Patent Examiner (Physics and comparable STEM backgrounds)

Department of Commerce - Patent and Trademark Office • Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)

Company

Department of Commerce - Patent and Trademark Office

Location

Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)

Type

Full Time

Job Description

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 STEM candidates who bring unique perspectives and fresh ideas and energy from all areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.

Learn more about this agency

Conditions of Employment

Applicants will only be accepted from 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.
If you are a student nearing graduation, within 9 months from the date of your applications, you can still apply! Just submit your applications now, and we will verify your degree before your start date.
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 for all grade levels in this series include:

A) Degree: physics; or related degree that included at least 24 semester hours in physics.

OR

B) Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in physics totaling at least 24 semester hours, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

In either A) or B) above, the courses must have included a fundamental course in general physics and, in additional, courses in any two of the following: electricity and magnetism, heat, light, mechanics, modern physics, and sound.

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 a physics 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 interpreting and applying basic physics and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; planning and conducting research; applying appropriate references to the claimed invention, etc.

(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 physics experience, as described above.

Applicants for the GS-9 position have many ways to qualify. In addition to the basic requirements as stated above, applicants may have A, B, C, D, or E 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 a physics field of study.

(B) One year of specialized experience interpreting and applying physics and/or scientific principles, theories, concepts and methodologies used in the evaluation of technology; 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. For physicists, applicants must possess at least a bachelor's degree in physics AND have experience applying physics principles and theories in the Physics field.

(D) A combination of successfully completed progressive graduate-level education, as described above, that is beyond the first year of graduate study and professional experience, as described above.

(E) A combination of superior academic achievement and 1 year of appropriate specialized 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 General Schedule Qualifications Policies 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.

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 the Required Documents section.

Additional information

USPTO Job Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the USPTO at Accommodations for Job Applicants.

Please review the relevant conflict of interest laws and standards of ethical conduct that may affect you as a patent examiner. 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.

If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System. If you are exempt from registration under Selective Service Law, you must provide appropriate proof of exemption. Please visit the Selective Service System website for more information.

Background Investigation - If selected for this position, you will be required to complete a Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306), which includes a fingerprint and credit check, to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit the Department of Homeland Security Website.

All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choice.

Relocation Expenses are not authorized and will not be paid.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) applicants will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Career Transition Resources website at: OPM CTAP/ICTAP.

CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

More than one selection may be made from this announcement.

All application materials become the property of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Please search USAJOBS for "Patent Examiner" or visit our Careers Website for further information.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity via email ([email protected]) or phone (571-272-8292).

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Date Posted

09/29/2024

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