Senior Patent Engineer

Job Title: Senior Patent Engineer

Position Profile

Under the supervision of the General Counsel and/or an Assistant General Counsel (IP Law), the Senior Patent Engineer provides primary intellectual property services to one or more Ricoh business units and/or corporate functions. The focus of this role is on conducting patent clearance studies and preparing and filing local origin patent dockets.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and perform patent clearance and adversely held patent (AHP) studies.
• Participate in Invention Disclosure Teams and identify/select high-value inventions for patent protection.
• Prepare original and communicated patent applications for national, regional, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and service country filings.
• Prosecute national, PCT, U.S., and service country patent applications and appeals.
• Assist lead attorneys in patent licensing and infringement actions, including compiling and presenting proof packages to technical and legal stakeholders.
• Contribute to Patent Offense activities.
• Supervise and mentor Patent Engineers and IP Law Trainees.
• Oversee Outside Counsel and contractor search activities.

Qualifications (Education, Experience, and Certifications)

Typically Requires:

• A Bachelor's degree in math or science.
• At least 3 years of engineering experience in a technology relevant to Ricoh.
• Eligibility to take the U.S. patent examination to become a registered patent agent.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated client relationship and development abilities.
• In-depth understanding of Ricoh?s internal policies, procedures, and systems.
• Solid understanding of intellectual property law principles and procedures.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and anticipatory skills.

Working Conditions, Mental and Physical Demands

• Standard office environment with adequate lighting, ventilation, and typical temperature/noise levels.
• Cyclical stress from deadlines and ongoing responsibilities tied to high-impact decisions.
• Minimal physical effort; work is primarily sedentary but may require light physical activity (walking, standing, lifting items <10 lbs).
• Moderate dexterity required (e.g., keyboard, calculator, hand tools, eye/hand coordination).
• Occasional travel may be required.

Note:
This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.