UK & US Patent Engineer in Chippenham

Position Overview

We are looking for a UK-based Patent Engineer to work closely with our product designers, engineers and Intellectual Property team in China, with a particular focus on early-stage innovation and concept development. The core purpose of this role is to assess new technical concepts, identify potential patent opportunities and risks, and provide clear, practical recommendations that designers and engineers can use in their development decisions. The role will primarily support patent matters in the Europe, while also cooperating with the China-based IP team and, where appropriate, supporting selected US patent-related matters. This is not primarily a patent drafting role. The successful candidate is expected to analysis and define requirements, coordinate with external patent attorney to ensure that external advice is effectively translated into business and engineering actions.

Reporting Line and Location

• Department: Intellectual Property
• Department Reporting line: Dual reporting to IP Head and RD head, with close cooperation with the UK PI team and the China-based IP team
• Location: Primarily UK-based, with regular short-term business travel or assignments to China as required
• Primary stakeholders: UK PI team, product designers, engineers, China-based IP colleagues and external patent professionals
• Working coverage Area: Primarily UK, Europe and US, depending on the candidate’s experience and capability

Key Responsibilities

Early-Stage Innovation Assessment and Advisory Support

• Work closely with designers and engineers from the concept and early development stages of new products and technologies.
• Review technical concepts, design proposals and development plans to identify: Potentially patentable inventions; Relevant prior art and existing third-party rights; Potential freedom-to-operate and infringement risks; Opportunities for patent portfolio development and competitive differentiation.
• Provide timely, practical and commercially focused assessments and recommendations to the PI team, designers and engineers.
• Translate complex patent and technical information into clear guidance that can be directly used in design and development decisions.
• Support invention identification and disclosure processes, including helping technical teams articulate the technical contribution and potential value of an invention.
• Work effectively even when the technical information is incomplete or still evolving, and identify what additional information is needed before a recommendation can be made.

Patent Searching, Landscape Analysis and Technology Monitoring

• Conduct or coordinate patent searches relating to new products, technologies, competitors and potential areas of development.
• Prepare patent landscape and technology analyses to support product planning, design decisions and IP strategy.
• Monitor relevant competitor patent filings and portfolio developments; Emerging technologies and technical trends through patent analysis; Potential third-party patent risks;
• Provide concise, actionable patent analysis and guiding outputs Work with the China-based IP team and external patent firms when deeper searching, analysis or legal opinion is required.

UK and European Patent Portfolio Support

• Support the planning and execution of the company’s UK and European patent filing and portfolio strategy.
• Review draft applications, examination reports and external attorney recommendations from a technical and strategic perspective.
• Track the progress, status and key risks of relevant patent matters and ensure that internal stakeholders receive timely updates.
• Support patent risk assessments and other IP projects relating to product lines across the UK and Europe.

Design Registrations and Other IP Rights

• Support the identification and protection of relevant product designs, particularly during the new product development phase.
• Coordinate, where appropriate, with external advisers on UK, European and other design registration matters.
• Provide practical guidance to designers and product teams on preserving design protection opportunities.

Cross-Border and External Liaison

• Act as an effective working interface between the UK PI team, the China-based IP team.
• Coordinate with UK, European and, where appropriate, US patent attorneys and other external advisers.
• Assist with procedural, and compliance matters relating to UK, European patent and design portfolios.
• Contribute to the development of consistent and efficient cross-border IP working processes.

Candidate Requirements

Essential Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or above in engineering, science, technology or a related discipline.
• Professional experience in patents, technology assessment or a closely related field.
• Strong technical understanding, preferably in mechanical engineering and product structure, added advantages in electromechanical systems and software.
• Experience understanding technical inventions or product concepts and communicating practical recommendations to engineers, designers or other non-IP stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of UK, European and US patent systems and prosecution procedures.
• Experience with patent searching, prior-art review, patent analysis, competitive intelligence or technology landscape work. Strong analytical, organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, work independently and operate effectively across international teams.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience supporting early-stage product development or innovation. Experience in patent risk assessment, freedom-to-operate analysis or competitor monitoring.
• Exposure to software-related inventions, electronics, embedded systems or digital technologies.
• Qualification as a patent attorney, patent agent or equivalent, not essential, but better.
• Meticulous, detail-oriented and highly responsible, with excellent cross-team communication, collaboration and execution skills.
• Comfortable working within a dual-reporting structure, with strong multitasking, prioritization and independent working capabilities.

What We Offer

Strategic and Important Role:

An important position within the company’s cross-border patent collaboration framework, offering exposure to a broad and diverse range of international patent matters and significant opportunities for professional development.

High-Quality International Platform:

Join a rapidly growing company with an open working environment and fair management practices, while gaining valuable experience in international intellectual property management.

Flexible Career Development:

Depending on the candidate’s experience and capability, the role may be expanded to include selected US patent-related matters, providing diverse career development opportunities.