Lead Product Designer - Games

Mattel; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 115,000 - 144,000; Full time

Job summary

Mattel is seeking an experienced Lead Product Designer to shape the future of iconic games like UNO, Pictionary, Scrabble, and more. You will bridge gameplay systems, physical product design, prototyping, and leadership, owning complex programs and guiding teams while staying hands-on.

You will collaborate across Design, Marketing, Engineering, Consumer Insights, Packaging, Licensing, and Operations to transform ideas into intuitive products, balancing creativity with manufacturability and

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience designing tabletop, card, party, strategy, family games, toys, or related physical consumer products, with demonstrated strength in game and product design.
• Experience leading the complete game development process, including ideation, mechanics, prototyping, playtesting, balancing, iteration, and commercialization.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating sophisticated problem solving, compelling physical product design, and the ability to translate ideas into clear, engaging play experiences.
• Deep 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.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop new gameplay experiences across Mattel's portfolio of family, party, strategy, and card games.
• Own complex projects from early concept exploration through prototyping, playtesting, refinement, and final product execution.
• Apply game design principles, player psychology, consumer insights, and a strong understanding of player behavior to create experiences that are simple to learn, rewarding to play, and built for repeat engagement.
• Build and test prototypes quickly, using playtesting and consumer feedback to improve mechanics, pacing, accessibility, and overall player experience.
• Identify opportunities to reinvent established brands while developing entirely new ways to play.
• Translate gameplay into intuitive, beautifully crafted physical products, components, and interactions.
• Develop clear design solutions through sketching, model making, CAD, rendering, prototyping, and other appropriate visualization tools.
• Lead constructive critique and design reviews that strengthen ideas, sharpen decision-making, and raise the quality of the work.
• Mentor and support Product Designers and Senior Product Designers through feedback, collaboration, and hands‑on problem solving.

Skills

Game design

Playtesting

Prototyping

Cross-functional leadership

Player behavior

Tools

CAD

Job 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 is looking for an experienced and imaginative Lead Product Designer to help shape the future of one of the world’s most iconic games portfolios. From UNO, Pictionary, Scrabble, Phase 10, Skip-Bo, Blokus, KerPlunk!, and beyond, you’ll lead the design of play experiences that entertain millions of players around the world.

This is a senior individual contributor role for a designer who can move fluidly between gameplay systems, physical product design, prototyping, and creative leadership. You’ll take ownership of complex programs, establish clear design direction, and help other designers solve difficult problems while remaining deeply involved in the work yourself.

Working across Design, Marketing, Engineering, Consumer Insights, Packaging, Licensing, and Operations, you’ll help transform ideas into intuitive, compelling products while raising the creative bar for the broader Games team.

What Your Impact Will Be:

• Design and develop new gameplay experiences across Mattel's portfolio of family, party, strategy, and card games.
• Own complex projects from early concept exploration through prototyping, playtesting, refinement, and final product execution.
• Apply game design principles, player psychology, consumer insights, and a strong understanding of player behavior to create experiences that are simple to learn, rewarding to play, and built for repeat engagement.
• Build and test prototypes quickly, using playtesting and consumer feedback to improve mechanics, pacing, accessibility, and overall player experience.
• Identify opportunities to reinvent established brands while developing entirely new ways to play.
• Translate gameplay into intuitive, beautifully crafted physical products, components, and interactions.
• Develop clear design solutions through sketching, model making, CAD, rendering, prototyping, and other appropriate visualization tools.
• Partner closely with Engineering and Packaging to balance creativity with manufacturing feasibility, quality, cost, and sustainability.
• Make thoughtful decisions around materials, component design, ergonomics, visual hierarchy, tactile interaction, and overall product experience.
• Review prototypes and production samples to help preserve design intent and gameplay integrity through manufacturing.
• Provide creative leadership across projects, establishing clear design direction and helping teams navigate ambiguous or complex design challenges.
• Lead constructive critique and design reviews that strengthen ideas, sharpen decision-making, and raise the quality of the work.
• Mentor and support Product Designers and Senior Product Designers through feedback, collaboration, and hands‑on problem solving.
• Communicate design strategy and recommendations clearly to cross‑functional partners and senior stakeholders, building alignment around the strongest consumer experience.
• Act as a trusted design partner across the Games organization while remaining a hands‑on individual contributor rather than a direct people manager.
• Drive projects from concept through commercialization, managing multiple parallel workstreams while maintaining creative quality and attention to detail.
• Build strong partnerships across Marketing, Consumer Insights, Engineering, Packaging, Licensing, and external development partners.
• Anticipate risks, solve complex design challenges, and make informed tradeoffs throughout development.
• Help improve design tools, workflows, critique practices, and development approaches that enable stronger collaboration and faster iteration.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

• 7+ years of experience designing tabletop, card, party, strategy, family games, toys, or related physical consumer products, with demonstrated strength in game and product design.
• Experience leading the complete game development process, including ideation, mechanics, prototyping, playtesting, balancing, iteration, and commercialization.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating sophisticated problem solving, compelling physical product design, and the ability to translate ideas into clear, engaging play experiences.
• Deep 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 lead through influence, provide meaningful creative direction, and elevate the work of other designers without relying on formal authority.
• Strong communication, storytelling, critique, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects, navigate ambiguity, and maintain momentum in a fast‑paced development environment.
• Passion for games, curiosity about how people play, and a desire to create products that bring people together.

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.
• Experience mentoring designers or serving as a creative lead across multidisciplinary development teams.
• A genuine love of games and play, whether that’s 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.

Additional Information

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:
This role is an in-office role Monday-Thursday, and work from home on Fridays.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’s 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.

The pay range for this position is between $115,000 and $144,000 annual. 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.