Patent Engineering Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

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BorgWarner is a global product leader in delivering innovative and sustainable mobility solutions. We are a company of innovators and independent thinkers that brings together talented employees, meaningful work and amazing technology in a unique environment. At BorgWarner, we constantly work towards our vision of a clean and energy-efficient world.
Our Culture
BorgWarner promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive environment, honors integrity, strives for excellence, commits to responsibility for our communities and the environment, and builds on the power of collaboration. We believe the health and safety of our employees are a top priority.
Career Opportunities
We manage talent as seriously as we manage our businesses and encourage you to learn about our proud history, strong culture, technologies, and vision for the future. We offer positions locally and globally with over 80 locations in 19 countries.
If this position energizes you and you feel you can help us achieve our mission and vision, you are invited to submit an application for consideration.
You may see the list of requirements and feel you do not meet all of them. However, remember that BorgWarner thinks differently. If your qualifications align with the majority of those outlined in this job description, we encourage you to apply and share your experience and skills with us.
Job Purpose
We are seeking a business savvy, analytically driven Mid Level Intellectual Property Attorney to play a strategic role in shaping BorgWarner's global patent portfolio. This position will lead core IP analyses, support long term patent portfolio strategy, conduct freedom to operate assessments, and execute complex IP projects under the guidance of Chief IP Counsel and Senior IP Attorney.
The ideal candidate blends strong legal expertise with the ability to translate technical and analytical insights into actionable recommendations that influence engineering, product development, and corporate strategy.

Strategic IP Portfolio Development

• Lead and contribute to strategic development of BorgWarner's patent portfolio, aligning patent coverage with technology roadmaps and business priorities.
• Partner with inventors, engineers, and technical leaders to identify highvalue innovations and ensure strong, defensible filings.
• Proactively assess portfolio strength, gaps, and opportunities for strategic expansion.

P Analytics & Competitive Intelligence

• Conduct and present IP competitive landscapes, including whitespace analysis, technology trend mapping, and competitor benchmarking.
• Utilize IP analytics tools to deliver insights that inform filing strategies, R&D investment decisions, and response to competitive activity.
• Prepare clear summaries that convert data into actionable directions for engineering and business leadership.

FreedomtoOperate & IP Risk Guidance

• Manage freedomtooperate (FTO) evaluations to assess potential risks and support product development decisions.
• Advise engineering and business teams on thirdparty patent risks, providing strategic mitigation recommendations.

Project-Based IP Support Under Senior IP Attorney Guidance

• Execute IP projects under the guidance of Chief IP Counsel and Senior IP Attorney, including:
• IP due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and technology partnerships
• Licensing and collaboration evaluations
• IP litigation support
• NDA and confidentiality process support
• Partner with Chief IP Counsel and Senior IP Attorney on cross-functional strategic initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Training

• Serve as an IP advisor to engineering and product teams, providing training to enhance innovation quality and IP awareness.
• Foster strong crossfunctional relationships to ensure smooth integration of IP strategy into technology development.
• Communicate complex concepts in businessfriendly language to facilitate informed decisionmaking.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in the United States.
• Admission to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).
• 5-10 years of experience in IP law, including patent drafting, prosecution, and advising technical teams.
• Demonstrated experience in IP risk analysis, portfolio management, and patent strategy.
• Strong communication, analytical, and project management skills.
• Strong drive to learn and expand knowledge/skills necessary to meet new challenges
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fastpaced technical environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field.
• Experience in IP issues relevant to the automotive or mobility technology sector.
• Handson experience with IP analytics tools and competitive intelligence platforms.
• Proven ability to support strategic IP portfolio decisionmaking.

Salary Range:

Internal Use Only: Salary

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