Assistant Director, Patent Agent (Biotechnology)

Location: Not specified for this role. Ionis has offices in Carlsbad, California; Boston, Massachusetts; and Dublin, Ireland.

Salary: $120,000–$130,000 annually

Company

Ionis develops RNA-targeted medicines, gene-editing approaches, and therapies for serious diseases, with expertise spanning neurology, cardiology, and other high-need areas.

What you will do

• Manage US and international patent matters, including deadlines, filings, outside counsel instructions, and portfolio status.
• Draft provisional, nonprovisional, and PCT patent applications for pharmaceutical and biotechnology inventions.
• Prepare claims, amendments, Office Action responses, and other patent prosecution materials.
• Partner with scientists and senior patent counsel to identify inventions and develop filing strategies.
• Conduct patentability, landscape, freedom-to-operate, competitive intelligence, and legal research.
• Support litigation, due diligence, collaborations, licensing, portfolio reviews, and executive-ready presentations.

Requirements

• Registration to practice before the USPTO.
• Degree in biology, biochemistry, or a related field; an advanced scientific degree is preferred.
• Approximately 3–5 years of relevant patent experience, preferably in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, or pharmacy.
• Demonstrated experience drafting patent applications and claims and managing or supporting patent prosecution.
• Strong patent searching, legal research, analytical, writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage competing assignments, meet deadlines, collaborate across legal, scientific, and business teams, and exercise sound judgment.

Culture & Benefits

• Work environment focused on innovation, scientific excellence, and meaningful impact on patients.
• Opportunities to collaborate with legal, scientific, and business teams.
• Support for professional growth and development.
• Excellent benefits package.