Sr Patent Counsel (Patent Attorney)

MAHLE; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

MAHLE seeks a US Patent Attorney in Farmington Hills, MI. You will protect MAHLE’s intellectual property by drafting and prosecuting U.S. and international applications, performing FTO analyses, and guiding patentability assessments.

You will collaborate with engineers, business, and legal teams across the U.S., Germany, China, and Japan. You will also support IP-related agreements and litigation activities, driving strategic protection of MAHLE’s innovations.

Qualifications

• JD required and must be active in at least one US State Bar.
• Registered Patent Attorney before USPTO.
• Bachelor’s in mechanical/ Electrical Engineering, Physics or related field.
• Experience supporting patent preparation and prosecution.

Responsibilities

• Manage and prosecute U.S. and international patent applications.
• Identify and protect IP rights aligned with MAHLE's objectives.
• Conduct Freedom-to-Operate analyses to assess IP risks.
• Provide guidance on patentability assessments and competitive IP landscapes.
• Assist with IP-related agreements including licensing and confidentiality.
• Support IP disputes and litigation activities as needed.
• Collaborate with engineering and business teams to identify inventions.
• Coordinate with global IP colleagues to align strategies.
• Monitor competitor patent activity and emerging technologies.

Skills

Patent drafting

Patent prosecution

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar admission (US state)

USPTO Registration

Engineering degree (ME/EE/Physics)

Tools

Patent databases

Legal research tools

Job description

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Together, we move the world—we’ve been doing it for over 100 years. At MAHLE, as a leading international development partner and systems supplier to the automotive industry, we pursue the objective of making mobility more efficient, more environmentally friendly, more convenient, and more economical. As part of our dual strategy, we are working both on the intelligent combustion engine for the use of hydrogen and other nonfossil fuels and on technologies for fuel cells and e-mobility.
MAHLE generated sales of €11.3 billion in 2025. Employing just under 65,000 people at 127 production locations and 11 technology centers, the company is represented in 28 countries. (as at: 12/31/2025). Join our MAHLE team! #weshapefuturemobility

Your Contribution

As a US Patent Attorney, you will play a key role in protecting and maximizing the value of MAHLE's intellectual property portfolio. You will work closely with engineering, business, and legal stakeholders to support innovation initiatives, secure patent rights, assess intellectual property risks, and contribute to MAHLE's global IP strategy. This position offers exposure to a broad range of IP matters and close collaboration with colleagues across the United States, Germany, China, and Japan.

• Manage and prosecute U.S. and international patent applications in close collaboration with inventors, engineers, and external counsel.
• Identify, develop, and protect intellectual property rights aligned with MAHLE's business and innovation objectives.
• Conduct and support Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analyses to assess intellectual property risks and support business decisions.
• Provide guidance on patentability assessments and competitive IP landscapes.
• Support IP-related agreements, including licensing, confidentiality, technology collaboration, and other intellectual property contracts.
• Assist with intellectual property disputes, enforcement matters, and litigation support activities as needed.
• Collaborate with engineering and business teams to identify inventions and develop effective IP protection strategies.
• Partner with global IP colleagues to ensure alignment of intellectual property strategies across regions.
• Monitor competitor patent activity and emerging technologies relevant to MAHLE's business.
• Contribute to the development and monetization of MAHLE's patent portfolio, including licensing opportunities where applicable.
• Provide IP training and awareness to internal stakeholders..

Your Experience & Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in at least one U.S. State Bar.
• Registered Patent Attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
• Experience supporting patent preparation and prosecution.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate with engineering, business, and legal stakeholders

Offer

We will provide a collaborative environment working on exciting assignments, along with ongoing personal & career development opportunities.

After receiving your online application, the interview process will typically be, a screening call followed by Personal Interview(s)

#DiversityMatters with our inclusive culture, we welcome applications from all social, religious & ethnical backgrounds, disabilities both mental and physical, identities (gender) and neurodivergent people.

MAHLE is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment based non-immigrant and immigrant visas. However, as a global company, MAHLE offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S. which can be found through our employment website www.jobs.mahle.com

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Find your job at MAHLE. Get to know this leading international supplier to the automotive industry as an employer. Shape the future with us.

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Facts about the job

Entry level: Experienced hires

Part- / Full-time: Full Time

Functional area: Legal & Insurance

Department: Services

Location: Farmington Hills, MI, US, 48335

Closing date for applications

Your future at MAHLE

As a team player and someone who thinks ahead, you can deploy all your skills with us. In cooperation with colleagues from different countries and areas, you contribute in designing the mobility of the future. When selecting MAHLE, you choose trend-setting technologies and strategies. Are you interested in working with us and developing efficient and environmentally-friendly solutions, optimising existing products, and turning innovative ideas into reality? Then MAHLE is the right address for you.