Patent Examiner - Engineer in Electrical/Computer Discipline

Important messages

We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please use the Contact information below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Assessment accommodation

When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.

Join us and become a crucial part of Canada’s patent system. Our training program will help you master the world of patents.

If you are an autonomous worker with a capacity for understanding how inventions work, strong technical writing skills, and a willingness to learn about intellectual property regulations, this opportunity is for you!

Visit the Patent Examiner Recruitment link to learn more (https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/canadian-intellectual-property-office/en/patents/patent-examiner-recruitment).

- For more information about the basics of assessment accommodation, please visit the following link:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/services/assessment-accommodation-page/the-basics-of-assessment-accommodation.html

Work environment

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) is proud to be named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers 2023, National Capital Region's Top Employer 2023, and Canada's Best Diversity Employers 2023.

These awards recognize Canadian employers with exceptional human resources programs, forward-thinking workplace policies, and exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs.

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is a special operating agency of ISED. CIPO is roughly 1000 employees strong and is located in Gatineau, Quebec, within sight of the Parliament buildings.

We are an organization that is focused on our people. To this effect, CIPO supports our staff through competitive salaries and benefits, ongoing training, and a culture of respect and continuous improvement.

CIPO offers flexible telework arrangements to patent examiners, including the option of full-time telework. Whether you prefer to work from the office or enjoy the convenience of working from home, a suitable telework schedule can be arranged in accordance with CIPO Telework 101 guidelines.

While a certain proportion of patent applications the Office receives is in French, the language used for the majority of the patent applications, our examination reports, and most of our literature searches, is English, so the ability to understand and communicate in English is essential. Regardless, CIPO is a bilingual organization which fosters the use of both French and English, and as such you can expect to work in a bilingual work environment which includes among other things, bilingual documentation and internal work tools, as well as on-the-job training and interacting with your manager in the official language of your choice. For those who are officially bilingual (as established by language testing), you may have the opportunity to examine a proportion of your workload in French. For those who are not yet officially bilingual, you may choose to access our Official Languages Development Program upon completion of your initial training.

As a Patent Examiner you will read and analyze inventions described in patent applications. Check out the Canadian Patent Database to have a glimpse of what a patent application looks like (https://www.ic.gc.ca/opic-cipo/cpd/eng/search/basic.html?wt_src=cipo-search-main&wt_cxt=toptask). You will search technical databases to ascertain how the invention improves upon the state of the art. You will communicate with the applicant, outlining your analysis and whatever defects need to be corrected before approving the patent.

The SG-PAT-03 level is a training level in preparation for advancement to the SG-PAT-04 working level for Patent Examiners within a 2-year period (SG-PAT-04 salary from $89,616 to $109,763). You will learn both the technical and legal aspects of patent examination in a comprehensive training program comprising classroom courses and on-the-job practical training. You will have the opportunity to be guided by a Senior Patent Examiner in order to become proficient in the art of patent examination.

Patent examiners may be required to work on a variety of patent applications from any
technology area relevant to the Electrical Division.

Intent of the process

The intent of this selection process is to staff multiple positions on an indeterminate basis for spring 2024. A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff similar positions within Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Positions to be filled: 14

Information you must provide

Your résumé.

In order to be considered, your application must clearly explain how you meet the following (essential qualifications)

EDUCATION:
- Bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in electrical, computer or software engineering. Bachelor's degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in another engineering program that is related to the aforementioned disciplines may also be considered.

Degree equivalency

The following will be applied / assessed at a later date (essential for the job)

English essential

Information on language requirements

KNOWLEDGE:
- Knowledge of Canadian intellectual property.

ABILITIES:
- Ability to plan and manage own time by governing work elements systematically and by controlling time effectively.
- Ability to analyse and, synthesize or explain, the technical elements of a situation or process to understand the nature of the elements and how they interact.
- Ability to interpret policy, acts, regulations, procedures, guidelines, rules, and apply them judiciously.
- Ability to solve problems by dealing effectively with a situation through reasoning, discussion and action.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing in such a way that the candidate’s point of view is understood.

PERSONAL SUITABILITY:
- Thoroughness
- Judgement
- Self-sufficiency
- Focus on Results
- Effective Interpersonal Relationships
- Dependability
- Adaptability

The following may be applied / assessed at a later date (may be needed for the job)

ISED is committed to employment equity (EE). In order to achieve a representative workforce, selection may be based on qualified candidates self-declaring as being a member of one or more of the following EE groups: Indigenous person (First Nations, Metis, and/or Inuit), a person with a disability, a racialized person, or a woman. 

Appointments of members of these EE groups ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of the Canadian public we serve.

Information on employment equity

Conditions of employment

Reliability Status security clearance

Other information

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the Canadians we serve. We promote employment equity and encourage you to indicate if you belong to one of the designated groups when you apply.

Information on employment equity

- PLEASE TAKE THE TIME to read the following information carefully as it may have an impact on the outcome of your application.

- For this process, we find that email is the most efficient way to communicate with you. Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts emails from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email). If you do not wish to receive results by email and if you change your email address during the process, it is your responsibility to inform us by email at: .

- Written exams, interviews and reference checks may be part of the candidate's assessment.

- Proof of education and citizenship/permanent residency will be requested at the assessment stage.

- Candidates with foreign credentials must provide proof of Canadian equivalency. Consult the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials for further information at http://www.cicic.ca/

- Random selection may be used to identify which applicants will be assessed in this appointment process.

- Persons are entitled to participate in the appointment process in the official language of their choice.

- COMMUNICATIONS: Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required; Candidates who apply to this selection process should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email).

- Acknowledgment of receipt of applications will not be sent; we will contact candidates when the screening process is completed.

- If you have questions, need accommodations, or are not able to apply online, please use the Contact information below! We will be glad to help. If you prefer to speak on the phone, please include that request in your email, along with your contact information.

- We will accept applications on-line only.

All job applications must therefore be submitted through the Public Service Resourcing System. Following are some of the benefits associated with applying on-line.

Applicants can create a profile and a resume that can be used when applying for other processes without having to recreate a new application each time.

Applicants can verify the status of their applications, at any time.

Applicants can be notified electronically of tests or interviews and results.

For some jobs, applicants will find important information, namely the job questionnaire and a complete statement of merit criteria that are only available when applying on-line.

To submit an application on-line, please select the button “Apply Online” below.

Persons with disabilities preventing them from applying on-line are asked to contact 1-800-645-5605.

- Thank you / Merci / Ekosani / Miigwech / Meegwetch / Mahseecho / Mutna / Wopida / Hei Hei / Marci Cho / ᖁᐊᓇᖅᑯᑎᑦ / Quanaqqutit / ᓇᑯᕐᒦᒃ (Nakurmik) / Nakummek / Qujannamiik / Qujanaq / Kukwstsétsemc / Woliwon / Woliwun / Wela’lin.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first and then to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of a job located in Nunavut, where Nunavut Inuit will be appointed first.

Information on the preference to veterans

We thank all those who apply. Only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Apply online