Face Designer

Mattel•El Segundo, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Mattel's El Segundo Face Design Team is a highly skilled creative and technical group responsible for shaping the visual identity and emotional expression of our products through expert face design, digital design, paint execution, and cross-functional collaboration. The team partners autonomously and proactively across design, engineering, project management and global production teams to ensure that every face design meets aesthetic intent, manufacturing capabilities, cost expectations, and milestone schedules. Our designers bring expert-level artistry and technical proficiency, including digital design, traditional painting, airbrushing, flocking, and precise spec writing. The face designer works closely with international partners to translate design vision into manufacturable solutions and to address production questions throughout the development lifecycle. With a deep understanding of cost impacts and feasibility, the team plays a key role in delivering innovative, high-quality products to market. The El Segundo Face Design Team excels in managing multiple complex projects with shifting timelines, leveraging expertise in costing and communication. The team provides essential operational support, ensuring continuity and excellence across all phases of product development relating to head and hair. Together, this team combines artistry, precision, and strategic execution to bring characters to life and deliver exceptional consumer experiences across our portfolio. The Face Designer creates face designs ranging from simple to complex, ensuring alignment with brand standards, aesthetic direction, and production requirements. This role balances creativity with cost, manufacturability, and playability, delivering high-quality, production-ready designs that meet Mattel’s aesthetic expectations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent Experience in design, in an artistic capacity
Strong Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office
Ability to travel as needed (approximately 20% travel)
Strong understanding of facial design, proportion, and character expression
Knowledge of current make-up and beauty trends and their application to product design
Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate and problem-solve with design partners
Excellent time management skills with the ability to independently prioritize workload
Ability to work independently while delivering consistent, production-ready results
Proficiency in at least two (2) of the following tools: Autodesk Maya Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator
Graphic Design, illustration or Fine Art background
3D/digital design capabilities
Detail-oriented with a strong focus on quality, consistency, and playability
Self-directed and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
Collaborative and responsive to feedback
Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

Responsibilities

Create and develop face designs from concept through production readiness
Collaborate with Designers to ideate and execute simple to complex face designs
Translate creative direction into designs that meet aesthetic, cost, and manufacturing constraints
Hand paint faces at a consistent, high-quality level (aligned eye shapes, consistent sizing, accurate color application)
Create digital face design modified for production readiness
Execute specialty and novelty paint applications (e.g., color change, glitter)
Ensure all designs are developed with production feasibility in mind
Support urgent business needs and reprioritize workload as required
Contribute to cost improvement goals
Final Appearance process: Review head with Designer, tag and sign by self and Designer. Create spec with photos and upload to Face Design Shared Site using accurate labeling standards.
Paint Master Release: Create paint master head, review with design for approval, photograph and create Final release Spec. Create Final Release packet for Lead to Release and Ship.
Know how/where to locate project information within Windchill and Agile (Project Manager, Designer, Plant Source)