Patent Agent / Patent Engineer

About Artika
Artika is a Montreal-based decorative lighting, ceiling fan, and home solutions brand - and a 2026 Canada’s Best Managed Company, recognized by Deloitte and Report on Business magazine for leadership, innovation, and strong business management.
We design products that make home improvement more beautiful, accessible, and enjoyable. Bringing together product development, engineering, and design, we turn practical ideas into high-quality, well-designed solutions for everyday living.
The Role
This is an opportunity to take the lead in building Artika’s intellectual property function.
As an internal Patent Agent / Patent Engineer, you will be the go-to IP expert within the business, with the latitude to shape how we identify, protect, and use innovation. You will work directly with senior leadership, Engineering, and Product Management to guide decisions that affect our product roadmap, competitive position, and long-term growth.
Your work will go well beyond reviewing patents. You will help identify promising inventions early, assess the patent landscape around new products, develop practical design-around strategies, and inform decisions around licensing and patent acquisitions. This is a highly visible role for someone who enjoys combining technical depth with commercial judgment and wants to make a meaningful, lasting contribution to a growing Canadian company.
What You’ll Do
- Analyze patent claims held by third parties and prepare claim charts comparing Artika and competitor products.
- Conduct freedom-to-operate assessments, infringement, and validity assessments.
- Review prosecution histories, prior art, and patent families to assess risk and opportunity.
- Partner with Engineering to identify practical design-around options and reduce exposure to third-party patents.
- Identify potentially patentable technologies within Artika’s product development pipeline.
- Conduct prior-art searches and patentability analyses; prepare invention disclosures, draft patent applications, and develop filing strategies.
- Support patent prosecution activities and coordinate with external patent counsel in Canada, the United States, and other jurisdictions.
- Evaluate patent portfolios for acquisition, licensing, or strategic investment, considering claim strength, remaining patent life, geographic coverage, competitor coverage, design-around difficulty, and commercial value.
- Monitor competitor patent activity, relevant technologies, and broader market developments.
- Contribute to Artika’s overall IP strategy and help prioritize portfolio investments.
- Communicate patent-related risks, opportunities, and recommendations clearly to engineers, product teams, and senior leadership.
What You Bring
- 5-10+ years of relevant experience in patents, intellectual property, engineering, product development, or technology strategy.
- Strong experience interpreting patent claims and preparing claim charts.
- Experience with patentability, prior-art, freedom-to-operate, infringement, validity, and/or patent portfolio analysis.
- The ability to understand mechanical systems, electrical schematics, electronics, and product architecture.
- Strong technical writing, analytical, and communication skills.
- Sound judgment, curiosity, and a practical, collaborative approach to problem-solving.
- The ability to work effectively with Engineering, Product Management, senior leadership, and external counsel.
Preferred Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Electronics, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline.
- Registered Canadian Patent Agent.
- Experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications.
- Experience supporting patent portfolio acquisition or licensing due diligence.
- Experience in consumer products, lighting, electronics, electromechanical products, or smart-home technologies.
- French-English bilingualism.
What We Offer
- A high-impact, high-visibility role with direct influence on product, engineering, and business decisions.
- Real ownership over the development of Artika’s IP capabilities and strategy.
- A collaborative, entrepreneurial culture within a nationally recognized Best Managed company.
- Comprehensive health and dental insurance from day one.
- RRSP matching program from day one.
- A performance bonus tied to company objectives.
- Free on-site parking.
- A collaborative, on-site environment, with four days per week in the office.
- Flexible days to use throughout the year.
- An on-site gym and barista - your morning coffee and midday workout are on us.
- A paid fresh-food cafeteria - because good decisions start with a good lunch.