Lead Artist (Digital Gaming)

Company 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.

Job Description

The Opportunity: 

We are seeking a highly organized and versatile Lead Artist to join our art team. Reporting to the Art Director, you will play an essential role in helping define and manage the artistic vision for our mobile games based on beloved Mattel IPs. The ideal candidate is a seasoned artist with strong experience supporting external developers, collaborating across departmental leadership, and showcasing versatility across a range of art styles. A positive attitude, excellent communication skills, and a growth mindset are key to success in this role.

What Your Impact Will Be: 

• Develop, refine, and execute high-quality art assets across multiple mobile game projects.
• Directly support external developers by providing artistic guidance, feedback, asset review, paint-overs, illustrating concepts, and clear direction to ensure adherence with project goals.
• Ensure brand consistency and adherence to style guidelines across all assets, whether produced internally or by external partners.
• Create mood boards, refine pitch decks, illustrate concepts, produce compelling marketing and UA art that aligns with brand vision and project requirements.
• Collaborate effectively with other departmental leads and leadership, including Design, Engineering, Product Management, and Marketing, to align project vision and objectives.
• Assist in hiring additional art personnel as needed, including reviewing portfolios, interviewing candidates, and contributing to the selection process.
• Demonstrate a flexible artistic approach, adapting easily across multiple art styles and genres.
• Support and step in for the Art Director as needed and take ownership where applicable.
• For marketing, aid in visual storytelling via storyboards or promotional visuals.
• Work closely with production, participate in brainstorming, sprint planning, and pipeline reviews.
• Proactively contribute ideas and solutions, maintaining an organized workflow, meeting project milestones, and staying attentive to details.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

• BA/BS in illustration, Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience as a Lead Artist or above in the mobile game industry.
• Proven experience supporting and providing clear, actionable feedback to external development teams.
• Shipped at least 2–3 mobile game titles and supported them through live operations.
• Strong proficiency in industry-standard art software (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, Maya, Unity).
• Exceptional organizational, multitasking, and time management skills, with a commitment to meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a supportive, team-oriented mindset.
• Proactively incorporate feedback, take swift action, and provide timely updates without prompting.
• Passionate about Mattel’s iconic IPs and excited about contributing to their continued evolution and appeal in the mobile gaming space.
• An enthusiastic attitude, adaptability, and eagerness to collaborate effectively in a dynamic environment.
• A portfolio demonstrating the associated skills needed for this role.
• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have):

• Prior experience with IP games and marketing art for mobile platforms.
• Familiarity with live operations and post-launch art asset production.
• Knowledge of current industry trends and familiarity with market-leading mobile games.
• Experience working in Unreal.

The annual base salary range for this position is between $96,800 and $137,000.
**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. Mattel offers competitive total pay programs, comprehensive benefits, and resources to help empower a culture where every employee can reach their full potential.

Additional Information

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.

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