Patent Examiner: Innovate, Analyze & Protect Tech

European Patent Office; Wien; Hybrid; EUR 79,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30+ days annual leave

Flexible working arrangements

Remote work policy: work from anywhere

Job summary

European Patent Office is seeking a Patent Examiner for a five-year, renewable contract with hybrid work in Germany or the Netherlands. The role involves examining patent applications, assessing novelty and inventive steps, and applying EPC rules to grant decisions.

Training is provided, with relocation to Munich/Berlin or The Hague as applicable. The position targets candidates with a master's degree in technical fields and language proficiency (English, French, or German).

Qualifications

• Master's level diploma covering one or more technical fields mentioned above
• Excellent knowledge (at least C1) of one official language (English, French or German) and ability to understand the other two
• Citizenship of an EU/EPO member state; work experience in industry is an advantage

Responsibilities

• examine patent applications – including technical documentation and drawings – in one of our official languages (English, French or German)
• analyse new inventions to evaluate their novelty and inventive step
• conduct in-depth research using digital search tools, scientific databases and patent information sources to identify the most relevant prior art
• apply legal and procedural frameworks to make clear, high‑quality decisions on whether a patent should be granted
• communicate your findings clearly and constructively with applicants and other parties
• collaborate with international colleagues in a diverse and inclusive environment
• maintain high-quality standards with strong attention to detail and scientific rigour
• contribute to Europe's innovation ecosystem by ensuring fair and consistent application of the EPC and related texts

Skills

Applied Maths

AI & NLP

Quantum Computing

ICT Security

Cryptography

Image Processing

Power Systems

Video Engineering

Mechanical Eng

Medical Device Eng

Education

Master's degree in a technical field

Job description

European Patent Office is seeking a Patent Examiner for a five-year, renewable contract with hybrid work in Germany or the Netherlands. The role involves examining patent applications, assessing novelty and inventive steps, and applying EPC rules to grant decisions.

Training is provided, with relocation to Munich/Berlin or The Hague as applicable. The position targets candidates with a master's degree in technical fields and language proficiency (English, French, or German).