Senior Patent Agent
Grainger, Chicago, IL, United States
Senior Patent Agent
The Patent Agent reports to the Associate General Counsel, GTG & Endless Assortment, and supports Grainger's intellectual property portfolio. This role is responsible for patent harvesting, reviewing the patent landscape, and analyzing intellectual property to support innovation and business strategy. The Patent Agent serves as a liaison between legal and Grainger's business teams to identify, evaluate, and manage patent-related opportunities and risks. Candidates with prior experience as USPTO Patent Examiners are strongly encouraged to apply. Remote/virtual candidates may be considered. You Will: Conduct patent mining activities to identify invention disclosures and innovation opportunities within Grainger's business units. Conduct prior art database searches for patentability and freedom to operate analyses and competitive intelligence purposes. Collaborate with inventors, engineers, and business stakeholders to assess patentability, strengthen Grainger's IP portfolio, and align IP strategy with business goals. Manage and maintain the patent portfolio, ensuring all deadlines are met. Protect and maintain any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information. Coordinate with affiliated legal resources (including outside counsel and in-house IP Paralegal) to grow internal patent knowledge. Support training and awareness initiatives to enhance innovation and patent culture across the company. Maintain organized records of invention disclosures, prior art, and competitor patent activity. Monitor and analyze patent trends in key technology areas relevant to Grainger's business. Assist with the preparation of reports and presentations to leadership regarding IP strategy, portfolio status, and competitor activity. You Have: Bachelor's Degree science, engineering, or related field required Master's Degree science, engineering, or related field preferred 3+ years patent analysis, patent research, or intellectual property support required Experience as a USPTO Patent Examiner, Patent Agent, or equivalent IP role preferred. Strong analytical and research skills, with proficiency in patent databases and IP management tools. Ability to synthesize complex technical and legal information into clear, actionable insights. Excellent organization, facilitation, and project management skills. Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively partner with legal, technical, and business teams. Familiarity with USPTO, EPO, and other global patent systems and procedures. Experience working in a corporate IP or R&D environment preferred. Registered US patent agent or be eligible to sit for the USPTO required We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one's employment.
The Patent Agent reports to the Associate General Counsel, GTG & Endless Assortment, and supports Grainger's intellectual property portfolio. This role is responsible for patent harvesting, reviewing the patent landscape, and analyzing intellectual property to support innovation and business strategy. The Patent Agent serves as a liaison between legal and Grainger's business teams to identify, evaluate, and manage patent-related opportunities and risks. Candidates with prior experience as USPTO Patent Examiners are strongly encouraged to apply. Remote/virtual candidates may be considered. You Will: Conduct patent mining activities to identify invention disclosures and innovation opportunities within Grainger's business units. Conduct prior art database searches for patentability and freedom to operate analyses and competitive intelligence purposes. Collaborate with inventors, engineers, and business stakeholders to assess patentability, strengthen Grainger's IP portfolio, and align IP strategy with business goals. Manage and maintain the patent portfolio, ensuring all deadlines are met. Protect and maintain any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information. Coordinate with affiliated legal resources (including outside counsel and in-house IP Paralegal) to grow internal patent knowledge. Support training and awareness initiatives to enhance innovation and patent culture across the company. Maintain organized records of invention disclosures, prior art, and competitor patent activity. Monitor and analyze patent trends in key technology areas relevant to Grainger's business. Assist with the preparation of reports and presentations to leadership regarding IP strategy, portfolio status, and competitor activity. You Have: Bachelor's Degree science, engineering, or related field required Master's Degree science, engineering, or related field preferred 3+ years patent analysis, patent research, or intellectual property support required Experience as a USPTO Patent Examiner, Patent Agent, or equivalent IP role preferred. Strong analytical and research skills, with proficiency in patent databases and IP management tools. Ability to synthesize complex technical and legal information into clear, actionable insights. Excellent organization, facilitation, and project management skills. Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively partner with legal, technical, and business teams. Familiarity with USPTO, EPO, and other global patent systems and procedures. Experience working in a corporate IP or R&D environment preferred. Registered US patent agent or be eligible to sit for the USPTO required We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one's employment.