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Summer Patent Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Banner Witcoff

Summer Associate 2L (2027)

Chicago, IL · On-site

$4K/wk

... engineering degree, and be eligible to take the Patent Bar Exam. The salary for this summer ... clerkship role is $4,134.00 weekly. Please upload your resume with cover letter, law school and ...

Banner Witcoff

Summer Associate 2L (2027)

Chicago, IL

$4K/wk

... engineering degree, and be eligible to take the Patent Bar Exam. The salary for this summer ... clerkship role is $4,134.00 weekly. Please upload your resume with cover letter, law school and ...

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Summer Patent Engineer information

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$74K

$152.7K

$300K

How much do summer patent engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for summer 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Summer Patent Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Summer Patent Engineer, you need a solid background in engineering or science (often pursuing or holding a relevant degree), strong analytical skills, and a keen understanding of patent law basics. Familiarity with patent databases, prior art search tools, and technical writing software is typically required. Excellent attention to detail, communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively set top candidates apart. These skills ensure accurate patent documentation, effective intellectual property protection, and successful teamwork in a highly technical legal environment.

What is a Summer Patent Engineer?

A Summer Patent Engineer is typically an intern or temporary employee who works with patent teams during the summer months, often at a law firm or within a corporation's intellectual property department. Their main duties include supporting patent attorneys or agents with technical analysis, prior art searches, drafting patent applications, and evaluating the patentability of inventions. This role is ideal for students or recent graduates with an engineering or technical background who are interested in intellectual property law. The position provides hands-on experience with the patent process and can help individuals decide if they want to pursue a career in patent law or patent engineering.

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

AspectSummer Patent EngineerPatent Agent
CredentialsTypically pursuing or holding a technical degree; internship or summer program experienceMust pass the patent bar exam; technical background often required
Work EnvironmentInternship or temporary role within law firms, corporations, or patent officesFull-time role in law firms, corporations, or patent agencies
Industry UsageUsed as a training or internship position for studentsLicensed professionals authorized to prepare and file patent applications

While both roles involve patent law and technical expertise, a Summer Patent Engineer is typically an internship for students gaining experience, whereas a Patent Agent is a licensed professional authorized to practice patent law full-time.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a Summer Patent Engineer expect during their internship?

As a Summer Patent Engineer, you can expect to work closely with patent attorneys, inventors, and R&D teams to assist in drafting patent applications, conducting prior art searches, and analyzing technical disclosures. Typical responsibilities include reviewing invention submissions, preparing technical descriptions, and helping evaluate the patentability of new ideas. This role often involves a mix of independent research and collaborative meetings, offering hands-on experience with intellectual property processes while developing communication skills essential for working with cross-functional teams.
More about Summer Patent Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Summer Patent Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Summer 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 Summer Patent Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Summer Patent Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Summer Patent Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Summer Patent Engineer jobs are:
Summer Patent Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Summer Patent Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, and 26% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $152,666 per year, or $73.4 per hour.
2027 Summer Associate- Mechanical & Design Group (Patent Prosecution)

2027 Summer Associate- Mechanical & Design Group (Patent Prosecution)

Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox

Washington, DC

$4K/wk

Full-time

Posted 22 hours ago

Job description

About Sterne Kessler: 

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is one of the most highly regarded intellectual property specialty law firms dedicated to the protection, transfer and enforcement of IP rights for its clients. Based in Washington, D.C., we are a full-service IP firm offering patent litigation, patent preparation and prosecution of design and utility patents, and trademark and brand protection. Our firm culture is what sets us apart in the industry. It is the talent and dynamism of each individual that contributes to our shared success. We have cultivated an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating with just the right touch of fun and exuberance.

The Mechanical & Design Group uses the full complement of IP protection, including utility and design patents, trade dress, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyright, to protect mechanical innovation and evaluate if a new product has freedom to operate in the market.

What to Expect:

  • We will review and consider applications from students enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school juris doctor program expecting to graduate in May 2028 for our 2027 Summer Program.
  • The 2027 Summer Program will be held in-person in our Washington, DC office from May 24 – July 30, 2027.
  • Summer associates may work-from-home 1-2 days per week.
  • Summer Associates are compensated at a rate of $4,326/week.
  • Our summer associates work on matters involving cutting-edge technologies developed by a broad range of innovative individuals and companies.
  • Your summer will include relevant work assignments, an informal mid-point and formal end-of-summer evaluation, workshops/trainings, and exposure to our team structure, all designed to reflect what life is like for an attorney at Sterne Kessler.
  • Our summers enjoy a number of social events, which allow summer associates to get to know our attorneys on a personal level. Past events have included our firm-wide crab feast, our firm-wide night at the Nationals, other DC sporting events, cooking classes, city and museum tours, and more.

To Apply:

To qualify for this Summer Associate position, you must be/have:

  • Currently enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school juris doctor program and expect to graduate in May 2028.
  • Patent bar eligible with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, material science or physics, or an equivalent discipline; Advanced degrees and/or industry experience preferred.
  • Stellar academic credentials.
  • Obvious interest in intellectual property and patent law, specifically in patent prosecution.   

To complete your application, please complete our application online and upload the following documents:

  • Resume.
  • Transcripts: law, undergraduate, and graduate (if applicable). We accept unofficial transcripts.
  • Writing sample: Legal writing sample preferred. If you do not have a legal writing sample, please provide a writing sample that allows us to assess your technical or persuasive writing.   
  • Cover letter (optional, but helpful to provide additional context on your expertise and interest in our firm).

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted until the positions are filled. We encourage you to apply early. Due to the exciting level of interest in our firm, we are unable to individually contact all candidates to collect materials to complete applications. If you are unsure if your materials successfully uploaded, please email all your materials to recruiting@sternekessler.com. 

For questions, please contact Heather Molina at hmolina@sternekessler.com or 202-772-8968.

Apply