Patent Examiner - Engineer (Mechanical, Civil, Biomedical, Aerospace, etc.)

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

At ISED we foster a healthy, modern, diverse and inclusive workplace. Our efforts to create and maintain an outstanding workplace have been recognized. 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.  

As a Best Diversity Employer, ISED values and recognizes employees for their unique qualities, ideas, voices, and perspectives. We are committed to supporting the success and continued development of all employees regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic background or lived experience. By embracing diversity and inclusion, our department ensures broader discussions, better decisions, and a more positive workplace. 

The work profiles for the SG-PAT-03, SG-PAT-04 and SG-PAT-05 positions are ‘’TELEWORK’’. A ‘’TELEWORK” profile means the job can be performed full-time off-site anywhere within Canada. The option to work on-site is also available to you for any number of days per week that you prefer (Telework is governed by the Directive on Telework).

It should be noted that the Canadian Intellectual Property Office is located within the National Capital Region (NCR). If this is your first appointment in the Public Service and you would like to relocate to the NCR, CIPO could pay up to $5000 for your relocation expenses if you relocate within one year of your acceptance of the letter of offer as per the Addendum on the Initial Appointees Relocation Program. If you are currently employed in the Public Service, you could be offered relocation assistance based on the eligibility criteria of the National Joint Council Relocation Directive. Do not hesitate to use the links above to quickly access the information.

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 (see link above). 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 $97,213 to $119,068). You will learn both the technical and legal aspects of patent examination in a comprehensive virtual training program, which includes online courses and simulated 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 Mechanical Division.

Intent of the process

The intent of this selection process is to staff four positions on an indeterminate basis for March 2025. A pool of qualified candidates may be established to staff similar positions with various language requirements and various tenures (indeterminate, term, deployment, acting, secondment or assignment) within Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Positions to be filled: 4

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 mechanical engineering or some other acceptable degree with a strong foundation in mechanical engineering principles. For example, degrees in civil, aerospace, biomedical, mechatronics and mining engineering may 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 rights.

ABILITIES:
- Ability to plan and manage own time by governing work elements systematically.
- Ability to analyze and synthesize or explain the technical elements of a composition, use, process/method, device, or system to understand the nature of the elements and how they interact.
- Ability to interpret policies, acts, regulations, procedures, guidelines and/or rules and apply them judiciously.
- Ability to solve problems by dealing effectively with a situation through reasoning, discussion and action.
- Ability to communicate orally in such a way that your point of view is understood.
- Ability to communicate in writing in such a way that your point of view is understood.
- Ability to communicate in writing** in such a way that your point of view is understood.

NOTES:
**The ability to communicate in writing will be assessed throughout the process (application, emails, documents, etc.)

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

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

If you do not fully complete the screening questions as instructed, you will be screened out.

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/

A written exam WILL BE administered.

Interviews will be conducted.

Reference checks will be conducted.

Candidates must meet the essential qualifications to be appointed to a position.

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).

Security clearance is not used at the screening stage. It is the department's responsibility to obtain this clearance.

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 modify their application/resume at any time BEFORE the closing date indicated on the job advertisement.

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.

A random or top-down selection of candidates may be used in the determination of those to be given further consideration in the assessment process.

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.