Associate Patent Examiner: Physics, Engineering, Maths or other similar STEM subjects

Job summary

Associate Patent Examiner: Physics, Engineering, Maths or other similar STEM subjects

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, designs, trade marks and copyright. IP touches everything that makes life more enjoyable, easier, safer, and more prosperous. Our work gives researchers, inventors, creators and businesses the confidence to invest their time, energy and money in doing something new.

Explore the Frontier of Innovation as an Associate Patent Examiner

Patent Examiners are at the forefront of technological advancement, playing a pivotal role in shaping our future. Patent examining offers a unique and fascinating career where scientific and technical ingenuity meets legal acumen.

Currently, we are looking for people who have knowledge in one of the following technical fields:

Physics, engineering, electronics, maths or other similar STEM subjects.

Candidates with a background in electronic or electrical engineering are particularly welcome.

Working Style

For the first six months of employment, you will be required to work onsite in Newport for four days each week. This will give you a great introduction to the Intellectual Property Office and will help you to build contacts and relationships to support your future career.

Once this six-month period has passed, attendance will be in line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our Newport office.

Job description

Why Join Us?

As a Patent Examiner, you'll be at the forefront of technological advancement, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of innovation in the world around us. You will gain insight into the developments being made around the world, from large businesses to individual innovators, supporting the UK economy by analysing and granting applications for UK patent rights.

Unparalleled Training and Mentorship

To complement your specialist scientific and technical knowledge, we’ll provide you with all the necessary training in the legal aspects of the role. You will be assigned a line manager who will work closely with you as you consolidate your learning in your initial years in the role.

The initial training course will start on Monday 21st September 2026 full time for 7/8 weeks. The training will include an engaging variety of seminars, practical demonstration, coursework and associated tutorials held in person, onsite at our Newport Office. Following on from this, for the remainder of your first six months of employment, you will be required to attend the office for at least 4 days per week. This training period will ensure you have all the support you need to settle into the role and will allow you to get to know your colleagues and fellow recruits.

Professional Development

At our organisation, we prioritise the growth and development of our team members.

With a clear path for advancement, after 2-5 years you’ll have the opportunity to progress from Associate Patent Examiner to Patent Examiner. After a few more years of development, a further non-competitive promotion is available to Senior Patent Examiner to become a subject matter expert and leader within our division.

Tune into our live webinar!

Hear from three of the IPO's patent examiners to find out where you, our STEM graduates, can fit in!

Join us live at 2pm on Thursday 5th February and register to attend via GradCracker here: Intellectual Property Office Hub , Gradcracker - Careers for STEM Students

Additional information

To find out more about the Patent Examining career check out our Patent Career Site Page here: IPO Opportunities , Civil Service Careers

Qualifications

Applicants must hold at least a 2:2 degree in the listed areas or be on track to receive one by the end of the academic year.

Alternatively, applicants must demonstrate equivalent proficiency through substantial industrial experience in technical roles.

IPO cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. IPO holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles, and this campaign does not qualify.

Additional information

To find out more about the Patent Examining career check out our Patent Career Site Page here: IPO Opportunities , Civil Service Careers

Hear from one of our Patent examiners talking about STEM career spotlight: Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Patent Examiner

https://bit.ly/PatentExaminerCaseStudyEngineering

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Have a genuine interest in the listed technologies with enthusiasm for keeping your technical knowledge up to date
• Value others’ views and have an open and respectful approach to collaboration
• Communicate strongly, with the ability to convey complex technical issues clearly both in writing and verbally
• Can review large amounts of information with an eye for detail, enabling you to pick out key points and reach timely, reasoned decisions

How to Apply

Click the 'Applynow' button and complete the application form by providing the following:

Pre sift testing The following pre sift test(s) will need to be completed and passed before your application will be seen by the panel:

• Civil Service Verbal Test

Candidates to note: In order to capture your qualification details please complete the qualification section under the 'Your CV' area of the online application form

500-word Personal Statement

• Use this to explain why you're suitable for the role.
• Structure your statement around the essential criteria in the Person Specification.
• Make sure to provide clear examples to show how you meet each requirement.

Technical

In the 250 word box provided, please evidence your knowledge in one of the following scientific fields detailing how you have applied and embedded your technical knowledge in practical situations, for example through research project, industrial or laboratory experience:

Physics, engineering, electronics, maths or other similar STEM subjects.

For further information on the sift and interview stages of this recruitment campaign, please head to our 'Things you need to know' section below.

