PATENT ATTORNEY - ACCELERATED HIRING AUTHORITY Job in Rome, NY

Vacancy No. AFMC-12921083-KAS-FLYER Department Air Force Materiel Command
Salary $161,338.00 to $197,200.00 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/26/2026 Close Date 4/15/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Rome, NY


Summary

Use your legal expertise to protect and enforce the Air Force's intellectual property rights and advance high-impact, game-changing technologies that enable the Air Force and nation to maintain its superior technical advantage! The Air Force Research Laboratory, Information Directorate seeks to hire a Patent Attorney, DO-1222-04. The primary purpose of this position is to prepare and prosecute patent applications on behalf of the Department of the Air Force.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from U.S. Citizens (U.S. citizenship required at time of application).

Duties

  • Provides highly specialized legal advice and counsel within the Air Force on complex patent prosecution and related intellectual property matters.
  • Prepares and presents briefs and arguments and prosecutes appeals and interferences before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; conducts infringement investigations; renders opinions on the validity of patents; assists with technology transfer.
  • Prepares, executes and prosecutes domestic and foreign patent applications, including accompanying formal legal papers and, as part of the process, reviews invention disclosures for technical sufficiency and patentability.
  • Conducts legal and scientific research and advises employees on rights in inventions, patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, technical data, computer software.
  • Advises on rights in technical data and computer software and administers the office program to monitor contractor compliance with the Patent Rights clause in government contracts and other instruments.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • Security clearance requirements are based upon actual position being filled. Selectee is expected to be granted with and/or maintain the appropriate security clearance required for the position
  • Locations are not negotiable. The actual duty locations available may be located on the Air Force Civilian Service website.
  • This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) will be used to form a pool of qualified applicants who will be considered for accelerated hiring as they become available.
  • Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
  • Attorney appointments are subject to serve one-year probationary period
  • Relocation costs or other incentives may be available and considered by the organization.
  • Work may occasionally require travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
  • Candidates are not required to have active duty service or veterans’ preference to be referred and considered. All qualified candidates who meet the recruitment assessment criteria will be referred to the selecting official.
  • The employee must, within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. Employee is required to attend annual ethics and procurement integrity training.
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov.
  • Position may be subject to random drug testing
  • Incumbent is required to maintain active bar status, which permits the practice of law, in at least one State or jurisdiction during the entire course of their employment.
  • *** Incumbent must be currently registered to practice as an attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and admission to the bar.**

Qualifications

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • You MUST have successfully completed a full course of study in a school of law accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and have the first professional law degree (LLB or JD). Transcripts are required to be submitted with your application
  • In addition, at the time of application, you must provide proof, dated within four months of application, of "active" status with a bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia. On-line information is allowed as long as it shows that you are in "active" status and is date stamped within 4 months of the application date. A copy of the bar card is not sufficient or acceptable proof of good standing.

In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must meet the following experience requirements:
Specialized Experience: In addition to the basic requirement: you must have professional legal experience in excess of three (3) years that commensurate with the position's duties and responsibilities such as knowledge of patent prosecution and intellectual property legal requirements; preparing, filing, and prosecuting of patent legal documentation; conducting interference proceedings before the US Patent and Trademark Office Board of Patent Appeals; preparing trademark and patent applications and prosecution documents that are legally sufficient, clear, technically accurate; negotiating and preparing Technology Transfer agreements; conducting investigations on infringement and validity of patents; AND conducting legal and scientific research and advising on patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, technical data, and computer software.

COMPETENCIES: Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competencies in the following areas:
1. Problem Solving
2. Communication
3. Business Management
4. Teamwork and Leadership

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcriptswith the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified prior to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Additional information

Please note: Positions in this field/series may or may not be available, depending on current manning. For the most up-to-date notifications on available positions, we recommend candidates subscribe and complete their profile here, indicating their position and location preferences.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here.

Required Documents

Resume: Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable.

For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Click APPLY NOW to complete an application and upload resume (PDF or Word Doc) and/or additional documents (Transcripts, certifications, Vet Docs (DD214), SF-50).

To receive additional information about current and future job openings with AFCS via email notification, please register at www.Afciviliancareers.com and sign up to "Get Career Updates."

Equal Opportunity Employer. U.S. citizenship required. Must be of legal working age.

Agency contact information

Amanda Cianfrocco
Email
amanda.cianfrocco@us.af.mil
Address
AF Lab Demo WP
2000 Allbrook Drive
Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433
US

Next steps

For additional information on direct hire opportunities with the Air Force please click here.