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Senior Patent Agent Jobs (NOW HIRING)

IP Agent

San Jose, CA · Hybrid

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

IP Agent

Morrisville, NC · Hybrid

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

IP Agent

Waltham, MA · Hybrid

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

IP Agent

Morrisville, NC · On-site

  • Medical

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Senior Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Waltham, MA · On-site

$160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 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 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 ...

New

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 ...

Senior Counsel, Patent Prosecution

North Chicago, IL · On-site

$160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Senior Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Irvine, CA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

New

Senior Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Waltham, MA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

New

Senior Counsel, Patent Prosecution

Irvine, CA · On-site

$160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Senior Counsel, Patent Prosecution

North Chicago, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Senior Counsel-Patent

Waltham, MA · On-site

$160K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Senior Counsel-Patent

Waltham, MA

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Showing results 41-60

Senior Patent Agent information

See salary details

$57K

$115.5K

$169K

How much do senior patent agent jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 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 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.

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 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.

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.
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What cities are hiring for Senior Patent Agent jobs?

Cities with the most Senior Patent Agent job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Patent Agent jobs?

The most popular types of Patent Agent jobs are:

Who are the top companies hiring for Senior Patent Agent jobs?

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What states have the most Senior Patent Agent jobs?

States with the most job openings for Senior Patent Agent jobs include:

Infographic showing various Senior Patent Agent job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,452 per year, or $55.5 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 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 491 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. 


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