Are patent engineers in demand?

Patent engineers are in demand due to the growing need for intellectual property protection across industries such as technology, pharmaceuticals, and engineering. They often require technical expertise and knowledge of patent law, and employment prospects are strong in regions with active innovation and patent filings.

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

The most popular types of Patent Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are:

What job categories do people searching Patent Engineer jobs in Massachusetts look for?

The top searched job categories for Patent Engineer jobs in Massachusetts are:

What cities in Massachusetts are hiring for Patent Engineer jobs?

Cities in Massachusetts with the most Patent Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Patent Engineer job openings in Massachusetts as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $166,730 per year, or $80.2 per hour.

Patent Agent / Patent Engineer (Robotics)

Tutor Intelligence

Watertown, MA

$135K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Posted yesterday

New


Job description

The Job:

Tutor Intelligence is a robotics research and deployment company, innovating across the full robotics stack– hardware, software systems, applications, machine learning, and more.

We generate patentable inventions faster than we can keep up with, and we are hiring our first in-house patent engineer to own the portfolio.

The Company:

We believe general-purpose, generally-intelligent robots will be built in our lifetimes. Robots will work in our factories, move our goods, walk on our streets and eventually be in our homes. To build that future, research and deployment must work in lockstep: real-world operation must make the technology better and better technology must make deployment easier. We're looking for the thinkers, builders, and researchers who want to be part of that loop.

As an AI robotics company that deploys its inventions directly into the facilities that need them, on state-of-the-art hardware, every line of code written at Tutor has a direct impact on the global, physical economy.

Our Culture:

We believe that something truly special can happen when talented, motivated people work together; at Tutor, every member of our team is empowered to have real impact in everything that they do. We’re characterized by both technical excellence and next-level collaboration and respect.

Responsibilities:
  • Knowing what to file: You stay close to what engineering is building, work out which of it is worth patenting, and get it filed in time.
  • The filings: You write our patent applications: claims, specification, figures. Outside counsel reviews and prosecutes them.
  • The portfolio: Deadlines, fees, counsel spend, and where every matter stands. You keep it in order and flag what needs a decision.
  • Outside IP questions: Diligence, customers, partners. You know the portfolio well enough to answer.
  • Strategy with founders and leadership: You identify what we need to know in order to make sound decisions about what, when, and how we file, and you make those choices with us.
Pre-Requisites:

A JD is unnecessary, and applicants need not be registered patent agents, though applicants with either or both of these qualifications are more than welcome.
The strongest candidates are engineers first: current on the cutting edge of robotics and physical AI, credible in a technical review with our researchers, experienced in both patent drafting and working with counsel, and able to operate with autonomy and conviction in this role.

  • 2+ years drafting patent applications in robotics, mechatronics, controls, computer vision, or machine learning, with a body of applications you personally drafted
  • BS or MS in mechanical engineering, EE, CS, or robotics, with enough depth to read our code, learn our systems, and capture what is novel about them
  • The ability to pull invention out of busy engineers without becoming a tax on their time
  • Precise technical writing, and comfort being the person the record depends on
  • Judgment about what deserves protection, what's a trade secret, and what to let go
Nice to Have:
  • Experience at a hardware or robotics startup where the portfolio was still being built
  • Experience managing an outside firm as the client, on scope, quality, and spend
Logistics
Onsite in Watertown, MA. The robots and the engineers are here.