European Patent Examiner in Telecom & Wireless

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

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work up to 60 days abroad

Relocation support

Examiner training programme

Job summary

At the European Patent Office (EPO), we explore breakthrough technologies before they reach the public. As a European Patent Examiner in Telecom & Wireless, you'll assess whether inventions meet patent criteria, supporting innovation that improves lives and drives industries.

This full-time, five-year renewable contract offers hybrid work, relocation to The Hague or to Munich/Berlin, and a comprehensive training program to build expertise in patent search and examination.

Qualifications

• Master's degree covering one or more technical fields mentioned above.
• Excellent knowledge (C1) of English, French or German and ability to understand the other two; or English C1 with a plan to learn the others.
• Work experience in industry would be an advantage.
• Citizenship of a member state of the European Patent Organisation.

Responsibilities

• Examine patent applications, including documentation and drawings, in English, French or German.
• Analyse new inventions to evaluate novelty and inventive step.
• Conduct in-depth research using digital search tools and patent sources to identify relevant prior art.
• Apply EPC rules to make clear, high-quality decisions on patent grants.
• Communicate findings clearly with applicants and other parties.
• Collaborate with international colleagues in a diverse environment.
• Maintain high-quality standards with rigorous attention to detail.

Skills

Data networks

Wireless comms

Power saving

Non-terrestrial nets

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 European Patent Examiner in Telecom & Wireless, 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)
• Application deadline: 2 November 2026
• Working mode: Hybrid
• 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.

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:

• data networks (network management & monitoring; routing, switching & flow control; access, bus, home & virtual networks)
• wireless communication (wireless resource allocation, PHY layer, multiplexing, MIMO)
• power saving and synchronization in wireless networks, satellite communications and non-terrestrial networks
• wireless networks (handover, network selection, access control, resource allocation, connection management)

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)
• top locations: high quality of life and a thriving international community

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. If selected to join our talent pool, you'll get:

• 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.

At the European Patent Office (EPO), we are the patent office for Europe. We are proud to deliver high-quality patents and efficient services that foster innovation, competitiveness and economic growth.