Sr. Manager, Engineering

Spin Master•Wilton, CT

21h•$138,000 - $170,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Manager, Product Engineering to lead the technical strategy and execution of our product portfolio, spanning wooden, hybrid, and multi-material toys. This role is both strategic and hands-on, serving as the primary engineering authority within Product Development and a key thought partner to the VP of Product Development. This leader will oversee mechanical engineering, materials, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing readiness while directly managing and mentoring a team of engineers.

Requirements

Flexibility to adjust working hours as needed, including early mornings or late evenings, to support collaboration with Asia-based partners.
Deep expertise in mixed-material products, including wood and plastics.
Extensive experience working with overseas manufacturing partners, preferably in Asia.
Strong knowledge of global toy safety standards and compliance requirements.
Advanced proficiency in CAD tools (SolidWorks or equivalent), DFM/DFA, prototyping, testing, and technical documentation.
Experience engineering high-volume retail products.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally approximately 15% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with sustainability initiatives and eco-friendly materials.

Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Strategy Serve as the senior technical leader for Product Development, providing engineering strategy, structure, and rigor across the portfolio.
Establish and maintain engineering standards, design best practices, and documentation discipline across the full product lifecycle.
Translate product and brand strategy into clear engineering roadmaps, priorities, and resourcing plans.
Act as a trusted technical advisor to senior leadership, providing clear recommendations on feasibility, risk, cost, and timelines.
Player-Coach Execution Remain hands-on as needed, reviewing CAD, validating designs, solving complex technical problems, and supporting critical milestones.
Review and approve engineering deliverables for technical accuracy, safety, manufacturability, and compliance.
Product Development & Design Execution Partner closely with Design, Product Development, Brand, and Quality to translate creative concepts into production-ready designs.
Guide engineering decisions across wood, plastics, textiles, metals, paints, and finishes.
Provide clear cost, design, and manufacturing trade-off options to support decision-making.
Safety, Quality & Compliance Ensure all products meet or exceed global toy safety and regulatory standards (ASTM F963, CPSIA, EN71, ISO).
Partner with Quality and Compliance teams on risk assessments, testing protocols, and failure-mode analysis.
Champion durability, child safety, and age-appropriate engineering throughout development.
Manufacturing & Global Sourcing Collaborate closely with global manufacturing and tooling partners across Asia and other production regions to ensure manufacturability, cost efficiency, and quality standards.
Lead DFM/DFA reviews, tooling development, pilot runs, and overall production readiness in partnership with regional manufacturing teams.
Support troubleshooting and issue resolutions before and after handoff to global production teams.
Process Excellence & Continuous Improvement Strengthen and scale engineering processes, workflows, and PLM usage to improve predictability, visibility, and speed to market.
Improve turnover, package quality and consistency.
Introduce sustainable materials and manufacturing practices where feasible.
Establish metrics to measure engineering effectiveness, quality, and delivery performance.