Discover an exciting career with the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office! The career you would have is filled with endless possibilities and you can be a part of something that makes a difference for you, the country, and the world.

 These positions are located in the Patent Examining Corps of the Patent and Trademark Office, Alexandria, Virginia. Incumbent is responsible for reviewing patent applications, determining the scope of the protection claimed by the inventor, researching relevant technologies and communicating findings to patent practitioners/inventors.

  Complete applications will be processed in the order received and by cut-off dates. First consideration will be given to eligible applicants who submit all required application materials by the early cut-off date of January 18, 2008. Subsequent cut-off dates will be each Friday thereafter until closing date.

RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE: Qualified canidates may be eligible to receive a recruitment incentive of $5,000 per year for a maximum of four years. A service agreement will be required. Incentive amount and duration is determined by title and grade level. For more information, please visit our website at www.usptocareers.gov. 

 SALARY RANGE: 40,184.00 - 75,537.00 USD per year

SERIES & GRADE: GS-1224-05/09

POSITION INFORMATION: Full Time Excepted Service Permanent

 PROMOTION POTENTIAL: 13

DUTY LOCATIONS:   Few vacancies - Alexandria, VA

WHO MAY BE CONSIDERED:   United States Citizens

MAJOR DUTIES: Patent Examiners are responsible for the quality, productivity, and timely processing of patent applications.

At the GS-5 level, the employee receives formal classroom instruction and/or on-the-job training in the principles, concepts work processes, regulations, and reference materials fundamental to the patent examination process.  Performs various patent examining tasks of a simple nature. Receives specific and detailed guidance and training in all aspect of work assignments. On-the-job training assignments provide a practical understanding of the organization, programs, policies, and objectives of the agency as well as furnish experience in the application of principles, procedures, and work techniques to actual patent examination situations. 

At the GS-7 level, the employee performs basic patent examining functions (e.g., planning and conducting the search, applying references to the claimed invention, etc.) only after receiving extensive preliminary instructions from the supervisor.  Training emphasizes developing an understanding of the relationship of the technical concepts underlying the specialty technology area to the patent examining processes. Assignments are pre-selected to combine performance of productive work with supervised on-the-job training in both the judgmental and methodological aspects of the work.

At the GS-9 level, the employee independently performs basic patent examining functions (e.g., planning and conducting the search, applying references to the patent application, etc.) with no preliminary instructions from the supervisor.  Performs assignments of average difficulty in the assigned area of technology relative to the patent examining function requiring the application of fundamental principles, concepts, techniques, and guidelines relative to patent examining.  May perform advanced patent examining functions (e.g., the evaluation of special claim constructions, the requirement of restrictions, the recognition and development of probable interferences, etc.) only after obtaining instructions from the supervisor and all determinations involving such functions are subject to close review.

BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:

 Have at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours in a combination of mathematics, statistics, and computer science. At least 15 of the 30 semester hours must have been in any combination of statistics and mathematics that included differential and integral calculus. All academic degress and course work must be from accredited or pre-accredited institutions.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

In addition to meeting the BASIC QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS candidates must also have all the additional qualifications.To know all about those additional qualification requirements please follow the link (Recommended):

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=67241313