Sr. Product Designer - Tracks and Playsets

Company Description

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.

Job Description

The Opportunity: 
Mattel, Inc. is seeking an experienced and self-motivated Sr. Product Designer to join the Hot Wheels Licensed Entertainment Tracks and Playsets product design team.  Our group is focused on creating new, exciting Vehicles based -toys from Hot Wheels including vehicles, track-sets, playsets, and accessories.  

Our design team is passionate about our target consumer, both parents and kids, staying on top of the latest trends, popular culture, kids’ entertainment and competitor products all translating into successful product designs.  This also involves creating and effectively communicating toy concepts in 2D and/or 3D digital and physical models to design, Marketing and Management.  The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of toy play, vehicle toy play, possesses great sketch, illustration and design skills with proven product design experience showing ability to work on challenging and fun products as well as ideating new and innovative concepts to creating the best toys for kids.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Actively generate new toy ideas to enhance Licensed Entertainment Tracks and Playsets
• Execute on both Product Designs and potentially Graphic Designs
• Design and develops for Tracks and Playsets toys and/or advertised lines or segments of product
• Builds alignment and partnerships between members throughout the design process
• Partner with cross functional teams including Development Design, Engineering, Packaging and Cost Engineering to ensure product integrity and marketing objectives
• Daily communication with our Mattel Asia design and development partners
• Successfully present and communicate their concepts to the design, marketing and Management and other creative departments
• Manage the early phases of design and development with other disciplines within the company

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For: 

• 4+ years of Toy design experience
• Skilled in sketching and illustration
• Ability to prove ideas out through sketches, illustrations, breadboard or 3d model and provide clear input to collaborate on these executions where applicable
• Must be proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator and 2D computer programs
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to lead and be led, take input, direction and strategically apply it back into design solutions
• Adobe Creative Suite proficiency
• Knowledge of 3D CAD (Alias, Rhino 3D is a plus)
• Knowledge of material and manufacturing process for soft goods and plastics
• Some knowledge of mechanism in toy
• Ability to work autonomously and in a team environment
• Ability to project manage
• Portfolio demonstrating strong design excellence and superior problem solving
• Personal Attributes Required: Creative, Positive, Self-Motivated, Passionate about 'Play', Efficient, Proactive, Organized, Professional Maturity.
• Ideal candidate will exhibit interest and knowledge of the current trends. Understanding of features and play patterns in the toy industry is a plus.
• Candidate would also ideally exhibit an understanding of toy systems, where and how a toy can physically connect with other toys for a bigger experience (ie Hot Wheels Track System, Thomas & Friends train track system)

*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. 

Additional Information

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.

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 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:
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