Product Designer - Squishmallows

Jazwares, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading global toy manufacturer with an award-winning, robust portfolio of wholly owned and licensed brands. Founded in 1997, Jazwares celebrates imaginative play with a progressive focus on identifying new and relevant trends to transform into high-quality products for consumers of all ages. Jazwares engages consumers through innovative play experiences with popular brands such as Squishmallows, Pokémon, Star Wars, CoComelon, Fortnite, AEW, Adopt Me!, Hello Kitty, and many more. In addition to toys, offerings also include Metaverse gaming, costumes, and products for pets. Headquartered in Plantation, Florida, Jazwares has offices worldwide and sells its products in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.jazwares.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Please note that all official Jazwares employment information will always come from an email address ending in @jazwares.com. Jazwares will never request any monetary payments at any stage of the hiring process. Be cautious of unsolicited communications from unfamiliar individuals or websites, particularly those requesting sensitive personal information. Never respond to or open links from such communications.
Job Description
As a Product Designer on our Squishmallows team, you’ll have the exciting opportunity to bring beloved characters and plush brands to life! In this role, you’ll design and develop both licensed and non-licensed Squishmallows products, as well as contribute to other fan-favorite plush lines within our growing portfolio. We're looking for someone with hands-on plush toy design experience—someone who understands soft goods, character development, and the ins and outs of plush manufacturing.
What You Will Do
- Instrumental in generating new toy concepts and designing new play experiences for new and/or existing brands and product lines
- Deliver end-to-end product design, including research, concepts, prototypes, and user testing
- Champion great design in our high-quality products and help assure they are within target cost and QA/QC requirements
- Create systems of play centered around compatibility, usability, and superior play experiences
- Builds consensus between members throughout the design process
- Work collaboratively with your branding, product management, engineering, packaging, licensor, and other internal team partners to create a product that is the best fit for the brand and meets licensor requirements
- Attended brand and licensing meetings and brainstorming to obtain enough information for product design
- Successfully present and communicate concepts to the brand, development, management, and licensor teams
- Ensure delivery of precise, clear, and complete product turnover specifications and ensure they are fully understood by the international team/factory
- Work with outside vendors
- Support the overall strategic goals of the product, and provide direction and feedback during the development process that is attentive to licensor and for brand assurance
- Responsible for completing, reviewing, and documenting specification changes, submitting for licensor approval, and providing comments for illustrative turns, sculpts, paint masters, and sample reviews
- Work closely with brand/management teams to resolve development issues while assuring designs meet the target cost, schedule, and brand standards
- Participate in the entire life cycle of project development from a concept through initial ideation, refinement, prototype execution, and turn over packages to development teams
- Champian high-quality designs and products that are within target cost and QA/QC requirements
- Collaborate with packaging design team to assure product and packaging are aligned
- Perform other duties as assigned
Manages People: No
What We Are Looking For
- Bachelor’s degree in Toy Design, Industrial Design, Industrial Engineering, or a related field preferred
- 3+ years of relevant product design experience, ideally focused on children's or plush products
- At least 1 year of experience collaborating with global manufacturing partners (Asia preferred)
- Proven knowledge of plush materials and a strong understanding of various manufacturing processes
- Experience working with licensed brands and navigating brand guidelines
- Deep understanding of current trends, innovations, and the competitive landscape within the toy industry
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) or equivalent design tools
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
- Strong skills in concept sketching, control drawings, and rendering presentation-ready illustrations
- Experience with 3D modeling, sculpting, and rendering software (ZBrush, Rhino, Fusion 360) is a plus
- Excellent visual, verbal, and written communication skills
- Strong project management, organization, and time management abilities—able to handle multiple projects and meet tight deadlines
- Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally across departments, as well as independently
- Effective problem-solver and critical thinker, proactive in identifying and resolving challenges
- Detail-oriented with a strong design sense and well-developed aesthetic judgment
- Flexible and adaptable to shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Passion for learning, personal growth, and staying current with industry innovations
- Comfortable interacting professionally with individuals at all levels across the organization
Working Conditions
- Environment: Office
- Extreme Exposures: None
- Schedule: Regular office; may require occasional calls with Asia counterparts outside of regular hours
- Physical Requirements:
- Light: Lifting up to 25 lbs
- Must be able to sit at a desk for extended periods of time
- Travel Required: None
What we offer:
At Jazwares, we believe in providing our employees with comprehensive and competitive benefits that support their well-being and overall satisfaction. The salary range for this position is $70,000.00 - 75,000.00/Yr. The base salary may vary based on experience, role tenure, performance, industry, and location. Eligibility for the annual performance incentive may apply. Jazwares is a multi-state employer, so the salary range may not apply to other states.
Our benefits package includes basic medical insurance that is 100% company-paid for employees and their children, employee basic life and AD&D insurance, a 401(K) retirement program with Jazwares matching up to 4% of pretax or post-tax deferrals, short and long-term disability, and tuition reimbursement.
Our work environment provides a flexible work schedule that includes a Monday through Thursday on-site, with an optional WFH on Fridays, up to 20 workdays fully remote each year, and Time Off for vacation and sick leave. Through Jazwares Cares, you will have the opportunity to volunteer for up to 16 hours a year on community service projects.
Working at Jazwares
At Jazwares, we believe an innovative idea can come from anywhere and anyone. Through our three pillars, we foster innovation and encourage creativity in every area of our business.
- Passion: Our conviction and enthusiasm show in our products, relationships, and commitment to our community.
- Collaboration: We share one vision worldwide, constantly striving to improve and innovate together.
- Humility: We recognize the value in others and treat everyone with respect. Our strength lies in our people and talent.
Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to be part of the fastest-growing toy company in the industry. Connect with us today, and let's shape the future of play together!
JAZWARES is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, ancestry, disability, age, military status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Jazwares is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.
Who We Are
Jazwares, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a leading global toy manufacturer with a robust portfolio of owned and licensed brands. Founded in 1997, Jazwares celebrates imaginative play with a progressive focus on identifying new and relevant trends to transform into high-quality products for consumers of all ages. Jazwares engages consumers through innovative play experiences with popular brands such as Squishmallows™, Pokémon™, Hello Kitty™, Star Wars™, Disney™, BumBumz™, and Adopt Me™. In addition to toys, offerings include virtual games, costumes, and pet products. Headquartered in Plantation, Florida, Jazwares has offices worldwide and sells its products in over 100 countries. For more information, visit www.jazwares.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and Facebook