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Summary

There is an anticipated vacancy for the position of Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney, in the Office of Naval Research, located at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Headquarters in Washington, DC

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted today · Apply by 07/30/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 30, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—This position is eligible for ad-hoc/situational telework at the discretion of management.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$141,620 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
NO 5
Promotion potential
5
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Excepted Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Secret
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes - You will be required to complete ethics orientation within three months of appointment and submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE-450, within 30 days of appointment.
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
ST-12986385-26-DGK
Control number
874018800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens

Duties

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  • You will collaborate with inventors to identify patentable technology and useful trademarks, develop invention disclosures, and draft high-quality patent applications.
  • You will counsel on contract and technology transfer IP matters such as rights in inventions, patents, trade secrets, technical data rights, and computer software
  • You will draft and prosecute patent applications, review research publications for potentially patentable and/or trade secret material, reviewe agreements containing IP provisions,

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a US Citizen.
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
  • Must participate in the direct deposit pay program.
  • New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
  • Within the Department of Defense (DoD), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.

Qualifications

The Department of the Navy (DON) Office of the General Counsel (OGC) invites qualified attorneys to apply for the position of Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney, Office of Naval Research. The position is located at/in the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Headquarters in Washington, DC.

ONR is an Echelon I command that has been a pioneer in the public support of science and technology (S&T) research that benefits both the naval services and the nation. NRL is an Echelon II command that is part of ONR. NRL is the corporate research laboratory for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. It conducts basic scientific research, applied research, technological development and prototyping, and employs over 2000 scientists and engineers. The NRL Office of Counsel includes 18 attorneys and 5 professional staff with a diverse legal practice.

The successful candidate will be expected to provide NRL clients a full range of IP legal services, including drafting and prosecuting patent applications, reviewing research publications for potentially patentable and/or trade secret material, reviewing agreements containing IP provisions, and counseling on contract and technology transfer IP matters such as rights in inventions, patents, trade secrets, technical data rights, and computer software. The successful candidate will also work with inventors to identify patentable technology and useful trademarks, develop invention disclosures, and to draft high quality patent applications.

NRL compensation falls under a Personnel Management Demonstration Project. The Project uses Career Levels (aka pay bands) for pay setting. This position has a full performance level in the GS-15 range of the NO-V pay band, and will be filled at the NO-IV (GS-13 equivalent) or NO-V (GS-14 or GS-15 equivalent) level depending on the qualifications of the successful applicant. To be eligible for selection at the NO-IV level (GS-13 equivalent), the applicant must have in excess of two years of recent and relevant professional legal experience. To be eligible for selection at the NO-V level (GS-14 equivalent), the applicant must have at least three-and-one-half years of recent and relevant professional legal experience. To be eligible for selection at the NO-V level (GS-15 equivalent), the applicant must have at least five-and-one-half years of recent and relevant professional legal experience.


Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

Education

The successful applicant must have graduated with a J.D. or LL.M. from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association, be an active member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, U.S. Commonwealth, U.S. territory, or the District of Columbia, and be registered to practice and to prosecute patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The successful candidate must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college of university in biology, biotechnology, chemistry, immunology, cell biology, medical or biomedical physics, biomedical engineering, or biochemistry, or a related field. An advanced degree ( at least at the Master's degree level) in a biological, biochemical, chemical, biomedical, or fioengineering field of study from an accredited college or university or at least two years of experience as a research scientistic desired. but not mandatory.

Additional information

This is a public notice flyer to notify interested applicants of anticipated vacancies. Applications will not be accepted through this flyer. Interested applicants must follow the directions in the "How to Apply" section of this flyer to be considered. There may or may not be actual vacancies filled from this flyer. Notice of Result letters will not be sent to applicants who respond to this flyer.

This position is not covered by the Department of the Defense Priority Placement Program.

This position is in the excepted service and does not confer competitive status.

A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements, including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.

Federal annuitant information: The selection of an annuitant is subject to the Department of Defense and Department of the Navy policy on the employment of annuitants. Policy information may be found at: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Documents/CivilianJobs/FedCivAnnuitants.pdf.

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.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the following criteria.

1) The Depth, breadth, and quality of your experience in Intellectual Property Law, with an emphasis on supporting technical areas related to NRL's research.
2) Your recent and relevant experience preparing and prosecuting patent application before the USPTO.
3) Your research, analytical and communication skills (both oral and written)
4) Your interpersonal skills, including your ability to establish effective attorney-client and professional relationships, and
5) Your experience advising clients.
In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to be clear and specific when describing your experience.

As vacancies occur, the Human Resources Office will review your resume to ensure you meet the hiring eligibility and qualification requirements listed in this flyer. You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume, along with your supporting documentation.

If selected, you may be required to provide additional supporting documentation.

If after reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, a determination is made that you inflated your qualifications and/or experience, you may be found ineligible/not qualified.

Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

All qualification requirements must be met before being considered for any vacancies.

Office of Naval Research

The Navy and Marine Corps team offers innovative, exciting and meaningful work linking military and civilian talents to achieve our mission and safeguard our freedoms. The Department of the Navy Office of the General Counsel has been serving the Department since 1941 and is committed to developing innovative legal solutions to the business and other challenges facing the Navy and Marine Corps to enhance the war fighting capability of the Naval Service. You will find our attorneys stationed across the United States and worldwide, working with Navy and Marine Corps personnel wherever the Department's business is conducted. DON OGC also offers a great place to build a career. Based on the DON OGC annual employee survey, DON OGC attorneys consistently report the highest marks for workforce collegiality, cooperation, and meaningful, high-quality work.

Agency contact information

Mary Vaa
Phone
(771)-216-7575
Email
mary.vaa@nrl.navy.mil
Address
NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY
4555 Overlook Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20375-5324
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Office of Naval Research, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Pages/Default.aspx

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