The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks. Through this agency, new products have been invented, new uses for old ones discovered, and employment opportunities have been created for millions of Americans. The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms that protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity.
USPTO is strongly committed to hiring the nation's veterans and aims to be the employer of choice for veterans. The work that veterans do at the United States Patent and Trademark Office is incredibly important to our nation. Veterans contribute to the agency's mission that provides a system of protection to safeguard American ingenuity through new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity.
Patent Examiners review applications to determine whether a patent can be granted for new, cutting edge inventions. We currently have several openings for Patent Examiners, supporting each of the following disciplines:
Patent Examiner
RESPONSIBILITIES:
As a U.S. patent examiner, you will use your specialized background to review applications to determine whether patents can be granted for inventions. Patents give inventors the right to exclude others from making or selling their inventions for a limited time. That means that patent examiners are critical to protecting American innovation!
As a patent examiner, you will spend your time:
- Searching prior art using specialized technology systems to ensure that an invention is new and unique. Prior art is information that has been disclosed to the public about an invention before a given date including related patents, published articles and public demonstrations.
- Reviewing patent applications for potentially new inventions and innovations to ensure they meet the agency's requirements.
- Writing legal office actions on patentability and respond to patent applications.
New patent examiners receive top-notch training during the first months on the job that will give you the tools you need to be successful in your role.
GS-7: At the GS-7 level, you will perform basic patent examining tasks with extensive instructions from your supervisor. You will receive months of valuable training that will help you do your job well. This training will develop your ability to apply technical concepts to patent examining. Your assignments will pair performance of productive work with supervised on-the-job training.
GS-09: At the GS-9 level, you will independently perform intermediate patent examining tasks with some supervision. Your assignments will be of average difficulty and require you to apply technical concepts to patent examining. You may perform advanced patent examining with supervision (e.g., evaluation of special claim constructions, requirement of restrictions, recognition and development of probable interferences, etc.). These advanced activities are supported by close review.
Almost all of a patent examiner's work is performed using a computer and requires careful and frequent visual tasks.
BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
To be considered for this position, you must have either: (A) successfully completed a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in Engineering; OR (B) a combination of qualifying education and experience.
Education
Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website - US Department of Education. Another listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
NOTE: Only education and experience acquired before the filing deadline will be considered. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
Veterans' Preference Documentation: If you are a veteran with preference eligibility, you will be asked to submit a copy of your DD-214 containing your discharge disposition, dates of service, and rank. If you are a preference eligible claiming a service-connected disability of 10 percent or more, you will be asked to submit documentation (i.e. a letter dated 1991 or later from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces) certifying to the veteran's present receipt of compensation. Veterans must include dates of military service within the automated application process, and submit a copy of each Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD-214. For more information, please visit Special Appointing Authorities for Veterans.
