Senior Toy Designer - Trends

Jazwares, LLC; Culver City (CA); Hybrid; USD 86,400 - 105,420; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid medical insurance

401(k) with 4% match

Disability & AD&D

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible schedule: Mon-Thu on-site, Fr

Up to 20 remote days per year

Time Off for vacation and sick leave

Volunteer time via Jazwares Cares

Job summary

Jazwares, LLC in Culver City, CA seeks a Senior Toy Product Designer to lead end-to-end design for hard and soft goods, from research and concepts to prototypes and hand‑offs. You will collaborate with branding, management, engineering, packaging, and licensing teams to deliver high‑quality products that meet brand and licensor requirements.

You will guide concepts through development, balancing target cost and QA/QC, while partnering with external vendors to ensure on‑time turnover packages and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of product design experience in the toy industry and a proven track record across hard and soft goods.
• 1+ years of experience working with global manufacturing factories (Asia preferred).
• Excellent awareness of current trends, innovations, and competitive toy marketplaces.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office & G-Suite; strong Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Strong project management skills with ability to work cross-functionally and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of materials and multiple manufacturing processes; experience with licensed brands.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills; multitasking and prioritization abilities.
• Ability to collaborate with branding, management, engineering, packaging, licensor, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Generate new toy concepts and design play experiences for brands and product lines.
• Deliver end-to-end product design including research, concepts, prototypes, and user testing.
• Champion high-quality designs within target cost and QA/QC requirements.
• Oversee the product design process and create systems of play focused on usability.
• Collaborate with branding, product management, engineering, licensor, and other teams.
• Attend brand/licensor meetings to gather information for design work; present concepts to stakeholders.
• Prepare precise turnover specifications and ensure understanding by international teams/factories.
• Work with outside vendors and resolve development issues while maintaining brand standards.

Job description

What You Will Do

• Instrumental in generating new toy concepts and designing new play experiences for new and/or existing brands and product lines
• Deliver end to end product design including research, concepts, prototypes, and user testing
• Champion great design in our high-quality products and help assure they are within target cost and QA/QC requirements
• Oversees the product design process
• Create systems of play centered around compatibility, usability, and superior play experiences
• Builds consensus between members throughout the design process
• Work collaboratively with your branding, product management, engineering, packaging, licensor, and other internal team partners to create product that is the best fit for the brand and meets licensor requirements
• Attend Brand and licensing meeting and brainstorming to obtain enough information for product design
• Successfully present and communicate concepts to the brand, development, management, and licensor teams
• Ensure delivery of precise, clear, and complete product turnover specifications and ensure they fully understood by the international team/factory
• Work with outside vendors
• Support the overall strategic goals of product, provide direction and feedback during the development process that is attentive to licensor and for brand assurance
• Responsible for completing, reviewing, documenting specification changes, submitting for licensor approval, and providing comments for illustrative turns, sculpts, paint masters, and sample reviews
• Work closely with brand/management teams to resolve development issues, while assuring designs meet the target cost, schedule, and brand standards
• Participate in the entire life cycle of project development from a concept through initial ideation, refinement, prototype execution, and turn over packages to development teams
• Champion high quality designs and products that are within target cost and QA/QC requirements
• Collaborate with packaging design team to assure product and packaging are aligned

Manages People:

No

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s Degree in toy design, industrial design, industrial engineering, or industry relevant field is a plus
• 5+ years of product design experience in the toy industry, with a proven track record across both hard goods (action figures, plastics, playsets) and soft goods (plush, textiles).
• 1+ years of experience working with global manufacturing factories (Asia preferred)
• Exhibit interest and knowledge of the current trends/innovations as well as an understanding the competitive marketplace in the toy industry
• Proactively observes and gain understanding of the competative marketplace including current trends and innovation
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office & G-Suite
• Strong proficiency in adobe creative suite (illustrator, photoshop, and indesign) or other similar tools
• Strong project management skills
• Able to work cross functionally and reciprocally with multiple departments
• Able to work independently or collaboratively
• Knowledge of materials and multiple manufacturing processes
• Knowledge of working with licensed brands
• Exceptional visual, verbal, and written communication skills
• Able to multitask, organize, prioritize, and manage time efficiently
• Demonstrates a strong design sense, including a well-developed sense of aesthetics
• Can easily adapt to shifting priorities, and can manage multiple priorities at one time, while also demonstrating vigilance in keeping projects moving forward and hitting deadlines
• Effective problem solver and critical thinker; proactive in resolving issues
• Expertise in control drawings and rendered illustration concepts
• Ability to deal effectively with diverse individuals at all organizational levels in a professional manner

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the toy/baby/costume/pets industry
• Knowledge of 3D modeling, sculpting, and rendering (Familiar with Zbrush/Rhino/Fusion 360) a plus
• Multilingual a plus

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee, but provide the primary duties and responsibilities of the role. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

What We Offer

The salary range for this position is $86,4000.00 - 105,420.00 / Yr. The base salary may vary based on experience, role tenure, performance, industry, and location. Eligibility for the annual performance incentive may apply. Jazwares is a multi-state employer, so the salary range may not apply to other states.

Our benefits package includes basic medical insurance that is 100% company-paid for employees and their children, employee basic life and AD&D insurance, a 401(K) retirement program with Jazwares matching up to 4% of pretax or post-tax deferrals, short and long-term disability, and tuition reimbursement.

Our work environment provides a flexible work schedule that includes Monday through Thursday on-site, with an optional WFH on Fridays, up to 20 workdays fully remote each year, and Time Off for vacation and sick leave. Through Jazwares Cares, you will have the opportunity to volunteer for up to 16 hours a year on community service projects.

Reasonable Accommodations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working at Jazwares

At Jazwares, we believe an innovative idea can come from anywhere and anyone. Through our three pillars, we foster innovation and encourage creativity in every area of our business.

• Passion: Our conviction and enthusiasm show in our products, relationships, and commitment to our community.
• Collaboration: We share one vision worldwide, constantly striving to improve and innovate together.
• Humility: We recognize the value in others and treat everyone with respect. Our strength lies in our people and talent.

JAZWARES is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, ancestry, disability, age, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Jazwares is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.

Who We Are

Jazwares, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading global toy manufacturer with a robust portfolio of owned and licensed brands. Founded in 1997, Jazwares celebrates imaginative play with a progressive focus on identifying new and relevant trends to transform into high-quality products for consumers of all ages. Jazwares engages consumers through innovative play experiences with popular brands such as Squishmallows™, Pokémon™, Hello Kitty™, Star Wars™, Five Nights at Freddy’s™, Disney™, BumBumz™, and BLDR™. In addition to toys, offerings include costumes, games, and pillows. Headquartered in Plantation, Florida, Jazwares has offices worldwide and sells its products in over 100 countries. For more information, visit www.jazwares.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook.