Lead Digital Gaming Designer

Join to apply for the Lead Digital Gaming Designer role at Mattel, Inc. Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features. 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! 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. 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, the final salary will be determined based on the candidate's work location, skills, and experience. Don't meet every requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway-you might be the right fit for this or other roles. How We Work We are a purpose-driven company aiming to empower generations to explore childhood's wonder and reach their full potential. Our behaviors include: We collaborate: Being part of Mattel means working as one team with shared values and goals. Partnership and collective capabilities are our superpower. We innovate: We always seek new ways to create innovative products and experiences. Your ideas and initiatives are valued and can make a difference. We execute: We strive for excellence, accountability, and ownership, empowering our people to create and deliver results. Who We Are Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company with iconic brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, UNO, and Monster High. We offer toys, content, consumer products, digital, and live experiences, collaborating with leading retailers and ecommerce platforms. Founded in 1945, Mattel is committed to empowering children and has been recognized for its workplace culture by Forbes, Fast Company, and others. Visit us at and . Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, or other protected categories. We consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records pursuant to applicable laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr