Swatch Group European Patent Attorney
- Location
- Seniority
- Senior
- Posted
- Mar 30, 2026
About Swatch Group
The Swatch Group is a leading Swiss watchmaking conglomerate comprising multiple prestigious brands including Blancpain, Breguet, Omega, Longines, Rado, Tissot and Swatch. The Group combines industrial-scale manufacture with high‑precision watchmaking and maintains extensive in‑house capabilities across design, movement production and assembly. I·C·B Ingénieurs Conseils en Brevets SA is the Swatch Group’s affiliated patent practice, responsible for managing the Group’s comprehensive international patent portfolio.
Swatch Group (I·C·B) seeks a Senior European Patent Attorney in Neuchâtel, Switzerland to manage European patent prosecution and strategy.
Role & Responsibilities
- Lead prosecution of European patent applications before the European Patent Office (EPO) and coordinate national validations and filings across multiple jurisdictions.
- Develop and execute IP strategy for product and technology roadmaps, aligning patent activities with R&D and business objectives.
- Draft and file patent applications, prepare responses to office actions, and manage oppositions and appeals at the EPO.
- Manage and optimise an extensive patent portfolio, including lifecycle management, annuity handling and competitive landscaping.
- Supervise and instruct external patent counsel and coordinate cross‑border litigation, licensing and enforcement actions as required.
- Advise engineering, product development and business teams on freedom‑to‑operate, patentability and risk mitigation.
- Prepare high‑level reports and recommendations for senior management concerning patent strategy, filings and contested proceedings.
Qualifications
- Registered European Patent Attorney (valid professional qualification before the EPO).
- Technical degree in engineering, physics, materials science, micro‑engineering or a closely related discipline (MSc or PhD preferred).
- Proven track record of prosecuting and defending patents at the EPO, including experience with oppositions and appeals.
- Demonstrable experience managing large, multi‑jurisdictional patent portfolios and working with external counsel.
- Excellent drafting, negotiation and oral advocacy skills; ability to translate complex technical matters for legal and business stakeholders.
Skills
Experience
Senior‑level patent practice experience, typically gained through at least five years post‑qualification as a European patent attorney or equivalent, with substantial hands‑on work before the EPO and experience managing patents in mechanical, micro‑mechanical or electromechanical domains.
Education
Technical university degree (MSc or PhD preferred) in engineering, physics, materials science, micro‑engineering or equivalent.
Workplace
This position is based in Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, within easy reach of Lausanne.
Culture
The Swatch Group blends industrial precision with artisanal watchmaking, fostering a culture of technical excellence, innovation and meticulous quality. Working within I·C·B offers a specialised, technically rigorous environment where patent expertise directly supports iconic brands and product development.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Swatch Group, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Senior Patent Counsel (European Patents)», «European Patent Counsel», «Senior IP Attorney – Patents», «Patent Portfolio Manager (European)», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.