Senior Legal Counsel, Automotive (EMEA) (f/m/d)

In this role, you will draft, review, and negotiate complex automotive semiconductor agreements with OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, overseeing end-to-end high-stakes negotiations and coordinating with cross-functional teams. You’ll advise on regulatory topics like export controls and connected vehicle regulations, shaping contracting standards across regions. You’ll contribute to building a new automotive legal function and engage with senior stakeholders on high-value matters, helping to manage legal risk in a global context.

• competitive benefits package

• Draft, review and negotiate complex automotive semiconductor agreements (framework contracts, IP licenses, supply and quality agreements, cost-sharing, buffer-stock arrangements)
• Lead end-to-end high-stakes commercial negotiations (strategy, risk allocation, pricing) and coordinate with Sales, Finance, and Engineering
• Advise on automotive regulatory and compliance topics (export control, connected vehicle regulations) and support audits
• Collaborate across EMEA, US, and APAC to build consistent contracting standards and negotiation playbooks
• Shape and establish the automotive legal function, defining processes and workflows
• Engage with senior sales, finance, and executive stakeholders on high-value, high-visibility matters
• Partner with global automotive teams to manage Renesas’ automotive legal risk and align with wider legal team

• Fully qualified lawyer (Volljurist(in)) with solid results in German state law examinations
• 6+ years in-house experience in automotive sector, semiconductor industry, or similar with complex, high-value supply agreements and international exposure
• Profound IP and licensing knowledge is an advantage but not essential
• Pragmatic, hands-on mindset with strong business acumen and ability to navigate ambiguity
• Attention to detail, ability to work independently and in a team
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment across time zones (US, APAC)
• Good judgment on when to seek guidance; cooperative, results-oriented, with sense of humor
• Fluent in German and English (spoken and written), additional language is a plus
• Comfort with working in a global organization

• collaborative mindset
• strong business acumen
• helps drive negotiations under pressure
• IP licensing knowledge (advantageous)
• contract negotiation and drafting
• regulatory and export control compliance