Position Overview

Job Title: Intellectual Property Attorney (Mechanical)
Department: Patent Prosecution & IP Strategy
Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Location: Minneapolis, MN (Hybrid)
Reports To: Partner, Patent Prosecution
Compensation: $120k -$200k per year, commensurate with experience
Start Date: ASAP

Position Profile:
https://proforceco.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Billion-Armitage-Intellectual-Property-Attorney-Mechanical-Position-Profile-v2.03.pdf

Total Rewards Overview [E]
https://proforceco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Billion-Armitage-Total-Rewards-Overview-E-v1.03.pdf

Position Purpose

The purpose of this role is to,

• Protect and advance clients’ innovations through thoughtful drafting, strategic prosecution, and proactive IP counseling.
• Translate complex mechanical technologies into legally robust patent assets that drive business value.
• Strengthen client outcomes by aligning IP strategy with commercial, competitive, and operational goals.
• Support Billion & Armitage’s growth into a next-generation IP firm by leveraging AI, process improvement, and modern legal operations.
• Collaborate with attorneys, staff, and foreign associates to deliver high-quality, timely work in a hybrid, relationship-centric environment.

Ultimately, this role ensures clients receive strategic, business-aligned IP solutions-not just filings-advancing the firm’s mission of building Intellectual Property that Drives Business.
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About Billion & Armitage

Billion & Armitage is a boutique, high-performing intellectual property law firm known for its warmth, clarity, and OTTER values - Ownership, Teamwork, Timely Communication, Effective Productivity, and Respect. Discover more in our Benefits, Total Rewards and Perks overview.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Organized into strategic functional domains.

Patent Prosecution & Drafting

• Draft high-quality patent applications for mechanical and electromechanical systems, devices, and processes.
• Develop prosecution strategies that balance protection, speed, and cost efficiency.
• Prepare responses to USPTO Office Actions, including complex rejections.
• Manage international prosecution workflows with foreign counsel across multiple jurisdictions.
• Conduct claim analysis, amendments, and examiner interviews with clarity and strategic reasoning.

Patentability, Prior Art, and Freedom-to-Operate Analysis

• Conduct patentability assessments supporting client R&D and investment decisions.
• Perform FTO, landscape, and competitive intelligence analysis for product launches and strategic planning.
• Synthesize technical and legal findings into clear, actionable client reports.

Client Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Advise clients on portfolio development, maintenance, and prioritization.
• Align IP filings with business goals, product roadmaps, and competitive positioning.
• Participate in portfolio strategy sessions with clients and internal teams.
• Identify opportunities for continuation practice, divisional filings, and claim expansion.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Client Advisory

• Work directly and frequently with inventors, engineers, founders, and executives.
• Serve as a problem-solving partner to clients, translating technical concepts into legal strategy.
• Collaborate closely with Billion & Armitage attorneys, paralegals, and leadership to ensure coordinated, timely deliverables.
• Engage with foreign associates and international partners to support multi-jurisdictional IP needs.

Research, Analysis & Legal Interpretation

• Monitor legal developments in mechanical, electromechanical, and AI-adjacent technologies.
• Interpret court decisions, USPTO guidelines, and regulatory changes impacting client portfolios.
• Provide internal knowledge-sharing as part of the firm’s collaborative learning culture.

Professional Development & Continuous Learning

• Participate in Billion & Armitage’s extensive mentorship and training programs, including twice-weekly team meetings and monthly attorney seminars.
• Develop expertise in AI-enabled legal workflows and emerging IP technologies.
• Support thought leadership initiatives and client education activities when needed.

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Performance Objectives

First 90 Days

• Become fully integrated into Billion & Armitage’s workflows, systems, AI toolsets, and OTTER-based culture.
• Manage a small set of prosecution matters under mentorship and supervision.
• Demonstrate consistent communication, responsiveness, and document quality.
• Establish strong working relationships with attorneys, paralegals, and leadership.

First 6 Months

• Independently draft high-quality mechanical patent applications with minimal revisions.
• Manage a diverse prosecution docket consisting of office action responses, filings, and examiner interactions.
• Deliver client-ready analyses (patentability, FTO, landscape) supported by sound reasoning and technical clarity.
• Show strong ownership and professional maturity across all assigned matters.

