European patent examiner in Healthcare, Biotechnology and Chemistry sector

Are you a multilingual, experienced engineer/scientist keen to support inventors?
Are you eager to play a role in future developments in innovation?
At the EPO, you can do all of that – and more!

Who are we looking for?
We are currently seeking engineers and scientists to work at the cutting edge of technology, analysing the latest inventions in our Healthcare, Biotechnology and Chemistry sector, which covers technical fields such as bioinformatics, medical technology and applied and technical chemistry.
If you are a biotechnology specialist, see our specific vacancy notices for biotechnology and biotechnology with a focus on immunology.
Biotechnology is an important sector of the European economy, providing employment and growth and generating countless useful medical and non-medical products. The sector covers a wide variety of fields, from medical and pharmaceutical products (55% of biotechnology patents) to industrial processes (41%) and agriculture (4%). Biotechnology represents 4% of all patent applications filed at the EPO: of the 180 250 patent applications received in 2020, 7 246 were biotechnology?related.

Your daily job as a patent examiner
Your work will entail carrying out end-to-end patent examination from the search to the post-grant stage. At the same time, you will create and maintain classification systems to ensure efficient and effective searching, whilst ensuring the uniform and effective application of the European Patent Convention and other legal texts.

What we expect from you: scientific expertise, analytical thinking, language skills
You know how to analyse technical and subject-specific information and how to retrieve technical information from databases and other sources. As a result, you can make decisions following the assessment of complex technical information, the application of legal requirements and the examination of parties' arguments. You are able to write clear and well?reasoned communications and feel comfortable interacting with colleagues and applicants to process patent applications efficiently.

What are our minimum requirements?

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant technical field.
• Excellent knowledge (at least C1) of one official language (English, French and German) and working knowledge (at least B2) of the other two. In exceptional cases, excellent knowledge (at least C1) of one official language and working knowledge (at least B2) of another. In such cases, the willingness to learn the third language and to reach level B2 would be required.
• Work experience in industry would be an advantage.
• Citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation.

An above-market social package? That's what we offer at the EPO

• A competitive salary
• Family-friendly benefits
• Professional development opportunities
• Relocation benefits and various allowances (e.g. household, dependants', childcare, education, expatriation, installation, rent allowance)
• Contributory medical insurance and pension schemes
• Thirty days of leave per year
• Social activities and clubs
• Full list of benefits
• Job group: 4
• Grade: G7 to G10 (net (basic) monthly salary* for this vacancy: EUR 5.900 to 8.300, depending on experience)
• Duration of contract: Five years
• Career path: Technical
• Location: Munich/The Hague

Supporting innovation, competitiveness and economic growth: that's our mission at the EPO.
As the patent office for Europe, we are proud to deliver high-quality, efficient services that promote a safer, smarter and more sustainable world.

We foster diversity and inclusion
Almost 7 000 employees from 35 countries are living proof that a successful organisation is one that leverages the diversity of its workforce.