European Patent Examiner in Telecom & Wireless

Location: The Hague

At the European Patent Office (EPO), we explore breakthrough technologies before they reach the public. As a European Patent Examiner in Telecom & Wireless, 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.
Duration of contract:
Five years, renewable (full-time)

Location:

Germany (Munich/Berlin) or the Netherlands (The Hague)
Final date to receive applications: 2 November 2026
Working mode:
Hybrid
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.

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  using digital search tools, scientific databases and patent information sources 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:
data networks (network management & monitoring; routing, switching & flow control; access, bus, home & virtual networks)
wireless communication (wireless resource allocation, PHY layer, multiplexing, MIMO)
power saving and synchronization in wireless networks, satellite communications and non-terrestrial networks
wireless networks (handover, network selection, access control, resource allocation, connection management)
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 genuinely curious about technology and enjoy continuously learning about new scientific developments, emerging technologies and patent law
are analytical, detail-oriented and open-minded
are confident using digital technologies and AI-supported tools to analyse information while applying own critical thinking
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…