European Patent Examiner in Mechanical Engineering

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

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work policy

Annual leave

Flexible working

Family-friendly policies

Pension and insurance

Two-year training program

On-site gym

Job summary

The European Patent Office (EPO) is seeking a European Patent Examiner in Mechanical Engineering to assess inventions for patent protection with rigorous analysis and clear communication. The role includes a two-year training program and cross-lingual collaboration.

Positions are hybrid with options at The Hague, Munich/Berlin, or other EPC sites. Expect language requirements in English and progression toward learning French or German during the development period.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in one of the listed technical fields.
• Excellent knowledge of English (C1) and ability to understand the other official languages.
• EU citizenship of an EPC member state.

Responsibilities

• Examine patent applications in one official language.
• Analyze inventions for novelty and inventive step.
• Conduct in-depth prior-art research using digital databases and patent information sources.
• Apply EPC and related legal frameworks to make high-quality patent decisions.
• Communicate findings clearly to applicants and other parties.
• Collaborate with international colleagues in a diverse environment.
• Maintain high-quality standards with scientific rigour.
• Contribute to Europe’s innovation ecosystem by fair application of EPC texts.

Skills

English (C1)

French (C1)

German (C1)

Education

Master's degree in a technical field

Job description

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

Whether you come from research, academia or industry, if you're curious, open to learning and looking for a meaningful intellectual challenge you'll find your place at the EPO.

European Patent Examiner in Mechanical Engineering

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

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 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 European Patent Convention (EPC) and related legal texts

Your profile

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

• Vaping devices and tobacco processing: The ideal candidate will have a degree in mechanical engineering, with some knowledge in basic electronics being an advantage.
• Mechanical and control aspects relating to air conditioning units and systems for cooling, heating, ventilation, humidification, dehumidification, filtration of air for habitable space, i.e. buildings
• Mechanical aspects of conveying systems and warehouses for goods, including overview of control systems for logistics and implemetation of robotics in warehouses.
• Mechanical aspects of furniture construction, motor powered rotary tools, screw, staple and nailing tools, workshop equipment

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)

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

Key information

Grade: G7 to G10

Working mode: Hybrid

*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.

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.