Product Manager - Future Lab Discovery

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’s Future Lab’s mission is to broaden play innovation, expand reach, and develop new business that take advantage of and respond to disruptive opportunities, ushering in an array of innovative products and play experiences that nimbly cater to the evolving needs and wants of our dynamic audiences. The Future Lab Discovery team is responsible for the intake of new product ideas and validating market fit, user experience, business strategy, and tech solutions.

Job Description

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Product Manager to join our dynamic Future Lab Discovery team. The ideal candidate has a proven track record in digital product management - with a focus on mobile apps, games, and connected products - and displays a passion for play, innovation, technology, and consumer-focused experiences. This role requires strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills. As Product Manager you will partner with a Creative Lead and Tech Lead to determine desirability, feasibility, and viability for multiple break-frame opportunities through iterative sprints with a focus on speed, quality, and product-market fit. You will also collaborate with Consumer Insights, Brand Champions, Software and Hardware Engineers, Business Development, and cross-functional teams to develop, prototype, test, and refine the strongest concepts.

What Your Impact Will Be:

• Identify and champion breakthrough product opportunities that open new lines of business for Mattel.

• Lead early-stage product validation efforts through a rigorous, data-informed Discovery process.

• Build compelling business cases, including revenue models and monetization strategies.

• Analyze consumer behavior, emerging trends, and competitive dynamics to inform product direction.

• Define and drive product strategy for future-forward digital and connected play experiences.

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to align goals, priorities, and execution plans.

• Represent the voice of the customer to ensure that products deliver delight, impact, and value.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

• 5+ years of experience in digital product management, with a track record of shipping impactful, user-centric products.

• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams from idea through launch in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

• Strong foundation in product discovery, experience design, and go-to-market strategy.

• Expertise in both qualitative and quantitative analysis, and a passion for data-informed decision-making.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to influence and inspire stakeholders at all levels.

• Entrepreneurial drive and the ability to navigate ambiguity with curiosity and confidence.

• Experience working on customer-facing mobile apps, games, or connected products—bonus points for experience in the toy, gaming, or consumer electronics industries.

• Proficiency in using AI tools to streamline research, accelerate decision-making, and optimize product workflows.

• Familiarity with product and project management tools (e.g., JIRA, Miro, Figma, Amplitude, etc.).

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

The annual base salary range for this position is between $116,000.00 and $167,000.00.

**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. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential.

Additional Information

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel, we are dedicated to an inclusive workplace and a culture of belonging. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. 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.

Our Approach to Flexible Work:

We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter.

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.

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Mattel is an 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.

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