European Patent Examiner in Electromechanics - electrical connectors

EPO; Den Haag; Hybrid; EUR 79,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

30+ days leave

Remote work policy (up to 60 days from

Pension and insurance

Two-year examiner training program

On-site gym and health services

Job summary

European Patent Office is seeking a European Patent Examiner in Electromechanics - electrical connectors. The role involves examining applications, analysing inventions for novelty, and applying EPC procedures in a global, hybrid work setting.

Starting 2027 with training; relocation possible to The Hague, Munich, or Berlin; language proficiency in English, French or German is required with support to improve others.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in one or more technical fields.
• C1 in English/French/German plus ability to understand the others (or English C1 with plan to learn missing languages).
• Work experience in industry is an advantage.
• Citizenship of an EPO member state.

Responsibilities

• Examine patent applications and technical drawings.
• Analyse inventions for novelty and inventive step.
• Conduct in-depth searches using patent databases.
• Apply EPC rules to grant decisions.
• Communicate findings to applicants and parties.
• Collaborate with international colleagues.

Skills

Deep technical analysis

Reading technical drawings

Curiosity about technology

Analytical thinking

Education

Master's degree in a technical field

Job description

As a European Patent Examiner in Electromechanics - electrical connectors, you'll assess whether inventions meet the criteria for patent protection, and in doing so support innovation that improves lives, drives industries and shapes the future.

Duration of contract: Five years, renewable (full-time)
Location: Germany (Munich/Berlin) or the Netherlands (The Hague)
Working mode: Hybrid

At the European Patent Office (EPO), we explore breakthrough technologies before they reach the public.

Your role and impact

As a Patent Examiner, you will:

• 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
• 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 European Patent Convention (EPC) and related legal texts

Your profile

We're looking for expertise in at least one of these fields:

• Disconnectible and non-disconnectible electrical connectors, coupling devices, terminals, and current collectors across automotive (including high-voltage/EV systems), industrial, and consumer applications. Key areas include electromechanical contact design, busbar assemblies, termination technologies (crimping, IDC, welding), board-to-board and cable-to-board interconnects, electromagnetic shielding (EMI/EMC), and mechanical latching and environmental sealing

You will thrive with us if you

• have a solid background and relevant expertise in the specified fields, built up during your studies, in projects, and/or as a result of professional experience
• enjoy deep technical analysis, reading technical drawings and solving intellectual puzzles
• are genuinely curious about technology and enjoy continuously learning about new scientific developments, emerging technologies and patent law
• are analytical, detail-oriented and open-minded
• are confident using digital technologies and AI-supported tools to analyse information while applying own critical thinking
• value both independent work and team collaboration
• are comfortable making structured, evidence-based decisions

No prior IP (intellectual property) experience? No problem.

We provide full legal and procedural training to get you started.

Our minimum requirements for this post

• diploma of completed studies at master's level covering one or more technical fields mentioned above
• excellent knowledge (at least C1) of one of our official languages (English, French and German) and the ability to understand the other two; alternatively, excellent knowledge (at least C1) of English (in such cases, the willingness to learn the missing languages and to reach level B2 within a set time frame would be required)
• work experience in industry would be an advantage
• citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation

What we offer

• competitive salary: €7 076 to €10 164 net/month (depending on location and experience)
• 30+ days of annual leave + flexible working arrangements
• generous remote work policy: work from anywhere in the country of employment; up to 60 days from abroad (EPC states)
• family-friendly policies: childcare, education and relocation support
• pension and insurance: excellent social security coverage
• examiner training: a comprehensive two-year development programme covering all aspects of patent search and examination, starting with a six-week Academy programme on-site and delivered in English
• facilities: on-site gym, health services, staff clubs and more (depending on location)

After deduction of EPO-internal tax (no other national income tax applies) and before deduction of staff contributions to the social security and pension schemes.

What to expect next

We are recruiting for positions starting from 2027 and are already building a talent pool for upcoming roles in 2028.

• priority access to future vacancies
• exclusive access to learning offers and resources to enhance your IP awareness and your readiness to become a patent examiner
• regular updates and insights

Being a member of the talent pool gives you a chance to join our journey from the very beginning and to be fully prepared for when the next positions go live.

Relocation: The position will require relocation to the country of one of the following EPO sites: Germany (Munich/Berlin) or The Netherlands (The Hague). The final location will be discussed later and depends also on team-specific needs.