US Patent Agent
Location:Remote — Central America (U.S. citizens only, see Requirements)
Department:Patent Prosecution
Reports to:Director of Operations
Employment type:Full-time/Contractors
About PatentVest
PatentVest is a specialized intellectual property firm that helps innovators, founders, investors, and operating companies build and protect patent portfolios that drive enterprise value. Our work spans patent preparation and prosecution before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), portfolio strategy, freedom-to-operate and patentability analysis, IP due diligence for investment and M&A transactions, and strategic patent intelligence. We serve clients ranging from venture-backed startups to mature operating companies, with a focus on producing patent assets that are commercially meaningful — not just legally issued.
The Role
We are hiring candidates for US Patent Agent positions to join our prosecution team. This is a hybrid trainee-to-practitioner role designed for a U.S. citizen residing in Central America who has the scientific or engineering background to qualify for the USPTO Registration Examination (the "patent bar") and the discipline to complete it while contributing to client work from day one.
You will begin as a Patent Legal Assistant, supporting our registered patent attorneys and agents on real client matters, and progress into independent patent agent responsibilities as you complete the USPTO registration process. The role offers a defined runway, dedicated study time, exam-fee reimbursement, and direct mentorship from experienced U.S. practitioners.
Immediate Priorities
In your first 6–12 months, you will learn the mechanics of U.S. patent prosecution while preparing for the USPTO Registration Examination. You will work as a legal assistant on active matters — drafting, docketing, formalities, and prior-art research under practitioner supervision — while studying the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) and 37 CFR Parts 1, 11, and 41. Once you pass the exam and complete OED registration, you will transition into a registered Patent Agent role with your own docket of applications, supervised initially and increasingly independent over time.
What You'll Do
During the legal assistant / training phase:
- Prepare draft patent application sections (background, summary, detailed description, claims) for review and signature by registered practitioners
- Conduct prior-art searches and prepare patentability and prior-art analysis memoranda
- Draft responses to USPTO Office Actions for practitioner review, including claim amendments and arguments
- Manage application docketing, deadline tracking, and formalities (Application Data Sheets, Information Disclosure Statements, declarations, assignments)
- File documents through USPTO Patent Center under the supervision and signature of a registered practitioner
- Communicate with inventor-clients to gather technical disclosures and clarifying information
- Maintain a structured study plan for the USPTO Registration Examination, with regular check-ins and practice testing
- Strictly observe the boundary between ministerial work (permitted) and the unauthorized practice of patent law (not permitted) until registered
After USPTO registration:
- Prosecute patent applications independently as a registered Patent Agent, signing your own filings under 37 CFR § 1.34 and powers of attorney
- Draft and file new utility and provisional applications, continuations, divisionals, and CIPs
- Conduct examiner interviews and develop prosecution strategy in coordination with senior practitioners and clients
- Mentor incoming legal assistants and trainees as the team grows
- Comply with the USPTO Rules of Professional Conduct (37 CFR §§ 11.101 et seq.) and the certification requirements of 37 CFR § 11.18 on every paper you sign
What We're Looking For
Requirements
- U.S. citizenship.USPTO registration under 37 CFR § 11.6 requires either U.S. citizenship or lawful U.S. residency. Because this role is based in Central America rather than the United States, the candidate must be a U.S. citizen. Candidates must be able to provide a U.S. passport or equivalent proof of citizenship and maintain a U.S. mailing address for OED correspondence and exam scheduling
- Eligibility to qualify for the USPTO Registration Examinationunder one of the General Requirements Bulletin categories:
- Category A:Bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. in a recognized technical field (most engineering disciplines, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, computer science, physics, or similar), OR
- Category B:A different bachelor's degree plus 24+ semester hours in physics, 32+ semester hours in qualifying chemistry/biology/engineering coursework, or the other specified combinations, OR
- Category C:Passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination
- Strong written English at a professional level — the role requires drafting technical and legal prose that will be read by U.S. patent examiners and clients
- 1+ years of professional experience in a technical, research, engineering, IP, or legal-support role
- Demonstrated ability to learn complex technical subject matter quickly and explain it precisely in writing
- Reliable home-office setup with secure internet, suitable for handling confidential client information
- Ability to overlap working hours meaningfully with U.S. business hours (Eastern or Pacific time zones)
- Commitment to sit for, and pass, the USPTO Registration Examination within an agreed timeframe (typically 12–18 months from start)
- Good moral character and reputation, as required by 37 CFR § 11.7 — including no felony convictions and no disciplinary history that would impede OED admission
Nice to Have
- Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in a technical field, particularly in software, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biotechnology, chemistry, or materials science
- Prior experience as a patent paralegal, patent engineer, technical specialist, or in-house IP coordinator
- Familiarity with USPTO Patent Center, PAIR, or equivalent electronic filing systems
- Experience reading or drafting patent claims, even informally
- Exposure to patent search tools (e.g., Google Patents, PatentScope, Lens, commercial databases)
- Bilingual Spanish/English fluency
- Experience working with U.S.-based teams on a remote, asynchronous basis
Success in This Role Looks Like
- Within the first 90 days, the candidate has fully onboarded onto our docketing and filing workflows and is producing legal-assistant deliverables that require minimal practitioner rework
- Within 6 months, the candidate is consistently drafting Office Action response shells and application sections that registered practitioners can refine and sign with confidence
- Within 12–18 months, the candidate has passed the USPTO Registration Examination and completed OED registration, including the moral-character review
- Within 24 months, the candidate is operating as a registered Patent Agent with a managed docket, signing their own filings, and contributing to firm training materials for future hires
- Throughout, the candidate maintains a clean compliance record — never signing a practitioner's name, never giving legal advice prior to registration, and observing the duty of candor and the § 1.56 disclosure obligations once registered
Team & Growth Context
PatentVest is building a globally distributed prosecution team designed to deliver high-quality, U.S.-credentialed patent work at a structurally lower cost than traditional U.S. firms — without compromising on the credentialing, supervision, and professional-responsibility standards required by the USPTO. This role is a key step in establishing our Central America hub: the first hires will help define the training pipeline, supervision protocols, and quality-control playbook that future patent agents in the region will follow. Strong performers in this role will have a path into senior patent agent responsibilities, technical specialization, team lead positions, and — for those who pursue a U.S. J.D. — eventual practice as a patent attorney.
PatentVest is committed to building a team that reflects a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. The U.S. citizenship requirement for this specific role is driven solely by the registration eligibility rules of the USPTO under 37 CFR § 11.6 as applied to a Central America-based position; other PatentVest roles do not carry this requirement.
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