Senior Level Patent Attorney

*If you're an experienced patent attorney looking to combine your expertise with public service, this role might be a great fit!*
At the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we're seeking Senior Level Patent Attorney in the Office of Policy and International Affairs. This role provides expert legal advice to senior USPTO, Department of Commerce, and Administration officials on domestic and international intellectual property policy with emphasis on complex patent issues on the international level.

Duties

The incumbent serves as the staff expert on intricate issues associated with such difficult areas as computer-related technology, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical data protection, legal and regulatory issues, and patent and industrial design filing and protection issues on the international level.

The Senior Level Patent Attorney also performs the following duties:

• Acts as the senior expert on legal and technical developments in the most challenging technological areas of the USPTO, focusing upon the often unique, increasingly multifaceted international patent law arena. Keeps abreast of the latest developments and the emerging legal and technical issues related to patents in a broad range of technologies.


• Proposes domestic legislation on substantive patent law and administrative matters that is consistent with Administration goals.


• Drafts and reviews, when tasked, complex patent legislative proposals involving the intellectual property law portions of major Administration proposals.


• Clears legislative proposals and views through the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of State, the Department of Justice, et al.


• Advocates enactment before the private sector, Members of Congress and their staff, particularly when the issues involved are legally or technologically difficult, highly sensitive in nature, and have international ramifications.


• Participates in interagency groups and makes presentations to and secures comments from private sector groups.


• Participates in, as sole representative of the United States or as the senior expert on a team, bilateral and multilateral negotiations to obtain the Administration's objectives in the foreign policy and trade arenas where particularly sophisticated intellectual property law issues are involved.


• Advises other attorneys on the more complex and subtle aspects involved in planning, establishing strategies for, and conducting negotiations of international agreements.


• Consults and coordinates with top level officials in other agencies such as the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Department of State, and the International Trade Administration.


• Participates in executive planning sessions and panels that establish policies and goals for the USPTO.

>> APPLY on USAJOBS by 6/18/2026

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Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) related to the position within your resume -
NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified.

PTQs:

• Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. patent law, the legislative process, and patent enforcement frameworks; experienced in advising on domestic and international patent policy matters.


• Skilled in drafting and reviewing complex patent documents and briefing high-ranking officials, Members of Congress, international organizations, and stakeholders on sensitive, complex IP issues.

Education

Educational requirement is a law degree and membership in good standing of the bar of a state or territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. A technical degree or equivalent is also required for this position.

Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. citizen or National. If selected, you will be required to pass a background investigation.

The full list of conditions and qualifications can be found on the USAJOBS posting.

*The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, retaliation for engaging in protected activity, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.*