Manager Product Development Engineer

Location: Belagavi, India (Aequs Facility)
Work Arrangement: Onsite 4 days/week
Job Type: Full-Time
Employment: Mattel Technology & Innovation Center 

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: 

The role of the Product Development Engineering Manager is built upon demonstrating a high level of business/role acumen and assuming responsibility for end-to-end ownership of their roles while serving our customers.  This is a high growth, high visibility role with the opportunity to have frequent communication with senior management.  

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Managing and Training employees (30%)
  • Managing a team of five to six employees, providing day-to-day guidance, support, and performance feedback
  • Acting as the team’s Mentor, driving adoption of digital tools and best practices across the group
  • Supporting employee development through onboarding, training, and regular coaching conversations
• Establishing Mattel Engineering Footprint in India (25%)
  • Drive a positive culture within the Mattel India engineering team
  • Actively work on establishing and improving the engagement of the India based team
  • Establish an internship program through local universities to foster regional awareness and growth within the department
• Ensuring scheduled deadlines are met (15%)
  • Working with India based Manufacturing Vendors to maintain back-end schedule commitments and on time production starts
  • Attending on-site meetings in Asia as needed (CR, Debug, Value Engineering, etc)
  • Evening meetings with North America, often multiple times per week as needed to align with management and global brand team
• Optimizing toy designs for manufacturing (10%)
  • Reviewing upfront toy designs for manufacturability and working with the tooling vendor or engineering teams to optimize for India Manufacturing
  • Making modifications to existing multi-year items to increase consumer experience, improve star ratings, and/or reduce cost
• Optimizing product cost (5%)
  • Collaborating with our cross-functional teams and refining costs
  • Working with Asia and North America counterparts, in live VC’s, to brainstorm multiple cost scenarios and reductions
  • Participating in shop floor Kaizen’s to cost reduce items
• Ensuring adherence to product quality and safety regulations (5%)
  • Working with local manufacturing teams to ensure ongoing product quality is maintained throughout the product lifecycle
  • Routinely checking in with manufacturing vendors to ensure reliable and repeatable product assembly meeting Mattel ongoing quality expectations.
  • Overseeing the implementation and execution of corrective actions to existing product

What We’re Looking For: 

• (10+) years of work experience, with (5+) years relevant experience working in Product Engineering, Product Development, Toy Manufacturing or related field in consumer products
• Strong analytical, proactive and critical thinking mindset
• Ability to positively interact and connect with a diverse group of individuals (e.g. Design, Marketing, Engineering, Model Makers, Manufacturing, Finance, Planning, etc.)
• Proficiency in Product Scheduling and Product Lifecycle Management software along with Excel and PowerPoint
• Strong Plastics and Injection Molding knowledge and relevant assembly and manufacturing processes (i.e. Solvent Bonding, Sonic Welding, Mechanical Fastening, etc.)
• Knowledge and familiarity with DFMEA and Root Cause Analysis workflows
• Strong ability to direct team members on key tasks to ensure program level schedule adherence and prioritization
• Stronger interpersonal skills to keep diverse team engaged
• Superior organization and multi-tasking skills
• Comfortable and confident presenting to executives
• Ability to provide critical, honest feedback to direct reports
• Effective listening, influencing and problem-solving capabilities
• Overseas & Regional travel required

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.

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 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.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy