Patent Agent

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 eithe