The United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) patent examiners evaluate next-generation technologies, products, tools, and systems that change how billions of people connect, explore, and interact with one another. The patents we issue and the trademarks we register have the potential to change the world! We're looking for STEM candidates who bring unique perspectives and fresh ideas and energy from all areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.
Duties
EXPLORE what it means to become a patent examiner, MEET our diverse employees, and LEARN key details about the role! Not sure where your education fits within the qualification requirements? Please review the Patent Examiner Disciplines list to see where your education and experience will fit best within the USPTO. If you are a student nearing graduation, within 9 months from the date of your applications, you can still apply! Just submit your application now, and we will verify your degree before your start date. Applicants may continue to update their application package between each cut-off period. Applicants not selected at one cut-off date will continue to be considered for the position at each subsequent cut-off until the close of the vacancy announcement. This position permits, but does not require, remote work pursuant to a telework program. The official duty station and physical worksite for employees who do not opt for remote work will be the Alexandria, VA Headquarters or one of the USPTO's Regional Offices located in Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Detroit, MI or San Jose, CA. The official duty station for employees who opt for remote work, will be their approved remote work location pursuant to their applicable telework program. Employees' locality pay will be determined by the location of their official duty station. As a patent examiner, you will: Explore Innovation: Use specialized and cutting-edge technology to search prior art--information known publicly before the filing date of a U.S. patent application--to ensure inventions are unique. Review Applications: Assess patent applications for new inventions, making sure they meet our standards and determining if they are eligible for a patent. Communicate Findings: Write legal office actions and respond to applicants who have filed a patent application. In addition, our Patent Examiner (Electrical Engineer) positions may include a $20,000 recruitment bonus for employees new to federal service (with a 20-month service commitment)! Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility The USPTO strives to embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in all aspects of our work. Intellectual property is most effective when people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives participate in exchanges with others and programs to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity for the benefit of all Americans and people around the world. The USPTO incorporates DEIA best practices throughout our exchanges, programs, and community partnerships, and in our workforce and workplace. The agency is committed to addressing barriers based on race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, geographic location, education, income, socioeconomic status, and other diversity dimensions that may hinder inclusion in the organization. The USPTO's commitment to DEIA strengthens the intellectual property ecosystem and is vital to building trust and partnerships in the United States and around the world. What are the work history and educational requirements for this position? The Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the Patent Examiner (Electrical Engineer) position are under the Engineering Individual Occupational Requirements. OPM's prescribed Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Patent Examiner Series, GS-1224, is available at OPM Patent Examiner Series 1224. Please notify the USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline at OED@uspto.gov if you currently represent clients before the USPTO and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue concerning representation of others before the Office that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
Salary
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENTS for all grade levels in this series include: A) (1) successfully completed a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in engineering, OR (2) a combination of qualifying education and experience. This can be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration--Current registration as a professional engineer by any state, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Written test--Evidence of passing the Engineer-in-Training (EIT) examination or the written test required for professional registration, administered by the Boards of Engineering Examiners in various states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses--Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and including the courses specified in the basic requirements. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum--Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering technology or in an appropriate professional field (for example, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology) may be accepted in lieu of an engineering degree, provided the applicant has had at least one year of professional engineering experience with professional engineering supervision and guidance. The curriculum must: Be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; OR Include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating to particle and aggregate structure to properties); or (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. OR B) A combination of education and experience. This combination of college-level education, training, and/or technical experience must have furnished both: a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering; AND a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their application to professional engineering. Applicants must also meet the additional requirements listed below. Applicants for the GS-7 position have many ways to qualify. In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, applicants may have A, B, C, D or E listed below to qualify: (A) One year of graduate-level education from an accredited college and/or university in an engineering field of study. (B) Superior Academic Achievement. This can be defined by one of the following: Class standing--Upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, such as the "School of Engineering and Applied Science" or "College of Science and Technology" based on completed courses. Grade point average (GPA) as recorded on the final transcript--3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 as recorded on the official transcript, or as computed based on four years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final two years of the curriculum; or 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final two years of the curriculum. The GPA is rounded to one decimal place (2.95 = 3.0 and 2.94 = 2.9). The final transcript must cover the period being used to determine the GPA. Honor society membership--Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society. Please review the list of qualified honor societies. (C) One year of specialized experience applying basic engineering, biological science, physics, or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; assisting in the collection of and recognizing discrepancies in data. Examples of work include taking measurements and collecting information, learning to take proper samples, conducting routine calculations, checking of numerical data, preparing graphs and data profiles, and/or accomplishing routine analyses. (D) A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education, that is beyond the first year of progressive graduate study and professional engineering experience. (E) Successful completion of a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering. Applicants for the GS-9 position have many ways to qualify. In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, applicants may have A, B, C, D or E listed below to qualify: (A) Two years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college and/or university in an engineering field of study. (B) One year of specialized experience, interpreting and applying engineering, biological science, physics, scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; participating in planning and conducting research; applying appropriate references to the claimed invention; etc. Work experience would have involved following established methods and procedures, or detailed instructions; using some judgment in applying basic principles and procedures; and independently completing recurring assignments, but referring deviations, problems, and unfamiliar situations to a designated person for decision or help. (C) A combination of education and experience in college-level education, training, and/or technical experience. (D) A combination of successfully completed progressive graduate-level education, as described above, that is beyond the first year of graduate study and professional experience. (E) A combination of superior academic achievement and 1 year of appropriate specialized experience. Applicants for the GS-11 position have many ways to qualify. In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, applicants may have A, B, or C listed below to qualify: (A) Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college and/or university in the fields of study as described. (B) At least one year of specialized experience: (1) interpreting and applying advanced engineering and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; or (2) planning and conducting technical research to draft technical papers; or (3) applying appropriate references and case law to claimed inventions. Experience may include independent responsibility for a well-defined study or for a phase of a larger study that required the planning and carrying out of routine (physics, engineer, biological, etc.) work (such as those who have PhDs). (C) A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education that is beyond the second year of progressive graduate study and professional experience, as described above.
