Sr Manager, Quality Engineering

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:
The Quality Engineering team is responsible for working with the product design and development groups to influence design and engineering decisions that uphold all consumer, regulatory, and brand expectations for quality, safety, and reliability. We also work directly with international quality and manufacturing teams to support pre-production debug and any post-production issues that may arise. This is a group that makes data-driven decisions and creates the appropriate rationale for our requirements

The Opportunity: 
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

What Your Impact Will Be: 

Strategy Development & Execution

• 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.

Leadership & Team Development

• 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.

Cross-Functional Influence

• 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.

Decision-Making & Data Strategy

• 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.

Technical & Engineering Excellence

• 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.

Culture & Continuous Improvement

• 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.

What We’re Looking For:

Experience, Education, & Skills:

• 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.

*The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base pay 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. 

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. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!

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.

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.

Visit us at https://jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers.

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.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy