Senior Legal Counsel (d/f/m) - Legal Affairs Intellectual Property
// Role Summary
Airbus is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel for Intellectual Property in Hamburg, Toulouse, or Munich to shape the legal and strategic landscape for next-generation aerospace technology, focusing on high-stakes deals, AI governance, and IP disputes.
// Key Responsibilities
- Lead IP strategy and operations for cutting-edge aerospace technology.
- Negotiate complex R&D, software licensing, and corporate partnership agreements.
- Advise on AI governance, regulatory trends, and antitrust compliance.
- Manage IP litigation and risk across global portfolios.
- Full-time or part-time roles available with flexible working models.
- Competitive compensation package including bonus, vacation, and pension schemes.
// Role Specification
About the Role
Airbus is looking for a visionary and commercially minded Senior Legal Counsel (d/f/m) specializing in Intellectual Property to join their Legal Affairs - Intellectual Property (LLI) team. This pivotal role involves shaping the legal and strategic direction for next-generation aviation technology. You will collaborate with a high-performing, international team and serve as a strategic partner in critical commercial deals, AI governance, IP disputes, and global corporate partnerships.
What's in it for You
- Flexibility & Work-Life Balance: Customized working time models including part-time, job sharing, and individual sabbaticals.
- Attractive Compensation: High-tier base salary, performance-related payments, 30 days paid vacation, and extra time off for personal occasions.
- Exclusive Perks: Employer-funded pension schemes, employee stock purchase plans, discounted car leasing, and public transport subsidies.
- Modern Sites & Amenities: Options in Hamburg, Toulouse, or Munich with on-site cafeterias, health care centers, and nearby childcare facilities.
- Global Career Horizons: Continuous upskilling programs and group-wide development prospects within an inclusive culture of over 140 nationalities.
Your Contribution to the Team
As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will protect and leverage Airbus’s valuable intangible assets throughout their lifecycle:
- Strategic & Operational IP & IT Guidance: Advise senior stakeholders in Technology, Engineering, Digital Transformation, and Procurement.
- High-Stakes Dealmaking: Lead negotiations for complex R&D agreements, software licensing (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), and strategic corporate partnerships.
- M&A & Portfolio Strategy: Structure IP transactions, M&A activities, and safeguard global trademark, copyright, and trade secret portfolios.
- Pioneering AI Governance: Provide legal direction on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), regulatory trends, and antitrust compliance.
- Litigation & Risk Management: Direct complex IP disputes in collaboration with the Litigation team to achieve business-focused outcomes.
- External Counsel & Internal Mentorship: Manage external counsel and empower internal teams through legal frameworks and IP awareness sessions.
Your Profile
- Fully qualified lawyer under German or French law with strong IP/IT law background.
- Proven track record with longstanding professional experience in top-tier international law firms or global industrial enterprises (aerospace or high-tech preferred).
- Deep expertise in negotiating tech transactions, cloud contracts, IP litigation, and M&A support with a pragmatic, business-oriented mindset.
- Strong stakeholder management, negotiation, and cross-functional leadership skills; ability to anticipate complex issues and thrive under pressure.
- Excellent communication and diplomatic skills for effective collaboration across all hierarchy levels.
- Passion for fostering team spirit, an inclusive culture, and empowering cross-functional teams.
- Strong affinity for the aerospace industry and a drive for cross-collaboration.
- Business fluency in English is essential; proficiency in German and/or French is a strong advantage.
This is a permanent, full-time (or part-time/job share) position at Airbus Operations GmbH, offering professional experience level in the Legal job family.