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Senior Patent Agent Jobs (NOW HIRING)

NetApp

IP Agent

Waltham, MA · Hybrid

Provide recommendations to senior leadership about what inventions should be patented. * Supervise ... Experience as a registered Patent Agent or Patent Attorney is acceptable. A law degree is not ...

NetApp

IP Agent

Wichita, KS · Hybrid

Provide recommendations to senior leadership about what inventions should be patented. * Supervise ... Experience as a registered Patent Agent or Patent Attorney is acceptable. A law degree is not ...

NetApp

IP Agent

Mclean, VA · Hybrid

Provide recommendations to senior leadership about what inventions should be patented. * Supervise ... Experience as a registered Patent Agent or Patent Attorney is acceptable. A law degree is not ...

NetApp, Inc.

IP Agent

Morrisville, NC · On-site

Provide recommendations to senior leadership about what inventions should be patented. * Supervise ... Experience as a registered Patent Agent or Patent Attorney is acceptable. A law degree is not ...

NetApp

IP Agent

San Jose, CA · Hybrid

Provide recommendations to senior leadership about what inventions should be patented. * Supervise ... Experience as a registered Patent Agent or Patent Attorney is acceptable. A law degree is not ...

AbbVie

Senior Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Irvine, CA · On-site

AbbVie is searching for an in-house Senior Counsel for our Patent Prosecution group, part of AbbVie ... agent at a law firm and/or life sciences company, including substantial U.S. and foreign patent ...

AbbVie

Senior Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Waltham, MA · On-site

AbbVie is searching for an in-house Senior Counsel for our Patent Prosecution group, part of AbbVie ... agent at a law firm and/or life sciences company, including substantial U.S. and foreign patent ...

Merck & Co.

Patent Counsel

Rahway, NJ

... agent may be considered);Strong technical background in chemical or biological sciences ... Ability to communicate competently and confidently with R&D clients, business partners, and senior ...

Merck & Co., Inc.

Patent Counsel

Rahway, NJ · On-site

... a practicing patent agent may be considered); * Strong technical background in chemical or ... Ability to communicate competently and confidently with R&D clients, business partners, and senior ...

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Senior Patent Agent information

See salary details

$57K

$115.5K

$169K

How much do senior patent agent jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior patent agent in the United States is $115,452.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,500.00 and $115,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior patent agent?

A Senior Patent Agent is a professional who specializes in preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent applications on behalf of inventors or organizations. They have significant experience in intellectual property law and usually hold an advanced degree in a technical field such as engineering, chemistry, or biology. While they are not attorneys, Senior Patent Agents are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and often work closely with inventors, researchers, and legal teams to protect inventions and innovations. Their role may also include conducting patentability searches, providing strategic IP advice, and managing patent portfolios.

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

To thrive as a Senior Patent Agent, you need a strong background in science or engineering, deep knowledge of patent law, and registration to practice before the USPTO. Familiarity with patent management software, prior art search tools, and databases like USPTO EFS-Web is typical, along with certifications such as passing the Patent Bar Exam. Excellent analytical thinking, written communication, and client management skills help you stand out in this role. These skills ensure precise patent drafting, effective prosecution, and the ability to advise clients on complex intellectual property strategies.

How does a senior patent agent typically collaborate with inventors and R&D teams during the patent process?

A Senior Patent Agent works closely with inventors and research and development (R&D) teams to identify novel inventions, assess their patentability, and develop strong patent applications. This often involves conducting detailed interviews, reviewing technical documentation, and providing guidance on how to document inventions effectively. Senior Patent Agents also act as a liaison between technical staff and legal teams, ensuring all stakeholders understand the patent strategy and timelines. Strong communication and project management skills are essential for facilitating smooth collaboration and maximizing the value of the organization's intellectual property.

What is the difference between Senior Patent Agent vs Patent Attorney?

AspectSenior Patent AgentPatent Attorney
CredentialsPatent Bar, technical degreeLaw degree, Patent Bar
Work EnvironmentPatent prosecution, drafting, filingPatent prosecution, legal advice, litigation
Industry UsageIntellectual property firms, corporationsLaw firms, corporations, IP departments
Primary FocusPatent application processLegal aspects of patents, litigation, counseling

While both Senior Patent Agents and Patent Attorneys handle patent applications and work within the IP industry, Patent Attorneys have a law degree and can provide legal advice and represent clients in court. Senior Patent Agents focus on patent prosecution and technical drafting without legal representation rights. The choice depends on whether legal counsel or technical patent work is needed.

