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Position Title
Patent Examiner (Computer Engineer)
Agency
Patent and Trademark Office
Announcement Number
PATS - DCOM-25-12753284-DE Opens in new window
Open Period
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 to Sunday, June 14, 2026
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1. Do you claim Veterans’ Preference? (limit characters)
Preferences
1. Select the lowest grade you are willing to accept for this position. (limit characters)
2. How did you hear about this USPTO job opportunity? (No Choice Limit) (limit characters)
3. Have you held a political appointment within the previous five-year period? (limit characters)
4. If you are a current or former Federal civilian employee, by what agency/office or Department of Commerce bureau are you employed? (limit characters)
5. If you answered "Other" to the above question, please enter the agency and organization. (limit characters)
6. Have you accepted a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP/"buyout") from a Federal agency within the past 5 years? (limit characters)
7. If you are a male at least 18 years of age, born after December 31, 1959, have you registered with the Selective Service system? (limit characters)
8. Are you a retiree receiving a Federal annuity?
Note: If you are an annuitant, your salary or annuity may be reduced upon employment.
(limit characters)
9. Do you have any education/experience in intellectual property? (limit characters)
10. Are you a current or former Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)? (limit characters)
11. If you answered "Yes", to Questionnaire #3, please list your dates of employment at the USPTO. If you answered "No" to Questionnaire #3, type N/A. (limit characters)
12. Have you passed the Patent Bar Exam? (limit characters)
13. If you answered "Yes" to Questionnaire #1, please indicate where you obtained your education in intellectual property and/or experience in planning and conducting field of search for patent applications or in reviewing or analyzing patent applications. Please select all that apply. (limit characters)
14. If you answered "Yes" please provide the date you passed the Patent Bar Exam. If you answered "No", type N/A. (limit characters)
Merit Plan Hiring Short Essay Questions
The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity for you to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership (or designee(s)). While your responses are not required and will not be scored, we encourage you to thoughtfully address each question. Please provide a response of 200 words or less to each question. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT or Copilot. (limit characters)
1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
(limit 1,200 characters)
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. (limit 1,200 characters)
3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. (limit 1,200 characters)
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. (limit 1,200 characters)
5. I certify that the above responses are in my own words and I did not use a consultant or Artificial Intelligence (such as a large language model (LLM)). (limit characters)
Assessment 1
The following questions apply to grade levels GS-07, GS-09, and GS-11. Select the response that best describes your experience and/or education related to the basic qualification requirements of a Patent Examiner (Professional Engineering). Refer to the "Qualifications and Evaluations" section of the job announcement for a detailed explanation of the basic qualification requirements for this position. (limit characters)
1. Select the response that best describes your education and/or experience related to the Basic Qualification Requirements for a Patent Examiner (Professional Engineering), GS-1224. (limit characters)
2. Candidates for the GS-7 grade level - In addition to the Basic Requirement of the positions included in the vacancy announcement, choose the answer that best describes your education, experience or combination of education and experience as related to the qualification requirements for this position:

You must have:
(A) One year of graduate-level education from an accredited college and/or university in an engineering field of study, OR
(B) Superior Academic Achievement, OR
(C) One year of specialized experience, OR
(D) A combination of education and experience in college-level education, training, and/or technical experience, OR
(E) Successful completion of a 5-year program of study of at least 160 semester hours leading to a bachelor's degree in engineering.
(limit characters)
3. Candidates for the GS-9 grade level -  In addition to the Basic Requirement of the positions included in the vacancy announcement, choose the answer that best describes your education, experience or combination of education and experience as related to the qualification requirements for this position:

You must have:
(A) Two years of graduate-level education from an accredited college and/or university in an engineering field of study, OR
(B) One year of specialized experience, OR
(C) A combination of education and experience in college-level education, training, and/or technical experience, OR
(D) A combination of less than 2 years of graduate education and less than 1 year of specialized experience, OR
(E) A combination of superior academic achievement and 1 year of appropriate professional experience.
(limit characters)
4. Candidates for the GS-11 grade level - In addition to the Basic Requirement of the positions included in the vacancy announcement, choose the answer that best describes your education, experience or combination of education and experience as related to the qualification requirements for this position:

You must have:
(A) At least three years of progressively higher graduate-level education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited college and/or university, OR
(B) One year of specialized experience, OR
(C) A combination of successfully completed progressive graduate-level education that is beyond the second year of graduate study and professional engineering experience.
(limit characters)
YOUR RESPONSES TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS MUST BE SUPPORTED IN YOUR RESUME AND/OR TRANSCRIPT(S). FAILURE TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER(S) IN YOUR RESUME AND/OR TRANSCRIPT(S) MAY IMPACT YOU OR ELIMINATE YOU FROM CONSIDERATION. RESPONSES OF "NA" OR "SEE RESUME AND/OR TRANSCRIPTS" TO THE BELOW QUESTIONS MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONSIDERATION. (limit characters)
5. Select the choice that best describes your overall education and/or experience conducting research, analysis, and application of scientific principles in the technical area(s) below.  / Arithmetic Processing / Artificial Intelligence / Computer Architecture / Computer System Initialization, Power Control, Clocking and Synchronization / Control Systems / Configuration Circuits / Interactive Video Distribution Systems / Memory / Multiplex, Telecommunications, 5G, Wireless Communications, Routing, Switching, Access Techniques, Cellular and Data Communications / Network Security / Structural Modeling and Simulation / Task Management / Video Compression (limit characters)
6. If you answered "Yes" to the previous Assessment Question, please select those technical area(s) below in which you have education and/or experience conducting research, analysis, and application of scientific principles. Please select all that apply. (limit characters)
7. Select the choice that describes your highest level of education and/or experience orally communicating with professors, clients, patent professionals, superiors, subordinates, or classmates on applying basic computer engineering principles and concepts. (limit characters)
8. Select the responses that best describe your education and/or experience in communicating in writing to develop documents related to computer engineering principles and concepts. Check all that apply; (limit characters)