Senior Product Designer - Preschool Entertainment

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 Opportunity: 
Mattel, Inc. is seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Designer to join our Mattel Preschool Entertainment Product Design Team. The group is focused on creating new product opportunities from a beloved game franchise translated into pre-school products. Through understanding the preschool consumer, trends and technology are then made into successful product. This involves creating and communicating toy concepts in 2D and/or 3D models to design and marketing management. 

In this role, you will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to create toys that ignite imagination, and capture the essence of the brand while adhering to Mattel's high standards of quality and innovation.

The ideal candidate would have a strong Passion for Preschool toys, pop culture, video games, and anime. Would be creative and imaginative, and have the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, creative environment while managing multiple projects.  

What Your Impact Will Be: ​​​​​​​

• Design a diverse range of preschool entertainment toys, including plush toys, figures, playsets, and more, from concept ideation to final product development.
• Collaborate with brand managers, content creators, and licensing partners to understand the Entertainment brand identity, characters, and storytelling elements, and translate them into compelling toy concepts and designs.
• Conduct comprehensive market research and trend analysis to identify opportunities for innovative toy concepts and product extensions that resonate with fans and meet the needs of preschool-aged children.
• Generate creative ideas, sketches, renderings, and 3D models to visualize toy concepts and effectively communicate design concepts to cross-functional teams
• Incorporate play-based learning principles, developmental milestones, and age-appropriate features into toy designs to promote cognitive, social, and emotional development in preschoolers.
• Work closely with engineers, sculptors, and manufacturers to refine designs, ensure feasibility, safety, and adherence to quality standards, and oversee the prototyping and production process.
• Mentor junior designers, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning within the design team.
• Iterate on toy designs based on internal feedback, user testing, and market insights to optimize play value, functionality, and appeal while staying true to the brand essence.
• Stay up-to-date on technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes to innovate and improve toy designs while maintaining cost-effectiveness
• Present concepts, design and models to design and marketing management, incorporating feedback and revisions to achieve project goals and objectives.

What We’re Looking For: 

• 4+ years of toy design experience
• Must be proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator and 2D computer programs
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Adobe Creative Suite proficiency
• Knowledge of material and manufacturing process
• Ability to work autonomously and in a team environment, team player
• Ability to project manage, and multi-tasking
• Interest and knowledge of the current trends. Understanding of features and play patterns in the toy industry is a plus.
• Passion in video game, preschool entertainment franchises or animated series
• Portfolio demonstrating strong design excellence and superior problem solving
• Strong organizing and project management skills
• Passionate about toys and design
• Good eyes on design details and aesthetics 
• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

The annual base salary range for this position is between $76,800.00 and $110,000.00.
**This range is indicative of projected hiring range, however annual base salary will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

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.

Our Approach to Flexible Work:

We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter.

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 more than 195 countries in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies.

Mattel is recognized as a Great Place to Work™ and as one of Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2022.

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

Mattel is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers including minorities, females, veterans, military spouses, individuals with disabilities, and those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Mattel Investor Highlights