Games Technology Lead, Publishing

The Opportunity

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 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.

• 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, game 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 growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

* The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range. Base pay will be determined based on a candidate’s 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.

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.