Toy Designer - Plush

Jazwares, LLC; Culver City (CA); Hybrid; USD 76,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Jazwares, LLC is seeking a Toy Designer for our Plush line to lead the design and development of soft goods for internal IP and licensed products. You will manage the full design process from ideation to production, collaborating with brand management, engineering, packaging, and global manufacturing to deliver high-quality, cost-conscious plush products that align with licensor guidelines.

The role emphasizes trend-aware design, strong communication, and a portfolio demonstrating plush toy

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of design and development experience in soft goods/plush toys with a strong portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design lifecycle for plush toys from ideation to production.
• Ensure designs meet target costs and QA/QC requirements.
• Collaborate with brand management, engineering, packaging, and licensors.
• Pitch concepts to stakeholders and build consensus across teams.
• Deliver precise turnover specs and document changes for licensor approval.
• Coordinate with global manufacturing to resolve development issues and ensure smooth mass production.

Skills

Soft goods design

Global manufacturing

Illustrator

Photoshop

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Toy Design

Tools

3D modeling

Sculpting

Rendering software

Job description

As the Toy Designer for our Plush line, you will lead the design and development of innovative soft goods for our internal IP and licensed products! This role requires an expert balance of creative vision and strategic alignment to translate premier entertainment properties into compelling, huggable products. You will champion the entire design process from initial ideation to final production. Collaboration is key: partner cross-functionally with brand management, engineering, packaging, and global manufacturing to deliver user-centric play experiences while adhering to strict cost and timeline requirements. Come join one of the world’s biggest toy-making companies and help us shape the future of play!

What You Will Do:

• Lead the end-to-end product design lifecycle by generating innovative toy concepts for new and existing brands while actively monitoring current industry trends and the competitive marketplace
• Champion high-quality designs that strictly adhere to target costs and QA/QC requirements while supporting the overarching strategic goals of the product line
• Collaborate cross-functionally with brand management, engineering, packaging, and licensors to create cohesive products that perfectly fit the brand and meet strict licensor guidelines
• Successfully pitch, prepare, and communicate compelling concepts to brand, development, management, and licensor teams while building consensus throughout the design process
• Deliver precise product turnover specifications, review illustrative turns, sculpts, paint masters, and plush samples, and meticulously document specification changes for licensor approval
• Work closely with global manufacturing teams and brand management to proactively resolve development issues and ensure smooth transitions from concept to mass production

Supervisor Responsibilities:

No

What We Are Looking For:

• 3 to 5 years of relevant design and development experience specifically focused on soft goods and plush toys, backed by a strong portfolio of work samples
• 1+ years of experience collaborating directly with global manufacturing factories (Asia preferred), demonstrating a solid understanding of textiles, materials, and multiple manufacturing processes
• Deep understanding of the competitive marketplace, current industry trends, and creating cohesive products within strict licensed brand guidelines
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (specifically Illustrator and Photoshop) with proven expertise in creating highly detailed control drawings and rendered illustration concepts
• Exceptional visual, verbal, and written communication skills with superior presentation abilities to effectively influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• A highly adaptable, detail-oriented mindset with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to seamlessly manage multiple shifting priorities to hit strict deadlines

Nice To Have:

• Bachelor's degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Industrial Engineering, or a highly related field is a plus
• Prior experience working specifically in the toy, baby, costume, or pets industry
• Knowledge of 3D modeling, sculpting, and rendering software

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 $75,840.00 - $91,740.00 / 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.

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.

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.