Intellectual Property Legal Assistant

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the intellectual property roadmap and filing strategy under CFO oversight.
• Conduct and coordinate prior-art searches invention disclosures and patent filings.
• Manage trademarks licensing agreements and technology-transfer documentation.
• Oversee IP budgeting renewal deadlines and audit readiness.
• Work directly with R&D and product leads to identify patentable inventions and define protection pathways.
• Translate technical innovations into clear defensible invention disclosures.
• Ensure documentation aligns with DoD DFARS and export-control frameworks.
• Liaise with outside patent counsel and IP law firms for drafting prosecution and maintenance.
• Support the CFO in due-diligence reviews and IP risk assessments for partnerships grants or acquisitions.
• Manage IP-related contracts (NDAs licensing collaboration agreements) in coordination with the CFO.
• Maintain the IP Register and integrate it into company compliance systems (CMMC/NIST SP 800-171 data integrity).
• Track and brief management on updates in U.S. and international IP law particularly in AI robotics and embedded-systems domains.
• Assist in audit preparation and grant documentation involving IP ownership or technology conveyance.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• 3 years of experience in intellectual property patent management or legal operations ideally in a tech engineering or R&D-focused company.
• Bachelors degree in engineering Computer Science or a related technical discipline; additional studies in IP Law Patent Practice or Paralegal Certification preferred.
• Strong understanding of patent lifecycle management (from invention disclosure to issuance and maintenance).
• Familiarity with USPTO WIPO/PCT and international IP processes.
• Working knowledge of contracts NDAs and IP clauses in federal or defense-sector projects.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills; able to bridge legal and technical vocabulary.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder).
• Background in AI robotics sensors or hardware/software integration.
• Prior work with outside counsel or IP law firms in patent drafting and prosecution.
• Comfort working in a startup environment where flexibility pragmatism and cross-functional collaboration are key.

Benefits

• Collaborative supportive team culture where cross-functional work is the norm and everyone contributes to problem-solving.
• Fast-paced innovation-driven culture that values creativity problem-solving and technical mastery.
• Flexible PTO and comprehensive benefits that support worklife balance.