Toy Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

As the Senior Toy Designer for our Pokémon plush line, you will successfully lead the design and development of innovative plush lines for this high-profile licensed brand. 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 sketching and ideation to technical problem-solving and final production. Collaboration is key: you will partner cross-functionally with brand management, packaging, and global manufacturing teams to deliver user-centric play experiences while strictly adhering to cost, quality, and timeline requirements.

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

• 5+ years of product design experience within the toy industry, featuring a proven track record across soft goods (plush, textiles)

• 1+ years of experience collaborating directly with global manufacturing vendors, demonstrating a strong understanding of materials and multiple manufacturing processes

• Deep understanding of the competitive marketplace, current industry trends, and creating cohesive products within strict licensed brand style guides

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and expertise in creating highly detailed control drawings and rendered illustration concepts

• Exceptional visual, verbal, and written communication skills with a highly adaptable mindset to seamlessly manage multiple shifting priorities and strict deadlines

• A collaborative, team-oriented approach combined with strong project management skills and the ability to work independently to problem-solve and execute complex design goals

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 (such as ZBrush, Rhino, or Fusion 360)

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.

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!