Toy Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

As a Toy Designer, you will design innovative toy lines for market-leading brands. This role requires an expert balance of creative vision and strategic alignment to translate consumer insights into compelling, collectable products. You will champion the entire design process from initial sketching and ideation to technical problem-solving and final production. Collaboration is key: you will partner cross-functionally with brand management and manufacturing teams to deliver user-centric play experiences while strictly adhering to cost, quality, and timeline requirements. Join our dynamic design team and help us shape the future of play!
What You Will Do:

• Lead the end-to-end product design lifecycle from generating new toy concepts and initial ideation to prototype execution, user testing, and final product turnover
• Create compelling systems of play centered around compatibility, usability, and superior play experiences for new and existing collectible brands
• Collaborate cross-functionally with brand, product management, engineering, packaging, and licensors to ensure designs perfectly fit the brand and meet all strict licensor requirements
• Deliver precise product turnover specifications and collaborate with packaging teams, ensuring all details are fully understood by international factories and outside vendors
• Review and document specification changes, submit designs for licensor approval, and provide actionable feedback on illustrative turns, sculpts, paint masters, and sample reviews
• Ensure all product designs maintain exceptional quality standards while strictly adhering to target costs, QA/QC requirements, and development schedules
• Successfully present concepts and strategic direction during brand and licensing meetings to build consensus across multiple departments
• Work closely with management and global manufacturing teams to proactively resolve development issues and ensure smooth transitions from concept to production

Supervisor Responsibilities: No
What We Are Looking For:

• 3+ years of product design experience within the toy industry, with a proven track record developing hard goods (action figures, plastics, playsets) and soft goods (plush, textiles)
• 1+ years of direct experience collaborating with global manufacturing vendors, demonstrating a strong understanding of plastic injection molding, assembly, and creating precise turn-over specification packages
• Deep understanding of creating cohesive systems of play (including compatibility and articulation) within strict licensed brand style guides
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) alongside standard G-Suite/MS Office tools, with expertise in creating highly detailed control drawings and rendered illustration concepts
• Exceptional visual, verbal, and written communication skills with the ability to pitch concepts effectively to licensors and cross-functional teams
• A highly adaptable, critical-thinking mindset with the ability to seamlessly manage multiple shifting priorities, hit critical deadlines, and work independently to problem-solve

Nice To Have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Mechanical/Industrial Engineering, or a highly related field is a plus
• Prior experience designing for major entertainment properties or specific licenses (such as Pokémon)

What we offer:
The salary range for this position is $70,000.00 - $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.

Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to be part of the fastest-growing toy company in the industry. Connect with us today, and let's shape the future of play together!
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.
Recruitment Safety
Please be wary of unsolicited communications from individuals or websites you are not familiar with, or any communications requesting sensitive personal data or information. All official Jazwares employment information will come from our company email ending in @jazwares.com. Jazwares will never request any monetary payments at any point during its hiring process. If you have any questions about any unsolicited communications, you can reach out to jazlegal@jazwares.com. We look forward to you experiencing a safe and enjoyable application process at Jazwares!
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.