IP Engineer

Responsibilities:

1. Lead patent mining, portfolio planning, and drafting for mechanical and structural patents in the elastocaloric refrigeration domain; coordinate with external patent agencies to complete patent applications across target markets (NEV, IDC, cold chain).

2. Work closely with R&D engineers to review and refine invention disclosure forms; provide patent-related consultation and strategic guidance to support IP barrier building.

3. Track global technology trends and competitor patent activity in elastocaloric refrigeration and adjacent fields; conduct patent searches and freedom-to-operate analyses; provide IP risk assessments and strategic recommendations.

4. Manage IP documentation, application status tracking, and annuity maintenance; support patent prosecution (office action responses) in coordination with external counsel.

5. Assist with patent reexamination, invalidation proceedings, and litigation-related matters as needed.

Requirements:

1. Bachelor's degree or above; candidates with a Patent Agent qualification certificate or a background in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or Refrigeration Engineering are preferred.

2. 2+ years of in-depth experience in patent drafting, patent application filing, IP document management, and patent validity analysis; demonstrated ability to independently draft mechanical or materials-related patent application documents.

3. Proficient in patent mining, search, and landscape analysis; strong patent drafting and prosecution skills; able to accurately assess IP risks and identify white-space opportunities.

4. Proficient in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo/Pro-E, etc.) for patent drawing preparation.

5. Highly proactive, strong problem-solving ability, rigorous and detail-oriented work ethic; able to manage multiple concurrent applications and maintain high productivity in a fast-paced environment.