Lead Product Development Engineer

Job Description

The Opportunity
Mattel Brick Shop is seeking a Lead Product Development Engineer, located at our manufacturing plant in Monterey, to support the development of innovative construction toy products from concept through production. This role will lead engineering activities on complex projects, ensuring product designs meet requirements for quality, functionality, manufacturability, cost, and consumer experience.

Working closely with Product Development, Design, Quality, Packaging, and Manufacturing teams, the Lead Product Engineer will drive project execution, coordinate with suppliers and manufacturing partners, and help bring exciting new building experiences to market.

What You’ll Do: 

• Lead the engineering development of construction toy products from concept through production launch.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and manufacturing partners throughout the development process.
• Own Engineering Pilot (EP) and Final Engineering Pilot (FEP) builds, driving issue resolution and product readiness for production.
• Manage prototype and production sample builds, incorporating design, engineering, and quality feedback.
• Review engineering documentation, drawings, and Bills of Materials (BOMs) for accuracy and completeness.
• Support tooling development, mold qualification, and production readiness activities.
• Partner with Quality and Manufacturing teams to resolve technical issues and support final product approval.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers.

Qualifications

Who We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in product engineering, product development, or building set development.
• Experience leading products from concept through production.
• Knowledge of plastic part design, tooling, injection molding, and manufacturing processes.
• Strong project engineering, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and engineering drawing/CAD tools.
• Fluent in both English and Spanish.
• Experience working with Asian suppliers and manufacturing partners is preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally, including Asia, as required.

Additional Information

What It’s Like to Work Here:

We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower the next generation 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 company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO and MEGA, as well as other popular intellectual properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 35 locations and our products are available in more than 150 countries 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 children to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

Mattel is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers including minorities, females, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those of all sexual orientations and gender identities.