Patent Analyst for Emerging Energy Technologies

Fortescue is hiring a Senior Engineer - Intellectual Property for their Research & Development team in Golden, CO. The role focuses on managing and protecting intellectual property related to green energy technologies. Responsibilities include collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, conducting patent searches, and supporting strategic IP planning. Candidates should have a science or engineering degree, with experience in data management and green technologies preferred.
Fortescue is the technology, energy and metals group accelerating the commercial decarbonisation of industry, rapidly, profitably and globally. Driven by our unique values, we're showing the world that we can achieve Real Zero.

To enable this, we are building a portfolio of technologies through a growing research and development program executed in Innovation Centers across Australia, Europe and the US.

About the role

Fortescue is seeking a Senior Engineer - Intellectual Property (IP) to join the Research & Development team. The role will play a critical role in the protection and management of intellectual property related to Fortescue's cutting-edge green energy and green metals technologies.

The successful candidate will work closely with researchers, engineers, and legal teams to identify, secure, and manage IP assets, ensuring that Fortescue's innovations are protected and strategically leveraged.

This role will report to the Manager Colorado Innovation Center.

Key Responsibilities
• IP Identification, Protection and Management
• Work closely with a cross-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers and legal professionals to identify, secure, and manage IP assets, ensuring that Fortescue's innovative green technologies are protected and strategically leveraged.
• Support the drafting of high-quality invention disclosures, including detailed written descriptions and figures, and conduct patent searches and comprehensive technical analysis to identify prior art and assist with assessing the patentability of inventions.
• Conduct prior art searches and assist with patentability assessments to determine the novelty and patentability of inventions.
• Strategic IP Planning
• Facilitate collaboration between the technical and legal teams on IP-related matters and strategies.
• Conduct preliminary IP landscape searches to identify trends, opportunities, and potential risks.
• Collaboration and communication
• Work closely with the Principal Technology Commercialisation and other team members to align IP strategies with commercialisation plans.
• Liaise with external patent attorneys, legal counsel, and other stakeholders to ensure effective IP management.
• Technical expertise
• Leverage technical expertise in Green Energy and Green Iron technologies to support informed IP assessments and strategies.
• Stay updated on technological advancements and industry trends relevant to Fortescue's R&D projects.
• Provide Engineering Support to the R&D team as required.

Qualifications & Skills required
• Bachelor's degree in science or engineering required
• Advanced degree in a related field is desirable
• Material science training with semiconductor or solar materials characterization experience highly desirable (especially metrology and QA/QC)
• Experience with complex, multi-stream data management, analysis & visualization required
• Experience with advanced computational and data science topics preferred (for example master data management, AI/ML, relational databases, programming languages)
• Experience with engineering analyses preferred (for example techno-economic analysis, supply chain evaluation/management, manufacturing optimization)
• Ability to work across multi-functional teams and with internal and external partners

About the Company:
Fortescue