Patent Agent III

Daimler Truck North America•Portland, OR

6d•$117,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The employee will be a member of the IP, Data, and Technology Team within the Legal Department, and will partner with Daimler Truck North America’s business teams to protect the Company’s intellectual property, with a focus on patents. The position will be expected to be flexible in accepting a wide variety of assignments related to intellectual property and be a main point of contact regarding patent matters for diverse departments within DTNA.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical field.
4 years of experience in patent prosecution, intellectual property management, or a related IP role (in‑house or law firm).
Registration to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a Patent Agent
Demonstrated experience preparing, reviewing, and prosecuting patent applications, including collaborating with outside counsel.
Experience working with U.S. and international patent systems, including office action responses and maintenance decisions.
Proven ability to identify, evaluate, and harvest new inventions across diverse technical areas.
Experience conducting patentability assessments, prior art searches, and IP landscape analyses.
Familiarity with freedom-to-operate (FTO) evaluations, including analyzing third‑party patent rights.
Strong understanding of design patents and design‑focused IP strategies (or willingness/aptitude to develop quickly).
Experience supporting IP litigation or enforcement activities involving patents.
Strong communication skills with the ability to provide training and guidance on IP topics to internal business partners.
High attention to detail, strong analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple IP matters simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

Ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, design, legal, and business stakeholders.
Experience in automotive, manufacturing, engineering, or heavy‑duty vehicle technologies.
Experience reviewing or drafting IP provisions in contracts, including NDAs and joint development agreements.
Prior in‑house experience managing or growing a corporate patent portfolio.

Responsibilities

Assist in the development and growth of DTNA’s patent strategy, including growing DTNA’s active patent portfolio
Advise internal business partners on DTNA’s patent strategy
Execute DTNA’s patent portfolio and patent prosecution activities, including reviewing and improving patent application drafts, collaborating with outside counsel on office actions responses, and connecting with business partners on patent maintenance decisions
Strategically harvest new inventions in a variety of technical areas for new patent application filings, and perform patentability assessments
Coordinate with internal stakeholders and outside counsel on freedom to operate topics, including leading the examination of third-party IP rights
Support in-house and outside counsel on IP litigation topics, including enforcement of DTNA’s patent rights
Continue to grow and develop DTNA’s design patent portfolio and help improve DTNA’s design patent strategy, including partnering with engineering, design, and aftermarket stakeholders
Complete IP landscaping and competitor analyses
Consult on contractual matters involving IP language/provisions, including non-disclosure and joint development agreements
Enhance invention disclosure processes/procedures with supporting paralegal
Provide training to various business partners on IP related topics

Benefits

annual bonus program
401k company contribution with company match up to 6 % as well as non-elective company contribution of 3 - 7% depending on age
starting at 4 weeks paid vacation
1 5 calendar holidays
8 weeks paid parental leave
employee assistance program
comprehensive healthcare plans and wellness programs
onsite fitness (at some locations)
tuition assistance and volunteer paid time off
short-term and long-term disability plans