Lead Prod Dev Engineer

Company Description

This role is part of the Mattel Hot Wheels Remote Control (RC) Product Development Engineering (PDE) China Shenzhen team, which manages RC projects for major Mattel brands like Hot Wheels, Barbie, and Action Figures. The position leads product development from concept to production, working with both internal teams and external partners to create innovative engineering solutions and keep projects on track to support business growth.

Job Description

1. Leading front-end product design & development, collaborating with US and local design & development teams and outside vendors to translate initial concepts to manufacturable products. 
2. Building up standard design; platform; structure; modules and manufacturing process etc. to optimize cost effective design solutions. Digitalizing standard design elements to cope with the company’s D3 initiative. 
3. Exploring new industry technologies and translating to product designs, innovative thinking throughout design & development cycles.
4. Smart Manufacturing – Team up with internal & external stakeholders to optimize manufacturing efficiency; value engineering and quality first measurements etc.
5. Coaching / Sharing with local PDE team for further developments. 
6. Defining the short-term and long-term objectives and quantify improvement measures
7. Optimizing cost: Achieve competitive product costs by evaluating design options, tooling strategies, and manufacturing alternatives.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field
2. Minimum 15 years of hands-on experience in product design and development—preferably within high-complexity radio control (RC) categories
3. Deep expertise in motorized mechanisms, mechanical modeling, tooling, programming, and battery systems
4. Proficient in industry-standard design software, including AutoCAD and Pro/ENGINEER (Pro-E)
5. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with excellent organizational and communication abilities
6. Thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative, and globally connected environment
7. Self-starter who delivers results—even under pressure and with minimal supervision
8. Quality-focused mindset with knowledge of international safety and compliance standards
9. Solid project management skills, especially in scheduling and cost control
10. Fluent in written English; strong verbal communication is a plus

Additional Information