The USPTO drives U.S innovation for the benefit of all Americans and providing intellectual property protection for innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide. We are looking for talented individuals to examine ideas that benefit society and bring innovation to market. You'll shape the future of patent examination, advance key processes, and support innovation in cutting-edge ways.
BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS for all grade levels in this series include: (A) At least a bachelor's degree in physical sciences, life sciences, or engineering that included 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by coursework in mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics. OR (B). Have a combination of education and experience--course work equivalent to a major as shown in A above, including at least 30 semester hours in chemistry, supplemented by mathematics through differential and integral calculus, and at least 6 semester hours of physics, plus appropriate experience or additional education. 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, or D listed below to qualify: (A) At least one year of graduate-level education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college and/or university in chemistry or other directly related 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 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 graduate level education that is less than 1 year and less than 1 year of specialized experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position. Applicants for the GS-9 position have many ways to qualify. In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, applicants must have A, B, C, or D listed below to qualify: (A) At least two years of graduate-level education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited college and/or university in chemistry or other directly related field of study. (B) One year of specialized experience, interpreting and applying intermediate biological science, physics, or 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 graduate-level education, as described above, that is beyond the first year of progressive graduate study and professional experience, as described above. Applicants for the GS-11 position have many ways to qualify. In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, applicants must have A, B, or C listed below to qualify: (A) At least three years of progressively higher-level graduate-level education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college and/or university in chemistry or other directly related field of study. (B) At least one year of specialized experience: interpreting and applying advanced biological science, physics, and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts, and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; or planning and conducting technical research to draft technical papers; or 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, as described above, that is beyond the second year of progressive graduate study, and professional experience, as described above.
Be part of history in the making - and help shape what's next. Learn how to become a patent examiner, explore the patent examiner disciplines crosswalk to find the areas that align best with your expertise, meet the people leading the way, and discover how you can use cutting-edge tools to protect breakthrough ideas. Your next chapter starts here. 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. As a patent examiner, you will: 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. Early in your career, you'll work closely with supervisors and senior examiners, receiving extensive guidance as you develop your skills and review your findings. 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 patent examination practices, technology, and workflow enhancements. You will be required to file a confidential financial disclosure report, i.e., the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) Form 450, within 30 days of assuming the position and annually thereafter. You will be required to complete ethics orientation within 3 months of beginning of your position. Please review the relevant conflict of interest laws and standards of ethical conduct that may affect you as a patent examiner. Carefully review the conflict of interest laws and standards of ethical conduct, as if you have an interest in any company that manufactures devices or markets processes covered by your technology area, you will be subject to a disqualification regarding all patent applications in the technology area unless the value is below $15,000 for any one company and less than $25,000 for all companies. If you are an attorney applicant, you must also be able to comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible professional responsibility conflicts in connection with your application. Further, as an employee of the USPTO you are restricted as to your interest in patents consistent with 35 U.S.C. 4. What are the work history and educational requirements for this position? Below are the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) qualification requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the Patent Examiner Engineer (Chemistry) position. Please see OPM's information on the Individual Occupational Requirements for Chemistry Series. OPM's prescribed Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Patent Examiner Series, GS-1224, is available at OPM Patent Examiner Series 1224.