Sr. Manager Product Design Games

The Opportunity: 

Mattel is looking for an experienced and imaginative Senior Manager Product Design to help shape the future of one of the worlds most iconic games portfolios. From UNO Pictionary Scrabble Phase 10 Skip-Bo Blokus KerPlunk! and beyond youll lead the design of play experiences that entertain millions of players around the world.

This is a leadership role for someone who understands that great games dont happen by accident. They are built through thoughtful mechanics relentless iteration meaningful playtesting and exceptional product design. Youll lead a team responsible for transforming ideas into physical products that are intuitive to learn rewarding to master and unmistakably Mattel.

Working across Design Marketing Engineering Consumer Insights Packaging Licensing and Operations youll help define what families and friends will be playing for years to come.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

Gameplay & Innovation

• Lead the design and development of new gameplay experiences across Mattels portfolio of family party strategy and trading card games.
• Guide projects from early concept exploration through prototyping playtesting refinement and final product execution.
• Apply game design principles player psychology behavioral science and consumer insights to create experiences that are simple to learn rewarding to play and built for repeat engagement.
• Champion rapid prototyping and iterative development using playtesting and consumer feedback to continuously improve mechanics pacing accessibility and overall player experience.
• Identify opportunities to reinvent classic brands while developing entirely new ways to play.

Product Design Excellence

• Lead the physical design of products translating gameplay into intuitive beautifully crafted components and experiences.
• Partner closely with Engineering and Packaging to balance creativity with manufacturing feasibility quality cost and sustainability.
• Drive thoughtful decisions around materials component design ergonomics visual hierarchy and tactile interaction.
• Review prototypes and production samples to ensure the integrity of the gameplay experience is preserved through manufacturing.

Creative Leadership

• Lead coach and develop a team of Product Designers creating an environment where curiosity experimentation and creative excellence thrive.
• Establish clear priorities while balancing multiple development programs across varying timelines and levels of complexity.
• Foster a culture of constructive critique collaboration and continuous learning.
• Build strong partnerships across Marketing Consumer Insights Engineering Packaging Licensing Operations and external development partners.

Execution & Continuous Improvement

• Drive projects from concept through commercialization ensuring products launch on time on budget and at the highest quality standards.
• Anticipate risks solve complex design challenges and make informed tradeoffs throughout development.
• Improve design processes workflows and best practices that enable faster innovation and stronger collaboration across the Games organization.

Qualifications :

What Were Looking For:

• 8 years of experience designing tabletop card party strategy or family games with a strong understanding of what creates engaging enduring gameplay.
• Experience leading the complete game development process including ideation game mechanics prototyping playtesting balancing iteration and product commercialization.
• 3 years of experience leading and developing high-performing creative teams.
• Demonstrated success bringing physical consumer products from concept through manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of player motivation game systems probability progression accessibility and player experience design.
• Knowledge of consumer product development manufacturing processes materials tooling and production constraints.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and successfully lead complex product development programs.
• Strong communication storytelling and presentation skills.
• Passion for games curiosity about how people play and a desire to create products that become part of family traditions.

Bonus Points If You Have

• Experience shipping commercially successful tabletop or card games.
• Experience facilitating structured playtesting game balancing and consumer research.
• Experience working across licensed entertainment brands or global product development organizations.
• Familiarity with modern tabletop gaming trends and mechanics across hobby and mass-market categories.
• A genuine love of games and play whether thats inventing mechanics hosting game nights collecting modern board games or simply believing that bringing people together through play is one of the best jobs in the world.

*The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range however base pay will be determined based on a candidates 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 :

Dont meet every single requirement At Mattel we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If youre excited about this role but your past experience doesnt 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 Mattels 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 worlds 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.

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

Visit us at  of recruiting scams: Mattel will only contact you through official @ or @ email addresses and will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information during the hiring process.

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

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time