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Toy Development Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Successfully present and communicate concepts to the brand, development, management, and licensor ... Bachelor's Degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Mechanical/Industrial Engineering, or a related ...

Successfully present and communicate concepts to the brand, development, management, and licensor ... Bachelor's Degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Mechanical/Industrial Engineering, or a related ...

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Toy Development information

Do Toy Designers get paid well?

Toy designers typically earn a median annual salary that varies based on experience, location, and company size, with entry-level positions starting lower and experienced designers earning higher wages. Salaries can range from around $40,000 to over $80,000 per year, and skills in CAD software and prototyping can influence earning potential.

What job makes $10,000 a month without a degree?

In toy development, high-level roles such as senior toy designer or product manager can potentially earn $10,000 or more per month, especially with extensive experience and a strong portfolio. These positions often require specialized skills, industry knowledge, and sometimes certifications, but may not always require a formal degree.

What is the difference between Toy Development vs Toy Design?

AspectToy DevelopmentToy Design
Primary FocusOverseeing the entire process from concept to production, including engineering, manufacturing, and testing.Creating the visual and conceptual design of toys, focusing on aesthetics and user experience.
Required SkillsProduct management, engineering knowledge, project coordination, understanding of manufacturing processes.Creative skills, sketching, 3D modeling, understanding of materials and ergonomics.
Work EnvironmentCollaborative with engineers, manufacturers, and marketers in toy companies or studios.Design studios, toy companies, or freelance environments focusing on conceptual work.

While toy development involves managing the entire production process, toy design concentrates on creating the toy's appearance and concept. Both roles are essential and often overlap, but toy development ensures the product is feasible and manufacturable, whereas toy design emphasizes creativity and user appeal.

What jobs in the US pay 300,000 a year?

In the field of toy development, senior roles such as lead designers, product managers, or executive positions like VP of Product can reach or exceed $300,000 annually, especially with experience, bonuses, and profit sharing. These roles typically require extensive industry experience, strong project management skills, and often involve overseeing large teams or product lines.

What is the 10 toy rule?

The 10 toy rule in toy development refers to a guideline where designers limit the number of different toy concepts or features to ten during the initial design phase to focus on quality and feasibility. This helps streamline the development process, ensure safety standards are met, and facilitate effective testing and refinement before production.
Infographic showing various Toy Development job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 82% In-person, and 18% Hybrid job distribution.
Associate Manager, Toy Marketing, Barbie

Associate Manager, Toy Marketing, Barbie

Mattel, Inc.

El Segundo, CA • On-site

$35.25 - $48.25/hr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Mattel rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 24 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Job Summary:
Mattel, Inc. is a leading global toy and family entertainment company known for its iconic brands. The Associate Manager of Toy Marketing will collaborate with the Toy Marketing Manager to manage the toy portfolio strategy, pricing, and product development pipeline.
Responsibilities:
• Develop toy strategy by segment (core, premium, collector, preschool, etc.).
• Manage toy pricing architecture and competitive positioning.
• Partner with leadership to build 3–5 year toy product roadmaps, balancing innovation and refresh cycles.
• Own consumer/play insights specific to toy usage and play patterns.
• Collaborate with Design/R&D to bring toys from concept to shelf.
• Assist in coordinating with regional commercial teams in gaining buy-in to global product strategies at all levels
• Own toy business performance (revenue, margin, SKU productivity).
• Provide input to Brand Marketing on packaging, messaging, and feature storytelling.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 5+ years (3 years with MBA) experience in brand marketing (on brand or agency side), franchise management/marketing, content marketing, or purpose-driven strategy/marketing.
• Project management Managing complex product development timelines.
• Roles in category management, product marketing, or product development.
• Experience partnering with design and manufacturing.
• Background in CPG or toy companies, ideally with exposure to retail buyer dynamics.
• Strong quantitative/financial skills (forecasting, pricing, SKU productivity analysis).
• Product strategy & roadmap Ability to define toy segments, pricing ladders, and innovation cycles.
• Collaboration with design/R&D Comfort working with creative, engineering, and manufacturing teams.
• Retail/channel knowledge Ability to leverage insights to build mass, specialty, and e-commerce distribution strategies.
• Business & financial management Strong grasp of SKU productivity, margin targets, and overall toy category P&L.
• Financial acumen Experience with P&L at the brand or category level.
• Communication skills Excellent at storytelling, presentations, and influencing senior leadership.
• Strong PowerPoint creation and presentation skills, proficiency in Outlook, Word and Excel.
Company:
We empower generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential. Founded in 1945, the company is headquartered in El Segundo, USA, with a team of 10001+ employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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