Senior Designer, Toys & Hardlines

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks and experiences around the world through Universal Destinations & Experiences, including Universal Orlando Resort, home to Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit www.nbcuniversal.com for more information.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives the expansion and elevation of NBCUniversal’s iconic collection of brands, intellectual properties, characters, and stories based on the company’s extensive portfolio of properties created by Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. The division executes this through innovative physical and digital products, as well as engaging retail and product experiences across our expansive global theme park destinations (for both owned and third-party IP), location-based venues, e-commerce product platforms, and retailers around the world. Along with global brand strategy and creative, UP&E’s lines of business include Consumer Products and Games, along with Theme Parks Products & Retail. UP&E is a division of Universal Destinations & Experiences, part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. More information is available at universalproductsexperiences.com.

Job Description

Universal Products & Experiences is seeking a Sr. Designer to support the design, development and approval of products across the Toys & Hardlines categories. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Product Design Studio, this role plays a key role in delivering high-quality, brand-aligned products across ANZ, Southeast Asia and India.

This role supports brand integrity and strong creative execution while ensuring efficiency across the product approvals process.  It will contribute to sustainable growth by balancing creativity with commercially viable, market-ready product solutions.
 

Design & Development

• Manage assigned categories through the product development lifecycle, from concept to production, including CAD review, sampling, packaging, and final production, while adhering to development timelines.
• Review and guide toy functionality, safety considerations, materials, tooling constraints, and manufacturing feasibility.
• Deliver clear design direction and overlays aligned with property guidelines and franchise priorities to licensees, retailers and agents.
• Apply advanced working knowledge of materials, technology, 2D/3D execution, product construction, and manufacturing capabilities within assigned categories.
• Monitor trends, innovations, and consumer insights to inform new product ideas and line extensions.
• Participate in key design and development meetings and provide clear follow-up actions.
• Support development of new product ideas and translate concepts into market-ready lines.
• Demonstrate understanding of packaging structure, branding elements, and toy functionality as part of overall product execution.
• Ensure brand consistency while driving thoughtful creative innovation.

Design Strategy

• Contribute to identifying growth opportunities within Toys & Hardlines categories.
• Conceptualize designs that support franchise priorities and business strategies.
• Balance design vision with cost targets, MOQ requirements, retail price points, and production timelines.
• Maintain awareness of competitive landscape and consumer targets to inform design decisions.
• Build clear and professional design presentations for meetings.

Licensing Expertise

• Demonstrate strong understanding of licensed entertainment and consumer products landscape.
• Ensure accurate and consistent application of characters, storytelling, and creative assets across submissions.
• Deliver show-to-shelf execution aligned with brand and franchise objectives.

Collaboration & Communication

• Serve as the day-to-day Design & PD contact for assigned categories with licensees, retailers, agents and third-party approvers.
• Communicate clearly and consistently across internal teams and external partners, managing projects across multiple time zones.
• Lead project discussions within assigned categories and support alignment across internal and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with all internal and external partners.
• Consistent communication and collaboration with internal and external partners (specifically licensees and agents) in multiple time zones and managing communication with partners where English is not their first language.
• Partner cross-functionally with Category, Franchise, Legal, and Retail teams to support alignment throughout development.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements

• A proven and successful background in licensing, manufacturing, or consumer product design.
• Strong understanding of product development and manufacturing processes within Toys & Hardlines categories.
• Experience with licensed entertainment products.
• Strong design & illustration skills.
• Strong grasp of 2D composition and 3D form factors.
• Proactive and results-oriented mindset.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and working knowledge of InDesign, Keynote, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable in a fast-paced, multi-market environment.
• Confident in advocating for design decisions and collaborating toward shared goals.

Desired Characteristics 

• Bachelor’s degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Illustration, or related field required.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].