Patent examiner vacancies at the IPO

Role of a patent examiner

Patent examiners help companies to innovate and grow by granting high quality, valid patents. Patent examiners look at both the technical and legal aspects of a patent application. They compare the new invention against those found in patent databases to decide whether to grant a patent.

Skills required

We are seeking people with highly developed analytical and critical skills and the communication skills necessary to express complex technical and legal arguments. You will also need strong oral communication skills to communicate effectively with colleagues and customers. We need candidates who are self-motivated and willing to take responsibility for their own decisions.

Area of expertise

We are expanding our patent examiner team, and are seeking people with highly developed analytical and critical skills and the communication skills necessary to express complex technical and legal arguments. You will also need strong oral communication skills to communicate effectively with colleagues and customers. We need candidates who are self-motivated and willing to take responsibility for their own decisions.

Specific knowledge in one of the following scientific fields would be an advantage:

• chemistry,
• biotechnology,
• any type of engineering,
• computer science,
• physics,
• mathematics.

We have particular skills gaps in the following specific scientific fields and anticipate offering more roles to candidates with knowledge in these fields:

• telecommunications engineering,
• electrical and electronic engineering,
• chemistry,
• medical physics.

This can be demonstrated by holding, or being on track to hold, at least a 2:2 degree in any of the listed subjects, OR, having equivalent industrial experience in a relevant technical field (5 years or more working in a STEM role where you have had the opportunity to learn, apply and embed technical knowledge in your specialist field).

Please note: equivalent experience does not need to be demonstrated to be over a consecutive period of time. We welcome applications from people returning to STEM after a career break or those looking for a change of career.

Salary

Patent examiners salaries currently start at £29,894 including a £3,030 recruitment and retention allowance. Posts in telecommunications receive a further £4,040 allowance, bringing the starting salary to £33,934 for these posts.

How to apply

Full details of the role and how to apply is available on the Civil Service jobs website.

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is an inclusive employer where diversity is respected, and differences valued. To understand more about the diversity and culture of our organisation please visit our homepage on Vercida.

For more information please email adminvacancies@ipo.gov.uk.