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 candidates who bring unique perspectives and fresh ideas and energy from all areas of industrial design, science, technology, and engineering.
Explore what it means to become a design patent examiner, meet our diverse employees, and learn key details about the role by watching the above video!
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 design patent examiner, you will:
Perform work in the examination of applications for United States patents pertaining to the form, appearance, and ornamentation of articles of manufacture.
Use professional knowledge of designs and practices to evaluate the invention claimed in each patent application.
Use a broad knowledge of past and current developments in the design to uncover previous inventions, as represented by domestic and foreign patents, supply catalogs, style books, etc., that affect the novelty claimed in the application.
Use well developed visual aptitude, specialized knowledge of patent laws, rules, regulations and procedures to determine whether the application and its claimed invention meet all legal requirements for the granting of design patents.
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.
At the GS-7 grade level, you will perform basic patent examining functions with extensive instructions from the supervisor. You will receive months of valuable training that will help you do your job well. This training will develop the ability to apply technical concepts to the patent examining. Your assignments will pair performance of productive work with supervised on-the-job training.
Almost all of a design patent examiner's work is performed using a computer and is visually demanding.
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) qualifications requirements (including specialized experience and/or educational requirements) for the Design Patent Examiner position are under the Design Individual Occupational Requirements. OPM's prescribed Group Coverage Qualification Standards for Professional and Scientific Positions can be found at General Schedule Qualification Standards (opm.gov)
In particular, 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.
Conditions of Employment
Applications will be accepted from all United States Citizens and Nationals. You must be suitable for Federal Employment.
Your resume and question responses must demonstrate the job-related competencies. You must meet the definition of specialized experience.
You are required to pass a background investigation and fingerprint check.
If this is your first federal appointment, you will be required to complete a one-year probationary period. Current federal service employees may be given a new appointment, and a new probationary period may be required.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov).
This is a Bargaining Unit position and is represented by the Patent Office Professional Association (POPA).
This is a Public Trust position and has a risk level designation of "moderate."
Qualifications
BASIC REQUIREMENTS include:
A) Degree (BA/BS) in industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine/studio arts or art teacher education OR courses equivalent to a major in one of the above disciplines
OR
B) a combination of related courses totaling at least at least 20 semester hours in industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine/studio arts, or art teacher education, plus appropriate experience or additional education
OR
C) four years of experience in the field of industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine/studio arts, or art teacher education that demonstrated knowledge of the fundamental principles of the field involved in the position to be filled equivalent to that which would have been obtained through successful completion of a full 4-year degree. All academic degrees and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.
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) One year of graduate-level education from an accredited college and/or university in industrial design, product design, or architecture 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 in art involving areas such as industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine/studio arts, and art teacher education.
(D) A combination of successfully completed graduate-level education, as described above, that is beyond the first ½ year of progressive graduate study and professional experience, as described above.
Education
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 http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/policy/ApplicationOfStds-04.asp 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.
OPM's prescribed Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Patent Examiner Series, GS-1226, is available at Design Patent Examining Series 1226 (opm.gov). 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 REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
For more information, click here: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/808367200