Please visit our Civil Service Careers page - IPO – Recruitment Support , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

If you require any role-specific information, please contact:

Name: Kathryn Orme
Email: Kathryn.orme@ipo.gov.uk

Qualifications

Applicants must hold at least a 2:2 degree in the listed areas or be on track to receive one by the end of the academic year.
Alternatively, applicants must demonstrate equivalent proficiency through substantial industrial experience in technical roles.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Please evidence your knowledge in one of the following scientific fields detailing how you have applied and embedded your technical knowledge in practical situations, for example through research project, industrial or laboratory experience:
• At interview you will be assessed on technical criteria

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Please evidence your knowledge in one of the following scientific fields detailing how you have applied and embedded your technical knowledge in practical situations, for example through research project, industrial or laboratory experience:

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,095, Intellectual Property Office contributes £10,456 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

When working at the IPO you can expect:

• A flexible working scheme with excellent development opportunities
• 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave
• Family friendly policies that support modern working families and individuals with caring responsibilities
• A variety of support functions; Staff Counselling Service, Peer to Peer Support Group
• Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments
• The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups, find out more by looking at Intellectual Property Office (IPO) (diversityjobsgroup.com)
• A range of wellbeing initiatives; Onsite Gym (Newport office), Eye Care Scheme, Volunteering Programme, Cycling facilities
• Free car parking is available on site at our Newport office
• On-site shop, restaurant and coffee shop at our Newport office

For more information about what’s on offer at the Intellectual Property Office please review our IPO benefit pack attached to the bottom of this advert.

Please note that benefits may be subject to change.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidates to note:

• In order to capture your employment history please complete the employment history box under the 'Your CV' section of the online application form.
• We are currently recruiting a range of technical specialists. Please apply to the role that best aligns with your technical experience. Check your suitability and apply here for either:
• Associate Patent Examiner: Physics, engineering & Maths
• Associate Patent Examiner: Computing & Telecoms (To follow)
• All communications will be electronic therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.
• For further information around the Civil Service recruitment process, please visit our Civil Service careers page here: IPO – Recruitment Support , Civil Service Careers

The assessment process will comprise of the following:

Stage 1 – Pre sift testing The following pre sift test(s) will need to be completed and passed before your application will be seen by the panel:

• Civil Service Verbal Test

Applicants to note:

All listed behaviours will be assessed during the Civil Service Verbal Test.

There are no time limits for the completion of tests.

Please ensure you complete the test with enough time to fully complete and submit your application before the closing date.

Full instructions will be given at the start of the test.

The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the application deadline: Wednesday 18th Februaryat 23:55

Please ensure you leave yourself enough time to fill out the application after completing the tests.

Stage 2 – Sift

An initial sift of applications will be carried out to create a shortlist. This will be based on the evidence provided for the following Success Profile elements:

Experience

Your 500 word Personal statement will demonstrate your Experience against the listed person specification.

Technical

In the 250 word box provided, please evidence your knowledge in one of the following scientific fields detailing how you have applied and embedded your technical knowledge in practical situations, for example through research project, industrial or laboratory experience:

Physics, engineering, electronic, maths or other similar STEM subjects.

Knowledge of electronic engineering is particularly welcome.

Stage 3 – Interviews

If invited to interview Behaviours, Technical and Ability based questioning will be used.

Please note candidates that proceed to the interview stage will be required to complete an Ability assessment. Details will be provided in the invite to interview information.

Specific information regarding the Success Profile elements that will be assessed at interview will be contained within the interview invitation.

Interviews for this role will be carried out in person at our Newport Office.

This recruitment campaign will keep a reserve list for 6 months. If you meet the requirements for this role but aren't offered after passing the interview, you'll be placed on the reserve list. If a suitable position opens up during this time, we will reach out to individuals in merit order.

Applicants to note:CVs sent direct to the IPO will not be accepted.

This post is being advertised to Internal, acrossGovernment and external candidates at the same time.

Incomplete and/or late submissions will not be accepted or considered. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

We do not routinely reimburse travel expenses for candidates, however if participating in the selection process would cause you undue financial hardship or if it restricts your ability to participate, please contact the recruitment team for more information.

In line with Government guidance, successfully appointed candidates will need to provide documents for our Right to Work checks. Information on this will be sent within the invite to interview text.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, then please let the recruitment team know viarecruitment@ipo.gov.uk

For more information on the IPO’s terms and conditions, please review the attached IPO Modernised Terms and Conditions document attached at the bottom of this advert.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : IPO Recruitment team
• Email : recruitment@ipo.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ipo.gov.uk

Further information

Commissioners statement
The Civil Service recruits by merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

Complaints Procedure:
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, please contact;

Penny Phillpotts
Intellectual Property Office,
Concept House,
Cardiff Road,
Newport,
NP10 8QQ.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

Attachments

What's on offer at the IPO Opens in new window (pdf, 2034kB)IPO Modernised Terms and Conditions Opens in new window (doc, 149kB)