First 12 Months

• Serve as a strategic advisor for key client portfolios.
• Increase efficiency and output through AI and workflow optimization tools.
• Contribute to firm initiatives such as improving templates, training junior team members, or refining internal processes.
• Demonstrate measurable alignment with OTTER values in daily performance and client outcomes.

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Capabilities, Skills & Competencies

Technical Capabilities

• Patent application drafting (mechanical and electromechanical).
• USPTO prosecution strategy and office action response expertise.
• FTO and patentability search analysis.
• Familiarity with international patent processes (PCT, EP, JP, CN, etc.).
• Understanding of AI-assisted legal research and drafting tools (e.g., Enterprise ChatGPT).

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong follow-through and accountability.
• Clear, respectful, and timely communication with clients and colleagues.
• Collaborative mindset aligned with Billion & Armitage’s no-ego, no-drama culture.
• High integrity, professionalism, and respect for client confidentiality.

Cognitive Abilities

• Analytical reasoning and synthesis of complex technical concepts.
• Strong judgment, including risk identification and decision-making.
• Ability to distill technical information into client-friendly language.

Professional Service Skills

• Responsiveness consistent with boutique-firm expectations.
• Excellent time management and prioritization in a hybrid workload.
• Accuracy and attention to detail in all written materials.
• Comfort advising clients and interacting with inventors, engineers, and executives.

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Required Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school or USPTO-registered Patent Agent credentials.
• Admission to the USPTO.
• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field.
• Minimum 1+ year of patent prosecution experience (law firm or in-house).
• Demonstrated ability to draft and prosecute mechanical patent applications.
• Strong written, analytical, and communication skills.
• Commitment to the OTTER values and a collaborative culture.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with electromechanical or mechanical systems.
• Exposure to litigation, post-grant proceedings, or contested matters.
• International prosecution or global portfolio management experience.
• Advanced engineering degree.
• Experience with AI-driven legal tools
• Prior experience advising startups or inventors directly.

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Industry Background

This role is tailored for candidates experienced in

• Boutique or mid-size IP law environments where collaboration and mentorship are core.
• Mechanical engineering industries, including manufacturing, robotics, medical devices, and automation.
• IP prosecution for early-stage and enterprise clients, requiring broad technical versatility.
• International IP coordination, managing foreign associates and understanding global filing strategies.

The nature of Billion & Armitage’s client mix provides deep exposure to both prosecution and cross-functional IP strategy work.

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Core Competencies Aligned to OTTER Values

Ownership

• Takes responsibility for deadlines, work quality, and professional development.
• Operates with autonomy while knowing when to escalate or collaborate.

Teamwork

• Contributes to a supportive, respectful, low-drama environment.
• Collaborates easily across attorneys, paralegals, and leadership.

Timely Communication

• Maintains proactive communication with clients and internal teams.
• Provides clear status updates and meets agreed-upon timelines.

Effective Productivity

• Uses modern tools-including AI like Spellbook, Harvey AI, Diligen, Hyperstart, Legora etc to enhance speed, quality, and output.
• Manages docket responsibilities efficiently and accurately.

Respect

• Treats clients and colleagues with professionalism, empathy, and clarity.
• Participates in the firm’s personable, relationship-focused culture.

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Work Environment

Hybrid Work Structure

• Flexible hybrid schedule with onsite collaboration and remote productivity.
• Free parking, onsite fitness center, and onsite restaurant within the building.
• Modern technology environment with enterprise-level AI tools.

Cultural Environment

• Twice-weekly Teams meetings focused on alignment, priorities, and human connection.
• Monthly firm lunches, board game lunches, brewery walks, annual firm meetings, and community service events.
• Warm, low-ego, supportive culture-no “brilliant jerks” or big-firm drama.

Training & Professional Development

• Monthly attorney training seminars.
• Hands-on mentorship from senior attorneys and firm leadership.
• Opportunities to participate in client meetings and external speaking engagements.

Collaboration Norms

• High-access, low-hierarchy firm structure.
• Paralegals and attorneys collaborate closely, with respect and shared ownership.
• Strong focus on knowledge-sharing, quality, and continuous improvement.

Pay: $120,000.00 - $200,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• drafting and prosecuting Mechanical/Physics Patents: 2 years (Required)

Location:

• Minneapolis, MN 55439 (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Minneapolis, MN 55439 (Required)

Work Location: In person