Intellectual Property Office
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
Patent examiners salaries currently start at 26,779 including a 3,000 recruitment and retention allowance. We welcome applications from people who have obtained or are expected to achieve at least a 2:2 degree in:
- engineering (mechanical, electrical, chemical and electronic)
- chemistry
- electronics
- physics
- computer science
- mathematics
- candidates with equivalent experience in industry
Career fairs
A team of examiners will be attending careers fairs across the country for students who wish to find out more about a career in patent examining. The team will be attending fairs at:
- Swansea University on 9 October 2015
- University of York on 14 October 2015
- University of Bath on 15 October 2015
- University of Bristol on 20 and 28 October 2015
- Cardiff University on 20 October 2015
- Imperial College on 20 October 2015
- University of Manchester on 21 October 2015
- University of Birmingham on 21 October 2015
- University of Southampton on 21 October 2015
- University of Glasgow on 27 October 2015
- University of Warwick on 29 October 2015
- University of Oxford on 31 October 2015
- University of Exeter on 3 November 2015
- University of Liverpool on 4 November 2015
- University of Sheffield on 4 November 2015
- Durham University on 11 November 2015
- University of Cambridge on 11 November 2015
How to apply
Full details of the role and how to apply are available on the the Civil Service jobs website.
The closing date for applications is 29 November 2015.
For more information please email patentexaminer@ipo.gov.uk.