Games Technology Lead, Publishing

Job Title

Job Title Games Technology Lead, Publishing

Job Description

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.

• 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, Live Ops, 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 Live Ops 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.

• Hands‑on experience with Unity / C# or Unreal Engine / C++.
• Familiarity with industry‑standard tools and services such as Heroic Labs Nakama, Git Hub, Backtrace, Jira, CI/CD (Git Hub Actions, Jenkins), big data platforms (e.g. Big Query).
• 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.

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.

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!

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.