Product Development Manager

Location: Los Angeles, CA or Seattle, WA (In-office, not remote)

Founded in 2015, FUNBOY is a family-owned brand known for creating original, design-led inflatables that bring joy to every season. Best recognized for its award-winning pool floats, air beds, holiday décor, and outdoor play products, FUNBOY combines playful design with premium materials and thoughtful construction. The brand has collaborated with leading global names including Barbie, Missoni, the artist Drake, and is carried by major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Amazon.

FUNBOY is one of the world’s most recognizable inflatable brands on social media, celebrated for products that turn everyday moments into lasting memories. We’re growing fast and have big, fun things ahead - and we’re looking for an exceptional Marketing Director to jump in, make an impact, and help take FUNBOY to the next level.

Our products must perform beautifully across all channels—standing out visually online, meeting retailer-specific requirements, and scaling seamlessly for mass distribution—while maintaining FUNBOY’s signature quality and brand voice.

The Product Development Manager is responsible for managing the product development lifecycle from initial concept through manufacturing handoff. This role ensures products are designed, engineered, tested, and documented to meet the requirements of each sales channel and/or partner while remaining operationally efficient and aligned with brand standards.

The role partners closely with the Production team, who manage mass manufacturing and are actively involved throughout sampling, validation, and factory ramp-up.

This is a hands‑on, cross‑functional role suited for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of design, engineering, manufacturing, compliance, and omni‑channel commerce.

• Guide product development with an omni‑channel mindset, accounting for the differing needs of DTC, marketplace, and big‑box retail
• Work closely with the production team to manage development timelines aligned with retail line reviews, marketplace launch windows, and DTC drops
• Balance innovation, speed‑to‑market, cost, margin, and scalability

• Partner with founders, design, production and marketing to develop new product concepts, categories, and line extensions
• Evaluate product ideas for brand alignment, channel fit, manufacturability, and commercial viability
• Work closely with the production team to guide materials, construction methods, and features that perform well across online merchandising, retail shelves, and high‑volume fulfillment

• Oversee technical specifications, CADs, tech packs, BOMs, packaging structures, and master cartons
• Ensure products meet performance, durability, and safety standards appropriate for both DTC and mass retail environments
• Drive resolution of technical challenges uncovered during development and sampling

• Oversee the sampling process in close collaboration with the Production team and overseas factories
• Review and approve samples across function, materials, color, print, construction, and packaging
• Ensure samples reflect final retail‑ready and DTC‑ready specifications, minimizing late‑stage changes

• Own the final handoff to Production once a product is development‑complete
• Ensure all documentation is finalized, including specs, testing protocol, packaging requirements, and channel‑specific variations
• Support Production during early manufacturing runs to ensure design intent, quality, and channel requirements are maintained

• Ensure products comply with all relevant U.S. and international safety standards (e.g., ASTM, CPSIA, Prop 65)
• Work with production team to account for retailer‑specific compliance, packaging, labeling, and testing requirements
• Partner with testing labs and internal teams to manage certifications, warnings, and documentation for all sales channels

• Serve as the central hub between Design, Production, Sourcing, Marketing,…