Associate Product Designer - Pokémon Plastics

About the role

The Associate Product Designer – Pokémon Plastics plays a key role in designing and developing innovative, high-quality plastic toys, action figures, and playsets for the Pokémon universe. You will lead Pokémon plastic product initiatives, combining creative ideation, a deep appreciation for Pokémon, and technical hard-goods problem-solving to turn fan-favorite Pokémon, Trainers, and battle environments into compelling physical toys for collectors and kids.

Responsibilities

• Generate new toy concepts to enhance new and existing brands.
• Champion great design while ensuring products meet target cost and QA/QC requirements.
• Build consensus throughout the design process and collaborate with branding, product management, engineering, packaging, licensor, and other internal teams.
• Attend brand and licensing meetings to gather information for product design.
• Present and communicate concepts to brand, development, management, and licensor teams.
• Deliver precise, clear, and complete product turnover specifications for international teams and factories.
• Support strategic product goals, providing direction and feedback during development to ensure licensor and brand assurance.
• Complete, review, and document specification changes, submit for licensor approval, and provide feedback on illustrative turns, sculpts, paint masters, and sample reviews.
• Resolve development issues with brand/management teams while ensuring designs meet target cost, schedule, and brand standards.
• Participate in the entire project lifecycle from concept through ideation, refinement, prototype execution, and turnover to development teams.
• Collaborate with the packaging design team to align product and packaging.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in toy design, industrial design, industrial engineering, or a related field (preferred).
• 0–3 years of experience in product design, hard goods/plastic toy development, or action figure design.
• 0–3 years of experience collaborating with overseas manufacturing partners (Asia preferred).
• Genuine passion for the Pokémon universe, characters, region lore, and aesthetics, with a strong understanding of collector and kid community preferences.
• Interest and knowledge of current trends, innovations, and the competitive toy marketplace.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and G-Suite.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Ability to work cross-functionally and independently or collaboratively.
• Knowledge of materials and multiple manufacturing processes.
• Exceptional visual, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to multitask, organize, prioritize, and manage time efficiently.
• Strong design sense and well-developed aesthetic judgment.
• Adaptability to shifting priorities while managing multiple projects and deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Proactive problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with diverse individuals at all organizational levels.

Benefits

• 100% company-paid basic medical insurance for employees and their children.
• Employee basic life and AD&D insurance.
• 401(K) retirement program with Jazwares matching up to 4% of pretax or post-tax deferrals.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Flexible work schedule: Monday through Thursday on-site, optional WFH on Fridays, up to 20 fully remote workdays per year.
• Paid Time Off for vacation and sick leave.
• 16 hours of paid volunteer time per year through Jazwares Cares.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $66,480.00 – $79,740.00 per year, with eligibility for an annual performance incentive. The base salary may vary based on experience, role tenure, performance, industry, and location.

Schedule

Monday through Thursday on-site, with optional work-from-home on Fridays. Up to 20 fully remote workdays per year.