Art Director

Job 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 Game Studios’ mission is to harness the power of Mattel’s iconic brands and IP to create a wide variety of engaging digital games. Our team is guided by industry leaders with decades of experience in various facets of the gaming industry. We are seeking talented individuals to join us in our mission to create innovative and engaging digital experiences that resonate with our beloved brands. 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: 

Mattel Game Studios is seeking an experienced Art Director based in Los Angeles, CA. You bring a wealth of artistic talent and leadership skills, capable of both pixel-perfect artistry and team management across diverse game projects. Your ability to view game projects from a comprehensive standpoint allows you to align art styles with the unique attributes of our brands/IPs. Having worked with remote teams and managed artwork for multiple projects as a publisher, you will establish and lead a nimble internal art team to oversee all digital game publishing assignments. You are passionate about mobile gaming and keep up to date with the latest styles and technology.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Build and manage a small internal art team to support all our co-development projects
• Collaborate with external developer partners to create and maintain visual style and aesthetics for all our mobile and cross-platform games
• Establish and maintain quality standards for art assets, providing feedback and guidance as needed
• Work closely with the Director of Game Design to align the artistic vision with the overall game concept
• Create and maintain documentation for art processes, guidelines, and style guides
• Coordinate with various internal teams, including the Global Brand Team, Marketing, Legal, and Finance
• Own the team’s use and implementation of art tools, process, and the overall art pipeline
• Present visual concepts, mood boards, and progress reports to other internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the broader vision for the game.
• Follow industry trends, competitor products, and emerging technologies to ensure our games and processes remain relevant and competitive.

What We’re Looking For: 

• 15+ years of game art experience required
• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts, Graphic Arts, or related field
• Excellent concept art, illustration, and storytelling skills
• Up to date on the latest trends in art in digital games
• Deep understanding of mobile game development processes and free-to-play business models
• Strategic thinking about potential opportunities for process, game, or art improvements
• Ability to travel to game studios globally (up to date passport)
• Passion for toys, gaming, and a familiarity with Mattel IP/products

The annual base salary range for this position is between $167,000 and $208,000.
**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.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At Mattel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. 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.

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

Mattel is an Affirmative Action/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.