USPTO · 1 month ago
Patent Examiner (Electrical Engineering)
Alexandria, VA
Full-time
Onsite
New Grad, Entry Level
$68K/yr - $121K/yrThe United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking talented individuals with STEM backgrounds to become patent examiners. In this role, you will examine patent applications, prepare office actions, and drive innovation in patent examination processes.
AssociationIntellectual PropertyLegal
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Examine patent applications and protect groundbreaking ideas. You'll review applications, plan and conduct searches, and apply prior art to determine if inventions meet patentability standards
Prepare clear and thoughtful office actions. You'll draft detailed explanations of your examination decisions, discuss them in depth with supervisors or senior examiners, and refine your work based on their feedback before issuing official communications
Drive innovation in how we examine patents. Beyond day-to-day examination, you'll contribute to improving our processes through analytical research and active involvement in shaping the future of patent work
Test new ideas and methods. Try alternative examination approaches and share valuable feedback to help improve efficiency and performance
Evaluate cutting-edge technologies. Assist in testing innovative tools, including artificial intelligence, and provide insights on their potential to transform how we work
Participate in pilot programs and new initiatives. Help shape and refine new work structures and processes, offering recommendations for streamlining operations and improving outcomes
Be a voice for improvement. Provide ongoing feedback and insights to help leadership make informed decisions about examination practices, technology, and workflow enhancements
Qualification
Required
Successful completion of a full four-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in engineering, OR a combination of qualifying education and experience
Applying 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
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
Applications will only be accepted from United States Citizens and Nationals and your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies
If selected, you will be required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check
Benefits
A recruitment incentive may be paid to an employee who is newly appointed to the Federal Government.
Company
USPTO
For over 200 years, the basic role of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has remained the same: to promote the progress of science and the useful arts by securing for limited times to inventors the exclusive right to their respective discoveries (Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution).
Founded in 1975
10001+ employees
Funding
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