Patent Agent

MP Materials Corp.•Las Vegas, NV

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patent Agent sits within the Legal department and works directly under the supervision of the Vice President, Associate General Counsel (IP). The Patent Agent will play a critical role in identifying, protecting, and strengthening the Company’s intellectual property portfolio, with a particular focus on materials science, process technology, and manufacturing methods. This is a fully in-office role requiring strong technical fluency, precision in drafting, and the ability to operate in close partnership with engineering. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment and is motivated to contribute to best-in-class legal and engineering teams.

Requirements

Registered to practice as a patent agent before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Bachelor’s degree in materials science, chemical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field (advanced degree strongly preferred).
5+ years of experience in patent preparation and prosecution, preferably with exposure to advanced materials or chemical systems and industrial processes or manufacturing technologies.
This is a fully onsite position (5 days per week in Las Vegas, NV), but the candidate must have the ability and willingness to travel up to approximately 25% of the time, including travel to other Company locations and meetings with internal stakeholders or external partners.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated ability to draft high-quality patent applications in technically complex subject matter.
Experience managing or supporting global patent portfolios and coordinating with foreign counsel.
Prior in-house experience or experience supporting industrial/manufacturing clients is strongly preferred.
Ability to align IP work with commercial priorities and operational realities.
Clear and effective communicator with engineers, operators, and senior leadership.
Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment.

Responsibilities

Partner with the VP, Associate General Counsel (IP) to support execution of the Company’s patent strategy aligned with core technologies and long-term business priorities.
Assist in building and managing a high-value global patent portfolio focused on advanced materials, magnetics, and manufacturing processes.
Conduct invention harvesting sessions with engineers and technical teams, with an emphasis on identifying protectable process innovations and performance improvements.
Draft high-quality U.S. patent applications, including specifications and claims, for complex technologies.
Prosecute U.S. patent applications before the USPTO, including preparation of responses to Office Actions.
Coordinate with outside counsel on international filings and prosecution.
Perform patentability searches, landscape analyses, and competitive intelligence reviews.
Support freedom-to-operate and risk assessments by gathering and synthesizing relevant technical and patent information for review by supervising counsel.
Translate technical findings into clear, actionable summaries for Legal and business stakeholders.
Develop a deep understanding of the Company’s core technologies and workflows.
Support internal education efforts to improve invention disclosure quality and IP awareness.
Support IP aspects of commercial and strategic transactions (e.g., licensing, joint development, supply arrangements) by preparing technical summaries and patent-related materials.
Assist with IP due diligence efforts, including portfolio review and documentation support.
Help refine and scale internal IP processes, including invention disclosure intake, review, and tracking.