Lead Digital Gaming Designer

Company Description

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Team:

Mattel Game Studios’ mission is to harness the power of Mattel's iconic brands and IP to create a wide variety of engaging digital games. Our team is guided by industry leaders with decades of experience in various facets of the gaming industry. We are seeking talented individuals to join us in our mission to create innovative and engaging digital experiences that resonate with our beloved brands. If you are passionate about gaming and eager to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team in family entertainment, this is the opportunity for you!

Job Description

The Opportunity: 

We are seeking an experienced and versatile Lead Game Designer to join our publishing team. You are a fan of iconic Mattel brands such as Barbie, Monster High, and UNO. You have a desire to make digital game products based on these brands.

As a Lead Game Designer at the publishing level, you will play a critical role in shaping the creative and strategic vision for our portfolio of mobile free-to-play (F2P) games. You’ll collaborate closely with external development studios, internal stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to deliver world-class gaming experiences. Leveraging your expertise in game design, monetization strategies, and player engagement, you’ll ensure the success of games from concept to live operations.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Define and communicate the design vision for mobile F2P games in collaboration with external studios and internal teams.
  • Evaluate game concepts and provide actionable recommendations to align projects with market trends and business goals.
• Studio Collaboration:
  • Partner with external development teams to guide the creation of compelling game mechanics, progression systems, and monetization features.
  • Provide design mentorship and support to ensure games meet both creative and commercial expectations.
  • Act as a central point of contact for design-related discussions, ensuring alignment across all stakeholders.
• Monetization & Player Retention:
  • Analyze player behavior, market trends, and performance metrics to refine game systems and drive player retention.
  • Ensure a balance between monetization and player satisfaction, creating sustainable and engaging experiences.
• Game Evaluation & Feedback:
  • Review and critique game prototypes, design documentation, and live builds, providing detailed and constructive feedback.
  • Identify risks and opportunities in design decisions and propose solutions to optimize game performance.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience:
  • 5+ years of game design experience, with at least 2 years in a lead role and a strong focus on mobile F2P games.
  • Proven track record of contributing to or leading the design of successful F2P titles.
• Design Expertise:
  • Deep understanding of F2P game design principles, including core gameplay, progression systems, and monetization mechanics.
  • Familiarity with live service design and the iterative development process.
  • Ability to balance creative innovation with commercial viability.
• Analytical Skills:
  • Proficiency in analyzing player data and KPIs to inform design decisions.
  • Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to propose actionable solutions based on data and insights.
• Soft Skills:
  • Exceptional communication, presentation, and leadership skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate effectively across teams and cultures.
  • A passion for mentoring and developing talent.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in games supporting Brand/IP.
• Experience working with external development teams.
• Familiarity with publishing workflows, including milestone tracking, QA processes, and platform submission.

The annual base salary range for this position is between $96,800-$137,000.
**This range is indicative of projected hiring range, however annual base salary will be determined based on a candidate’s work location, skills and experience.

Additional Information

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How We Work:

We are a purpose driven company aiming to empower generations 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 and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold 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 generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

Mattel’s award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.

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, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran and protected veteran status, disability status, and or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Pursuant to the Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Mattel Investor Highlights