Education
An engineering curriculum must be accredited by the ABET as a professional engineering curriculum, OR must include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating to particle and aggregate structure to properties); or (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. Unless otherwise indicated by the school, 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study. Education completed at foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. Please refer to General Schedule Qualifications Policies for more information. You are not required to submit official documents at this time; copies are sufficient. 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 coursework and the degree. A listing of services that can perform this evaluation is available at the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) website. 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. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. If you are substituting education for experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes: your name, name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. For documentation requirements, see the Required Documents section.
Required Documents
A complete application consists of: 1. A resume or any other written format you choose to describe your job-related qualifications and optional cover letter. Your resume should indicate your citizenship and should list your educational and work experience, including titles, salary, employment dates (month and year), duties and how it relates to the specialized experience in the job announcement. 2. Transcripts: You MUST submit copies of your college transcripts for verification of the education requirements. Unofficial copies are accepted, however; if selected, you will be required to furnish official transcripts. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. Inadequate or illegible information could result in non-qualification and loss of consideration. If you are combining and/or substituting education for specialized experience, you must submit an unofficial transcript or a list of courses that includes: your name, name of accredited institution, grades earned, completion dates, and quarter and semester hours earned. Supporting Documents: 1. 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 the Special Appointing Authorities for Veterans. 2. CTAP or ICTAP documents: CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: 1. A copy of your Reduction-In-Force (RIF) separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice of eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice); 2. A copy of your "Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50," noting current position, grade/band level, and duty location; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your bureau/operating unit that shows your current promotion potential. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: 1. A copy of your RIF separation notice, notice of proposed removal for declining a directed geographic relocation outside of the local commuting area, notice of disability annuity termination, certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a work-related compensable injury, or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; 2. A copy of your "Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50 " documenting your RIF separation, noting your position, grade/band level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through Reemployment Priority List (RPL), etc.; 3. A copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and 4. Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. You can upload your documents when you register or update your information on the Department of Commerce site, which you access through the USAJobs site. Your application and all required documents must be received by 11:59 pm ET on the closing date of this job announcement. NOTE: The preceding documents requirement is based on job requirements and individual applicant eligibility. Not all documents are applicable to all applicants. If you are unsure which documents apply to you, contact JoinUSPTO@uspto.gov.
How to Apply
You MUST apply online. If you experience difficulties with the application process, please contact the JoinUSPTO@uspto.gov or 571-272-6000 before the closing date of this job announcement. If you are a new user to the USAJobs site and have never registered for an account, you will first need to create an account profile with your basic contact information and a resume to begin applying. You must be a registered USAJobs user, and you must be signed in to your account in order to apply for this position. For help setting up an account or for general help using USAJobs, go to USAJobs Help Page. Once you have gathered all of the required information and are ready to begin the application process, click the "APPLY" button at the right side of the page. You will then be directed away from USAJobs to the Department of Commerce application site for USPTO. You must click "Submit" at the end of the application process to send your application for consideration. To return to your saved application, log in to your USAJobs account at www.usajobs.gov and click on "Applications." Click on the position title, then select "Update Application." If you experience any difficulties with the application site, help is available! OPM has a Help feature on each page. Use this option when you need assistance. All required supporting documents will be collected electronically via the USAJobs "Saved Documents" feature. Personally Identifiable Information (PII) Personally Identifiable Information (PII) is defined as information that can be traced back to a specific individual and potentially compromise their security or privacy. Examples of PII include date of birth, Social Security Number, and place of birth. Please ensure that you have removed all PII from all documents prior to submitting or uploading your application.
