U.S. Patent Attorney

Schaeffler•Wooster, OH

42d

About The Position

Schaeffler is seeking a U.S. Patent Attorney to handle intellectual property matters for assigned Schaeffler entities and technology areas. The role includes filing and prosecuting patent and trademark applications, maintaining IP portfolios in line with established strategies, advising on IP matters, and working with external service providers on the prosecution, defense, and enforcement of IP rights. The attorney will review and manage invention disclosures, evaluate novelty, patentability, and strategic importance, and conduct or supervise novelty, freedom-to-operate (FTO), and patent landscape searches and analyses. The position also supports legal-dispute overviews and risk assessments, manages patent decision committees and regional patent portfolios, and provides IP training to Schaeffler Engineering. The attorney is expected to learn and use AI IP tools to improve efficiency in patent preparation and prosecution and FTO investigations.

Requirements

Law degree from an accredited law school; pending admission or admitted to practice before the State of Michigan or Ohio.
Eligible to sit for the Patent Bar examination and practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
At least 4 years of experience working as an engineer in a corporate setting involving a mix of mechanical, electrical, and software-related technologies.
Highly technical, with the ability to apply IP-based legal concepts to protect Schaeffler's core technologies.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate persuasively.
Familiarity with drafting patent applications, including detailed descriptions and claims.
Solid understanding of reviewing USPTO Office Actions and preparing claim amendments and arguments in response.
Experience with software-related docketing or management tools for filed patent applications and Office Action responses, to assess application status before and after USPTO issuance.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, or Physics is preferred.

Responsibilities

File and prosecute patent and trademark applications for assigned cases and Schaeffler entities.
Maintain an IP portfolio for an assigned technology according to the determined strategy.
Advise assigned Schaeffler entities on IP matters and provide related support.
Work with national and international external service providers, especially patent attorneys, on prosecuting, defending, and enforcing IP rights.
Contribute to overviews of existing IP rights related to legal disputes, risk assessments, and patent terms.
Manage and support patent decision committees and maintain overall IP responsibilities for regional Schaeffler patent portfolios.
Learn and use AI IP tools to improve efficiency and output in preparing and prosecuting patent applications and conducting freedom-to-operate investigations.
Review, assess, and manage invention disclosures, including evaluating novelty, patentability, and strategic importance.
Conduct or supervise novelty, freedom-to-operate, and patent landscape searches and analyses to provide risk assessments supporting product development and commercialization.
Conduct IP training for Schaeffler Engineering on patents, inventions, disclosures and processes, clearance procedures, and IP best practices.