Counsel III; Sr. Principal

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Legal Entity: American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Business Unit: BU Law & Intellectual Property
Department: DEP Patent Prosecution

Division: DIV Innovation
Work Location: Auto Development Center
Shift: 1st
Workstyle: Remote Eligible up to 20%
Career Level: 6
Job Grade: Exempt-IC3

Job Purpose

The Counsel III; Sr. Principal provides strategic intellectual property counsel supporting Honda's advanced technologies, including software, artificial intelligence, electrification, and other emerging technologies. The role leads complex patent clearance, patent landscape, patentability, drafting, prosecution, and portfolio strategy activities while partnering with leadership to manage intellectual property risk, identify strategic technology opportunities, and enable innovation. This role drives continuous improvement of IP processes and contributes to Honda’s long-term IP and technology strategies to produce business process transformation and operational excellence. This role also helps Honda by searching for and identifying technology open spaces and supports strategic decision-making related to research, development, investment, and collaboration opportunities.

Key Accountabilities

Manage and provide patent legal support for several Honda business areas requiring ability to handle complex, high-risk projects, including those involving new fields of technology, including software, electrification and Artificial Intelligence at HDMA, AHM and HRI
Project and people management: Supervise small teams of legal professionals. Provide support, coaching, and guidance to assist associates with growth and development
Draft, prepare and prosecute patent applications in-house

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

Juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school
Admittance to applicable state bar where practicing
Minimum 15 years of legal experience as an attorney in a law firm, in-house legal department, or comparable legal environment, with a significant amount of time dedicated to patent clearance, patentability, patent prosecution, and patent landscape activities.
Ability to create new processes and procedures for new development flows or other aspects of the patent workflow.
Strong knowledge of software and electrical technologies and ability to learn new technologies related to new business areas.
Experience leading legal support for large and complex patent clearance projects with minimal or no supervision and successfully collaborating with other attorneys and legal professionals to assist completing such projects

What differentiates Honda and makes us an employer of choice?

Total Rewards:

Competitive Base Salary (pay will be based on several variables that include, but not limited to geographic location, work experience, etc.)
Regional Bonus (when applicable)
Manager Lease Car Program (No Cost - Car, Maintenance, and Insurance included)
Industry-leading Benefit Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, Rx)
Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, shutdown
Company Paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
401K Plan with company match + additional contribution
Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Career Growth:

Advancement Opportunities
Career Mobility
Education Reimbursement for Continued learning
Training and Development Programs

Additional Offerings:

Lifestyle Account
Childcare Reimbursement Account
Elder Care Support
Tuition Assistance & Student Loan Repayment
Wellbeing Program
Community Service and Engagement Programs
Product Programs

Honda is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.

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5 Questions You Should Ask During the Interview

Here are 5 questions we think you could ask during your interview. Use them as a guide to help you write your own questions.

Remember: Always have at least 5 questions prepared for the interview. If you do not, you run the risk of looking unprepared.

What does success look like in this role, and how is it measured?

Why ask this? You want to ensure you have a clear understanding of expectations before accepting the role. Knowing how success is measured helps you hit the ground running and avoid surprises about performance evaluations. It also signals to the employer that you're results-driven.

Can you describe the team dynamic and the company culture?

Why ask this? Skills and experience matter, but if the work environment isn’t a good fit, you won’t be happy or productive. This question helps you gauge whether the company values collaboration, how teams interact, and whether the culture aligns with your work style and values.

What are the biggest challenges facing the person in this role right now?

Why ask this? Every job has challenges, and it’s better to know them upfront. This helps you assess whether the role is a good fit for your strengths and whether the company is realistic about its expectations. If they hesitate to answer, it could be a red flag.

How does the company support work-life balance and employee well-being??

Why ask this? Burnout is real, and some companies expect employees to sacrifice personal time for the job. By asking this, you’ll get a sense of how they value work-life balance, flexibility, and well-being—things that are crucial for job satisfaction and long-term success.

These questions help you make an informed decision while also showing your professionalism and strategic thinking!

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