Face Designer

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Team:

Mattel’s El Segundo Face Design Team is a highly skilled creative and technical group responsible for shaping the visual identity and emotional expression of our products through expert face design, digital design, paint execution, and cross-functional collaboration. The team partners autonomously and proactively across design, engineering, project management and global production teams to ensure that every face design meets aesthetic intent, manufacturing capabilities, cost expectations, and milestone schedules.

The Opportunity: 

Our designers bring expert-level artistry and technical proficiency, including digital design, traditional painting, airbrushing, flocking, and precise spec writing. The face designer works closely with international partners to translate design vision into manufacturable solutions and to address production questions throughout the development lifecycle. With a deep understanding of cost impacts and feasibility, the team plays a key role in delivering innovative, high-quality products to market. 

What Your Impact Will Be: 

The El Segundo Face Design Team excels in managing multiple complex projects with shifting timelines, leveraging expertise in costing and communication. The team provides essential operational support, ensuring continuity and excellence across all phases of product development relating to head and hair. Together, this team combines artistry, precision, and strategic execution to bring characters to life and deliver exceptional consumer experiences across our portfolio.

The Face Designer creates face designs ranging from simple to complex, ensuring alignment with brand standards, aesthetic direction, and production requirements. This role balances creativity with cost, manufacturability, and playability, delivering high-quality, production-ready designs that meet Mattel’s aesthetic expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and develop face designs from concept through production readiness
• Collaborate with Designers to ideate and execute simple to complex face designs
• Translate creative direction into designs that meet aesthetic, cost, and manufacturing constraints
• Hand paint faces at a consistent, high-quality level (aligned eye shapes, consistent sizing, accurate color application)
• Create digital face design modified for production readiness
• Execute specialty and novelty paint applications (e.g., color change, glitter)
• Ensure all designs are developed with production feasibility in mind
• Support urgent business needs and reprioritize workload as required
• Contribute to cost improvement goals
• Final Appearance process: Review head with Designer, tag and sign by self and Designer.
• Create spec with photos and upload to Face Design Shared Site using accurate labeling standards.
• Paint Master Release: Create paint master head, review with design for approval, photograph and create Final release Spec.  Create Final Release packet for Lead to Release and Ship.
• Know how/where to locate project information within Windchill and Agile (Project Manager, Designer, Plant Source)

What We’re Looking For:

• • Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent  
  • Experience in design, in an artistic capacity
  • Strong Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office
  • Ability to travel as needed (approximately 20% travel)  
  • Strong understanding of facial design, proportion, and character expression
  • Knowledge of current make-up and beauty trends and their application to product design
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate and problem-solve with design partners
  • Excellent time management skills with the ability to independently prioritize workload
  • Ability to work independently while delivering consistent, production-ready results
  • Proficiency in at least two (2) of the following tools:
    • Autodesk Maya
    • Adobe Photoshop
    • Adobe Illustrator
  • Graphic Design, illustration or Fine Art background
  • 3D/digital design capabilities
  • Detail-oriented with a strong focus on quality, consistency, and playability
  • Self-directed and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
  • Collaborative and responsive to feedback
  • Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

*The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base pay will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!

How We Work:
We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. We live up to our purpose employing the following behaviors:

• We collaborate: Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
• We innovate: At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
• We execute: We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.

Who We Are:
Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel’s award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.

Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, and or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy