Patent Officer (m/f/d)

Accelleron is accelerating sustainability in the marine and energy industries as a global technology leader in turbocharging, fuel injection, and digital solutions for heavy-duty applications. Building on a heritage of over 100 years as a trusted industry partner, the company serves customers in more than 100 locations in over 50 countries. Accelleron’s 3,000 employees are continuously innovating to deliver best-in-class products, services, and solutions that are mission-critical for the energy transition. You will join a team of experts in an exciting international environment, committed to excellence and innovation. Together, we support our customers in driving the transition toward sustainable industries with cutting-edge technology, deep expertise, and smart solutions. At Accelleron, we foster diversity and inclusion, welcoming and celebrating individual differences as a source of strength.

In this role, you will be reporting to the Group Head of IP serving as a key technical and IP specialist within Accelleron’s Global IP organization, independently driving the protection of Accelleron’s technologies. With deep engineering expertise you will assess inventions disclosures, patent applications and patents, identify strategic IP risks, and shape high?impact patent strategies. The Patent Officer is the primary expert contact for patent matters, you directly collaborate with R&D leadership, project managers, and external counsels, exercising well?founded judgment and autonomy to ensure strong, forward?looking IP protection across the business.

Your responsibilities:

Patent Portfolio Management

• Provide expert, business?aligned evaluations of invention disclosures (including prior art searches) to support strategic decision?making in the IP review team.

• Maintain and manage the company’s patent and design patent portfolio supporting and guiding patent attorneys during prosecution processes.

• Prepare regular patent portfolio assessments to be periodically presented to the IP review team.

• Collaborate closely with R&D and cross?functional teams, guiding them in developing robust IP protection and defense strategies.

Freedom to Operate (FTO)

• Coordinate FTO processes, including prior art searches and IP risk assessments.

• Provide expert IP guidance to project managers through new product development, ensuring risks are identified early and effectively mitigated.

• Active improvement of FtO process including AI solutions.

Third-Party Patent Monitoring

• Assess and track relevant third-party patent applications and legal status changes.

• Conduct technical and IP assessments of potential conflict cases together with experts and patent attorneys, leading each case toward a successful resolution.

IP Processes & Tools

• Maintain IP management tools (e.g., Diams iQ) and provide suggestions to optimize IP management tool set up where needed.

• Train employees in patent-related processes and document review.

• Continuously improve IP processes to optimize efficiency, quality, and value for our stakeholders.

Contractual & Enforcement Support

• Review IP clauses in contracts & agreements as well as General Terms and Conditions (GTCs).

• Assist in IPR enforcement and infringement cases being member of Accelleron’s enforcement board team leveraging your technical and strategic insight to achieve successful resolutions.

Collaboration

• Take ownership as main contact to external law firms, coordinating closely with internal divisions and functions on all patent-related matters.

• Provide consulting to inventors, project managers, and management teams.

• Close collaboration and alignment with IP Specialist in China about patent and IPR enforcement matters.

• Take ownership of evaluating supplier requests for the use of Accelleron’s IPRs, making approval decisions that safeguard brand integrity and prevent unauthorized promotional use.

Your background:

• Strong technical background in mechanical engineering, ideally with experience in:

  • Turbocharging/ Turbomachinery

  • Internal combustion engines and power generation systems

  • Materials and additive manufacturing

• Experience as a patent officer or patent engineer or other pertinent experience in intellectual property preferred. Otherwise, strong motivation to make respective career move.

• Structured working, planning, prioritization, strategical skills.

• Ability to work independently with high accuracy and initiative.

• Strong interpersonal skills and effective communication (written and verbal).

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, MS Teams, and SharePoint.

• Ability and interest to identify and apply AI opportunities that enhance IP operational efficiency, optimize resources, and support cost?effective IP management.

• Business fluency in German and English.

Additionally nice to have:

• Familiarity with IP management tools (e.g., Diams iQ, Anaqua, Orbit).

• Knowledge of patent law processes and enforcement strategies.

• Ability to coordinate with global teams and external partners.

• Detective skills and being curious have an advantage for this role.

• Basic knowledge or experience of trademark management (filings, prosecution, maintenance) and an understanding of trademark governance (usage rules, policies, strategic alignment) is considered an asset.

Your benefits:

• Canteen

• Childcare

• Modern office, smart working

• Flexible working model

• Attractive holiday plan

• Employee assistance program

We look forward to receiving your application. If you want to discover more about Accelleron, take another look at our website accelleron.com.

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Job Family Group:

Engineering