Intellectual Property/Patent Attorney

Roche fosters diversity, equity and inclusion, representing the communities we serve. When dealing with healthcare on a global scale, diversity is an essential ingredient to success. We believe that inclusion is key to understanding people’s varied healthcare needs. Together, we embrace individuality and share a passion for exceptional care. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

We advance science so that we all have more time with the people we love.

As a patent professional at Roche Diagnostics, you will be in charge of handling the intellectual property aspects of technologies making an impact on patients’ everyday lives.

As a valued team member you will help bring new diagnostic testing capabilities to market by serving as a functional lead on teams working to create, develop, and improve molecular diagnostic testing platforms. In this role, you will manage and expand a patent portfolio and ensure freedom to operate for diagnostic assays and workflows implemented on automated testing systems.

The Opportunity:

1. Provide clear and informed counseling to stakeholders engaged in research & development, manufacturing, business development/partnering, portfolio and lifecycle management, and commercialization activities.
2. Render legal opinions concerning patentability, validity, and freedom to operate in connection with product development efforts.
3. Be responsible for a substantial worldwide patent portfolio and perform patent prosecution work directly and/or in collaboration with outside counsel.
4. Align the patent portfolio with short- and long-term business needs and priorities by identifying and capturing patenting opportunities that arise in connection with company R&D efforts.
5. Apply knowledge of patent trends and case law developments, in combination with technical understanding, to devise patent strategies and advise stakeholders accordingly.
6. Assist with and/or conduct due diligence assessments and provide counseling based on these assessments (including freedom-to-operate, infringement and validity analyses), evaluate associated risks, and develop risk mitigation strategies.
7. Support a variety of intellectual property-related contracts and relationships with third parties (such as MTAs, CDAs, research collaborations, licensing agreements, acquisition and litigation activities, and marketing efforts) through collaborations with transactional attorneys and licensing colleagues.
8. Deliver results on-time, on-target and within-budget according to team goals.

Who you are:

1. 5 - 7+ years of experience in patent prosecution and counseling in a corporate setting and/or law firm. Law firm experience preferred.
2. Qualified EP patent attorney or eligible trainee.
3. Advanced Degree or equivalent experience in Engineering, preferably software engineering or biomedical engineering.
4. Experience in patenting software solutions, including AI and ML, preferred.
5. Contract and transactional experience is desirable.
6. Some travel required.

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Roche Diagnostics International in Rotkreuz is a leading provider of diagnostic systems solutions, and the largest manufacturer of fully automated in vitro diagnostic systems in Switzerland. We are more than 2,700 passionate colleagues from over 65 nationalities. Find out more about our site in Central Switzerland, here.

Besides extensive development and training opportunities, we offer flexible working options, 18 weeks of maternity leave and 10 weeks of gender independent partnership leave. Our employees benefit from multiple services on site such as child-care facilities, medical services, restaurants and cafeterias, as well as various employee events.

We believe in the power of diversity and inclusion, and strive to identify and create opportunities that enable all people to bring their unique selves to Roche.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.