Patent engineer
Also known as: patent agent, intellectual property engineer, technical patent specialist, patent scientist, patent and trademark engineer
About this occupation
Patent engineers advise companies on different aspects of intellectual property law. They analyse inventions, and research their economic potential. They check if patent rights have already been given out for an invention and ensure that these rights have not been affected or violated.
Essential skills and knowledge
- create patent draft
- market research
- patents
- legal terminology
- provide advice on inventions
- market analysis
- provide legal advice
- ensure law application
- financial analysis
- present arguments persuasively
- engineering principles
- engineering processes
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Materials Engineers (O*NET 17-2131.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Conduct or supervise tests on raw materials or finished products to ensure their quality.
- Review new product plans, and make recommendations for material selection, based on design objectives such as strength, weight, heat resistance, electrical conductivity, and cost.
- Evaluate technical specifications and economic factors relating to process or product design objectives.
- Solve problems in a number of engineering fields, such as mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear, and aerospace.
- Plan and implement laboratory operations to develop material and fabrication procedures that meet cost, product specification, and performance standards.
- Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop solutions.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Investigative, Conventional
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, Speaking, Mathematics, Science
US median pay: US$112,860 a year (2025), 22,770 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (4.3)
- PhysicsO*NET: PhysicsVery important (4.1)
- Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyVery important (4.1)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (3.9)
- ChemistryO*NET: ChemistryVery important (3.8)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.4)
- Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignImportant (3.4)
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Materials Scientists
- Chemical Engineers
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Industrial Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Commercial and Industrial Designers
- Electrical Engineers
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.