Patent Examiner

When joining the EPO, relocation to the country of one of our duty stations (Munich, The Hague, Vienna or Berlin) is required. This means you need to reside in the country of your duty station (Germany, Austria or the Netherlands). You are not required to live in the city itself.

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Duration of contract: Five years, renewable (full-time)

Location: Germany (Munich/Berlin) or the Netherlands (The Hague)

Application deadline: 19 April 2026

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.

We are an inclusive, purpose-driven organisation committed to sustainability, fairness and excellence – diversity is part of our DNA. 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.

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 across scientific and technical fields 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:

• Distributed Computing & CPU (operating system management and operating system administration, embedded systems design and implementation, IT system infrastructure management incl. servers and hardware components, design and management of cloud infrastructure and cloud environments, virtualisation platforms)

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• Error Detection & Correction (monitoring of computer systems, software testing and debugging, performance monitoring and testing, fault tolerance, software and hardware redundancy, backup strategy, and management)

• ICT security (cryptography, application security, wireless security, Identity and Access Management (IAM), cloud security, cybersecurity, blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI) alignment, safety, or security)

• Interactive and Visual Computing (Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), computer Vision, image processing)

• Software Execution (software development techniques and paradigms, software design principles, code compilation and generation, source code management with version control, software deployment, virtualisation and container technologies, program loading and dynamic linking, user interface technologies, and remote desktop systems)

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 open to learning patent law, are eager to acquire new skills and to develop your knowledge of technologies in different fields
• are curious, detail-oriented, open-minded and an analytical thinker
• 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
• training and development: legal training, technical upskilling and mobility opportunities
• inclusive culture: 35+ nationalities, supportive networks and a strong DEI commitment
• facilities: on-site gym, health services, staff clubs and more (depending on location)
• top locations: high quality of life and a thriving international community
• (see full list of benefits)

What to expect next

We are recruiting for positions starting from 2026 and are already building a talent pool for upcoming roles in 2027. 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

Interested in relocating to Germany? Check out our comprehensive Relocation Jobs in Germany page with detailed relocation packages and benefits.

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.

Process

The successful candidate will be selected on the basis of qualifications, competencies, professional experience and language knowledge, supplemented as appropriate by technical assessments, interviews and/or a personality questionnaire.

A talent pool (reserve list) will be constituted should more candidates than required at this time be considered suitable following the selection procedure. Such talent pools are valid for a period of 24 months and talent pool candidates may be contacted should a vacancy with substantially the same profile arise during that period.

Ready to apply?

Click Apply and take the first step towards a meaningful role in which science, innovation and purpose come together.

For tips on how to prepare your application, and to read more about our recruitment process, visit our Careers page.

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Key information

Job group: 4

Grade: G7 to G10 (net (basic) monthly salary* for this vacancy: EUR 7 076 to 10 164, depending on experience and location)

Career path: Technical

Working mode: Hybrid **

Technical Interviews estimated for: April – June 2026

Final interviews planned for: May – June 2026

*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.