SEP Specialist

Job Purpose

The role holder will be responsible for the execution and delivery of high quality Standard Essential Patent (SEP) analysis within the IP Research team. This position requires an experienced analyst who can take the operational lead on assigned SEP projects, ensuring technical rigor, methodological consistency, and adherence to ISO 9001 quality standards, as we continue to build our capabilities in this specialist area.

About Protect

We help Protect our customers’ ideas and innovations

Job Overview

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct in‑depth SEP analysis across technologies such as Audio‑Video Codecs, Wi‑Fi, and 3GPP (5G, LTE, LTE‑A, etc.).
• Prepare and validate claims‑to‑standards mappings, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and technical robustness.
• Perform high‑quality invalidity/ validity searches for SEPs, using all appropriate patent and non‑patent literature sources.
• Develop and refine search strategies based on client objectives, ensuring clarity, inclusivity, and methodological soundness.
• Prepare and validate detailed claim charts suitable for licensing negotiations and litigation support.
• Draft comprehensive search reports summarising findings and providing clear, objective, and actionable insights.
• Track and analyse standards development activities, including Technical specifications, Change requests, Contributions and meeting documents.
• Follow ISO 9001‑mandated processes to ensure high‑quality, reliable, and compliant project outcomes.
• Contribute to Continuous Improvement initiatives to enhance internal processes, methodologies, and knowledge sharing.
• (Desirable) Apply experience in novelty/patentability, validity, FTO, and state‑of‑the‑art searches while maintaining full ISO 9001 compliance.

Skills & Experience

• Deep understanding of the relevant standards relating to technologies such as Audio‑Video Codecs, Wi‑Fi, and 3GPP (5G, LTE, LTE‑A, etc.).
• Proficiency in best‑practice methodologies for essentiality analysis and SEP‑focused invalidity searching.
• Strong working knowledge of tools, platforms, and techniques used to construct effective SEP search strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct thorough prior‑art searches and produce accurate, high‑quality analytical reports.
• Prior experience as an IP Analyst with a foundation in patent searching and analysis (advantageous).
• Meticulous attention to detail, with a rigorous approach to documentation, verification, and ISO 9001‑aligned quality processes.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex research findings through clear written reports and concise verbal explanations.

Life at RWS

Life at RWS - If you like the idea of working with smart people who are passionate about growing the value of ideas, data and content by making sure organizations are understood, then you’ll love life at RWS.

Our purpose is to unlock global understanding. This means our work fundamentally recognizes the value of every language and culture. So, we celebrate difference, we are inclusive and believe that diversity makes us strong. We want every employee to grow as an individual and excel in their career.

In return, we expect all our people to live by the values that unite us: to partner, putting clients fist and winning together, to pioneer, innovating fearlessly and leading with vision and courage, to progress, aiming high and growing through actions and to deliver, owning the outcome and building trust with our colleagues and clients.

RWS embraces DEI and promotes equal opportunity, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. RWS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at RWS are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation. RWS will not tolerate discrimination based on any of these characteristics.

RWS Values

Get the 3Ps right – Partner, Pioneer, Progress – and we´ll Deliver together as RWS.

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