Patent Engineer (80%-100%) (m/f/d), Stäfa

At Sonova, we envision a world where everyone can enjoy the delight of hearing. This vision inspires us and fuels our commitment to developing innovative solutions that improve hearing health and human connection - from personal audio devices and wireless communication systems to hearing aids and cochlear implants. We’re dedicated to providing outstanding customer experiences through our global audiological care services, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to engage fully with the world around them.

Guided by a culture of continuous improvement that fosters resilience and self‑motivation, our team is united by a shared commitment to excellence and a deep sense of pride in our work, each of us playing a vital role in creating meaningful change.

Here you’ll find a diverse range of opportunities that span both consumer and medical solutions and the freedom to shape your career while making an impact on the lives of others. Join us in our mission to create a more connected world, where every voice is heard and every story matters.

More about the role In this role, you will become a key partner to our inventors and patent attorneys within the Patent and Design Rights Team, embedded in the Research&Development department in Stäfa. You will actively contribute to shaping and protecting innovation in the field of hearing systems by supporting the full lifecycle of intellectual property activities.

You will coordinate and help drive a variety of IP‑related processes, ensuring that ideas are captured, evaluated, and transformed into strong patent and design protections. Working closely with technical experts, you will play an important role in turning innovation into valuable IP assets.

Support inventors and patent attorneys in creativity workshops, the preparation of invention disclosures, prior art searches, patent prosecution and maintenance decisions

Oversee and manage Freedom‑to‑Operate investigations, including patent database searches, screening of patent activities, and reviews of patent publications of competitors in the field of hearing systems

Provide IP training to inventors, technical patent experts and business partners

Provide first‑level support to internal users of the electronic patent management system

Assist in administrative, organizational and accounting tasks of the Patent and Design Rights Team

More about you Must‑have

Degree in electrical engineering, physics, or equivalent work experience

At least 3 years of corporate experience in international patent practice or project management

Strong ability to extract and communicate technical and legal concepts clearly and concisely

Ability to identify, review, and explain patent‑related matters and provide IP advice to internal stakeholders

Experience in searching and retrieving information from IP databases and registers

Excellent written and spoken English skills

Nice to have

Education in the field of intellectual property law (e.g., Juris Doctorate or LL.M.)

R&D experience in digital signal processing, microelectronics, (micro)systems technology, or medical technology

More about what we offer As one of the world’s leading hearing care providers headquartered in Switzerland, we are committed to building an inclusive culture where you can balance a successful career with your life outside of work through our flexible hybrid working model. We offer a wide range of training opportunities for both professional and personal development, with strong growth opportunities supported by individual development plans.

Sonova is an equal opportunity employer. We guarantee every person equal treatment in regard to employment and opportunity for employment, regardless of a candidate’s ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientation or marital status, gender, genetic identity, age, disability or any other legally protected status.

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