Associate Corporate Counsel (Contract)

Mercedes-Benz R&D North America; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Mercedes-Benz R&D North America seeks an Associate Corporate Counsel with 0–2 years of experience to provide broad legal support across employment, contracts, IP, data privacy, AI, and regulatory matters. The role emphasizes practical, business-oriented legal solutions and collaboration with internal teams.

The position allows remote work with on-site or hybrid presence in San Jose, Ann Arbor, or Atlanta. Expected duration is four to six months; relocation assistance is not provided.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school with 0–2 years of practice.
• In-house or law firm experience in tech/automotive/engineering is preferred.
• Ability to distill complex legal concepts into actionable, business-oriented advice.
• Strong research, writing, and communication skills are essential.
• Admission to the bar in at least one state (CA/MI/GA preferred).

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel across employment, commercial contracts/tech transactions, IP, data privacy, AI, compliance, product, vehicle operations, litigation, procurement, regulatory, and trade compliance.
• Negotiate, draft, and review contracts including tech licensing, service, procurement, NDAs, development, and tech transfer agreements.
• Manage IP protection, commercialization, and licensing with internal teams.
• Ensure data privacy compliance (GDPR, CCPA) in products and services.
• Advise on employment law matters, investigations, and workplace policies.
• Provide litigation support and manage external counsel.
• Offer risk assessments and practical legal solutions for AI and emerging technologies.
• Support regulatory and trade compliance including export controls (EAR, ITAR, OFAC).
• Provide broad legal counsel on corporate governance, operations, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Legal research

Writing

Communication

Analytical

Data privacy

IP experience

Contract negotiations

Regulatory compliance

AI / tech law

Business-minded advice

Education

J.D./JD degree

Bar admission (CA/MI/GA preferred)

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated Associate Corporate Counsel with0 to2years of experience to provide comprehensive legal support across various areas, includingemployment,commercial contracts/tech transactions, intellectual property (IP), data privacy, artificial intelligence (AI), compliance,product,vehicle operations,litigation, procurement,regulatory, and trade compliance. This role requires an individual who can balance legalexpertisewith practical, business-oriented solutions, working closely with internal stakeholders in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

This role is open to remote work.Onsiteor hybridpresence inSan Jose,Ann Arbor,or Atlanta is preferred. Relocationassistanceis not available.

This is a temporary role with an expected duration offour tosix (4-6) months.

Job Responsibilities

• Support Engineering & Product Teams:Providelegal counsel and strategic advice to engineering and product development teams, ensuring that legal considerations are integrated into the design, development, and deployment ofnew technologies.
• Contract Negotiation & Drafting: Negotiate, draft, and review commercial contracts including tech licensing agreements, service agreements, procurement/vendor agreements, NDAs, development agreements, proofs of concept,evaluationand technology transfer agreements.
• Intellectual Property (IP): Work with internal teams to manage intellectual property protection, commercialization, and licensing.
• Data Privacy & Security: Ensure compliance with relevant data protection laws and regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) in the development and operation of our products and services.
• Employment: Provide advice on employment law matters, including employee relations, investigations, and workplace policies.
• Litigation: Provide litigation support, including fact gathering, development of litigation strategy, outside counsel management, and internal litigation tracking.
• AI & Emerging Technologies:Advise onlegal issues related to AI, including ethical considerations, IP, and proposed legislation and regulations. Conduct legal research on new and emerging technologies and issuesimpactingthe company. Provide risk assessments and practical legal solutions to business challenges.
• Regulatory & Trade Compliance: Support the company’s regulatory compliance efforts across its products and operations, including export controls and trade/sanctions compliance (e.g., EAR, ITAR, and OFAC), and regulatory matters arising from vehicle data collection, transmission, cross-border data flows, and related emerging technologies.
• General Legal Support: Provide legal counsel on a wide variety of corporate matters, including corporate governance, operations, regulatory compliance, and corporate policies.

Minimum Qualifications

• J.D. Degree fromaccreditedlaw school and0-2yearsofexperience as a practicing attorney at a law firm or an in-house legal department.
• 0-2years of relevant in-house and/or law firm experience, ideally in a tech, automotive, or engineering-related industry.
• Ability to distill complex legal concepts into clear, actionable, business-oriented advice.
• Highly motivated, intellectually curious, detail-oriented, and able to work both collaboratively and independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong research, writing, analytical, and communication skills.
• Committed to fostering positive and respectful relationships, internally and externally.
• A proactive, roll-up-your-sleevesattitude, embracing tasks of all sizes with enthusiasm and drive.
• Admission to and current good standing with the bar of at least one state (California, Michigan, or Georgia preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a global tech company
• Experience with legal issues surrounding AI and autonomous vehicles
• Law firm experience
• CIPP/US (Privacy)certification
• Familiarity with litigation

$58 - $64 an hour

MBRDNA will determine whether an export license or authorization is required for each assignment involving access to export-controlled items. Placement in such assignments is contingent upon MBRDNA obtaining any required export license or authorization, and a placement may not proceed or continue if the required authorization is not secured. Agency or MBRDNA’s export compliance team may request additional documentation to verify your status. Agencywill keep your responses confidential and will disclose them only to MBRDNA and Mercedes-Benz personnel, their third-party representatives, or governmental authorities with a need-to-know for export compliance purposes.

The successful candidate’s starting pay will be determined based on a wide range of factors, including, but not limited to, job-related education, skills, and experience, geographic location, and market conditions.

The current salary range for this position is as follows and may be modified in the future: $58/hr - $64/hr.