Sr Manager, Quality Engineering

Mattel•El Segundo, CA

17h•$168,000 - $195,000•Onsite

About The Position

Mattel is currently seeking a Senior Manager, Quality Engineering in El Segundo, CA. This role is a key member of the corporate Quality Engineering leadership team, reporting to the Sr. Director of Quality Engineering. The Senior Manager will develop and execute functional strategies that align with business priorities, influence design and development practices across global brand teams, and lead cross-functional initiatives to enhance quality, safety, and compliance. The Senior Manager will have responsibility for people leadership, strategic alignment, and execution of enterprise-level quality initiatives, while building organizational capability and shaping a culture of quality excellence

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering (Master’s degree preferred).
8+ years of progressive experience in product development, engineering, or quality roles, including at least 3 years in leadership.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, project management tools, and statistical analysis software (e.g., Minitab).
Deep knowledge of Quality Management Systems, risk management, and human factors/usability engineering, and new product development.
Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills; proven ability to lead teams and influence cross-functional groups at all levels.
Demonstrated expertise in consumer product regulatory standards, with emphasis on toys or children’s products.
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills; able to define strategies, drive execution, and deliver measurable results.
Skilled at regulatory intelligence, benchmarking, and best practice integration to shape organizational strategy.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; adept at communicating complex quality topics to technical and executive stakeholders.
Proven ability to lead multiple strategic projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and make independent decisions that impact organizational performance.
Strong business acumen, with experience aligning functional strategies to broader corporate objectives.

Responsibilities

Develops and implements functional strategies for regulatory compliance, risk management, and product quality that align with corporate objectives.
Leverages regulatory intelligence and benchmarking insights to adapt systems and influence quality direction.
Leads, coaches, and mentors a team of Quality Engineers, building organizational capability in quality systems, decision-making, and technical excellence.
Establishes clear goals, KPIs, and accountability frameworks to ensure team performance aligns with strategic priorities.
Manages and develops the US- and Asia-based Quality Engineering teams, providing direction, performance management, and support across time zones to ensure consistent execution of quality priorities.
Designs and leads strategic communication strategies to align cross-functional partners (Marketing, Design, Development, Product Safety, Regulatory Compliance, and Manufacturing) around shared quality objectives.
Anticipates downstream risks and ensures early cross-functional engagement to drive proactive resolution.
Defines enterprise data strategy for quality analytics, ensuring insights inform business and product decisions.
Builds systems for scalable, accurate, and consistent data management, enabling evidence-based decision-making across the organization.
Shapes enterprise approaches to investigation, root cause analysis, and risk management tools (FMEA, FTA, PHA), ensuring robust processes that support compliance and innovation.
Develops scalable sampling and verification strategies aligned with corporate risk management and lifecycle planning.
Fosters a culture of regulatory agility, continuous learning, and shared ownership of quality.
Champions adoption of best practices and innovative tools to strengthen compliance, efficiency, and product performance.
Partners with senior leadership to align enterprise quality goals with long-term business strategies and cultural transformation efforts.