Games Technology Lead, Publishing

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 Game Studios’ mission is to harness the power of Mattel's iconic brands and IP to create a wide variety of engaging digital games. Guided by industry leaders with decades of experience, our team is building innovative, engaging experiences that bring beloved brands to life for players worldwide. 

If you are passionate about gaming and eager to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking team in family entertainment, this is the opportunity for you! 

The Opportunity: 

We are seeking a Technical Manager to provide hands-on technical oversight and publishing support across multiple game titles in development with external studios. This role ensures Mattel’s publishing goals are achieved through high-quality execution, risk mitigation, and seamless integration of Mattel Game Studios publishing platform and services. With a strong focus on mobile free-to-play development and live operations, you will play a critical role in safeguarding the delivery and ensuring long-term success of our titles. 

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Serve as the primary technical point of contact between Mattel and third-party developers, owning technical aspects of projects from concept through launch and live operations. 

• Uphold quality and reduce risk by vetting technical designs, assessing partner capabilities, and developing mitigation strategies. 

• Support the simultaneous development of multiple titles, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and alignment with Mattel’s publishing platform services. 

• Collaborate closely with production, design, art, LiveOps, and QA teams to deliver technically sound, high-quality products that meet business objectives. 

• Provide technical oversight on key areas such as engineering practices, performance optimization, service integration, and backend technologies that scale globally. 

• Get hands-on when needed—digging into issues, conducting deep analysis, and driving resolution of complex technical problems. 

• Deliver clear and timely reporting to leadership, including risk assessments, technical evaluations, and status updates. 

What We’re Looking For:

• 5+ years in mobile game development and/or publishing, with direct involvement in shipped products. 

• Proven experience supporting third-party development teams, resolving engineering challenges, and guiding technical direction. 

• Experience supporting multiple projects in a publishing environment. 

• Solid understanding of the free-to-play ecosystem and LiveOps requirements, including server-authoritative game loops and analytics/experimentation frameworks. 

• Familiarity with mobile game development pipelines, including build and content/art workflows that support efficient production. 

• Analytical mindset with the ability to balance business priorities against technical risks; navigating complex issues with timely and understandable feedback and direction. 

• Preferred Qualifications 

• Hands-on experience with Unity / C# or Unreal Engine / C++. 

• Familiarity with industry-standard tools and services such as Heroic Labs Nakama, GitHub, Backtrace, Jira, CI/CD (GitHub Actions, Jenkins), big data platforms (e.g. BigQuery). 

• Broad knowledge of mobile game development, including performance optimization, rendering techniques, games backend services, authentication systems, analytics, multiplayer & social features. 

• Analytical thinker with the ability to balance business priorities against technical risks, providing timely, understandable feedback and direction. 

• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

*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