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Senior Patent Agent jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Patent Agent job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,452 per year, or $55.5 per hour.

IP Agent

NetApp

Waltham, MA • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago

NetApp rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 500 rated business services

Job description

Job Summary

NetApp, a multi-billion dollar technology leader and highly sought-after employer, is adding an IP Counsel or Agent to join its award-winning legal department. The successful candidate will support the development of NetApp's global patent portfolio. S/he will be responsible for conducting patent mining sessions, supervising outside counsel during the patent prosecution process, and harmonizing NetApp's patent strategy with its business strategy.

This patent professional will work closely with NetApp's engineering, technical, and business organizations as an integral partner throughout the research and development process. The ideal candidate will be comfortable engaging directly with engineers, facilitating invention disclosure discussions, identifying patentable innovations, and influencing technical stakeholders on intellectual property strategy.

We are looking for a highly motivated, tech-savvy patent counsel or agent with at least five years of patent prosecution and portfolio experience in software, cloud computing, hybrid cloud technologies, AI-enabled technologies, and enterprise technology solutions.

This is a hybrid position based in Morrisville, NC RTP or Witchita, KS. 

Areas of Responsibility
  • Conduct patent mining sessions with product engineering teams in an efficient manner.
  • Provide recommendations to senior leadership about what inventions should be patented.
  • Supervise outside counsel in all aspects of patent prosecution, including drafting, office actions, and appeals.
  • Build awareness and perform outreach about NetApp's patent program among product engineering teams and educate them about the importance of intellectual property.
  • Manage technology and systems for patent portfolio management, including evaluating possible uses of AI tools.
  • Partner directly with software, cloud, and engineering teams to identify, evaluate, and protect innovative technologies.
  • Review patent claims and prosecution strategy to ensure appropriate quality, breadth, scope, and alignment with NetApp's business objectives.
  • Manage and strategically develop patent portfolios while balancing business priorities, innovation goals, and intellectual property protection.
Qualifications
  • Strong interest and ability to develop in-depth knowledge of NetApp's wide range of data management solutions and obtain patent protection for new innovations.
  • Registered and in good standing to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
  • Experience as a registered Patent Agent or Patent Attorney is acceptable. A law degree is not required provided the candidate is qualified to practice before the USPTO.
  • Preferred experience includes a combination of law firm patent prosecution experience and in-house patent portfolio management experience within the technology sector.
  • Four years of experience prosecuting patents and managing patent portfolios for software, cloud computing, hybrid cloud technologies, AI-enabled technologies, and related enterprise technologies.
  • Proficient in the use of AI and patent portfolio management tools.
  • Management and copyright experience desirable.
  • Ability to build credibility, advocate, and influence business and other teams.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with engineers and technical stakeholders and translate complex technologies into strong intellectual property strategies.
  • Ability to prioritize and deliver multiple simultaneous projects under pressure.
  • Strong collaboration skills across teams and organizations.
  • Experience working with software, cloud, SaaS, data management, storage, AI, machine learning, or related enterprise technology environments strongly preferred.
  • Domestic and international travel may be required.

Compensation:
The target salary range for this position is 147,900 - 191,000 USD. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off, various Leave options, Performance-Based Incentives, employee stock purchase plan, and/or restricted stocks (RSU's), with all offerings subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. Benefits may vary by country and region, and further details will be provided as part of the recruitment process. 

What NetApp employees say

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Hours and flexibility

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About NetApp

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The NetApp portfolio of leading data, application, and storage solutions helps organizations manage applications and data everywhere across hybrid multicloud environments. Our 30 years of innovation have made us the proven leader in all-flash storage. We have the only enterprise-grade storage OS available natively on the world’s biggest public clouds. Our data services offer the best security and protection in the industry. We have CloudOps services that will revolutionize how you work in the cloud. And that’s just scratching the surface. In a world of hybrid multicloud complexity, we envision a better IT experience—an evolved cloud state where on-premises and cloud environments are united as one, always delivering simplicity, security, savings, and sustainability. To get you there, we build solutions that drive faster innovation wherever your data and applications live, with unified management and AI-driven optimization. No walled gardens. No lock-in. You get the freedom to do what’s best for your business today and the flexibility to adapt to whatever tomorrow throws at you.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Sunnyvale, CA, US

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