Senior Chemist - Innovation Ventures

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.

The Team:

Innovation Ventures is where Mattel builds what's next. As our entrepreneurial innovation studio, Innovation Ventures exists to create the next generation of breakthrough brands, new business models, and entirely new ways to play. Operating with the agility of a startup and the resources of one of the world's leading toy companies, our team turns emerging consumer insights into bold new concepts that have the potential to become Mattel's next growth driver. If you're energized by ambiguity, passionate about solving problems in new ways, and excited by the opportunity to build something from the ground up, Innovation Ventures offers the rare chance to shape the future of play while making a lasting impact on Mattel's long-term growth.

Job Description

The Opportunity:

The Senior Chemist partners with Design and Product Development to develop chemical features that deliver product intent while balancing performance, aesthetics, cost, manufacturability, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Independently manages complex chemical-feature development from early concept through production, applying formulation expertise to translate creative objectives into viable solutions, guide technology selection, troubleshoot challenges, and support reliable production execution.

Collaborates across Design, Product Development, Quality, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Procurement, suppliers, and global development teams.

What Your Impact Will Be:

• Partner with Design and Product Development early in concept development to identify appropriate chemical and material solutions.
• Independently develop, formulate, evaluate, and optimize chemical features, including inks, cosmetics, play compounds, and other formulated products, against performance, aesthetic, cost, manufacturability, safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Evaluate tradeoffs and recommend chemical technologies and material solutions to cross-functional partners.
• Lead chemical-feature development from concept through production, defining technical requirements, testing needs, milestones, and technical risks.
• Lead troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of complex formulation, processing, performance, and production issues.
• Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to evaluate and qualify materials and technologies and support formulation transfer and scale-up.
• Develop and maintain formula specifications, mixing procedures, ingredient information, Bills of Substance, and other documentation required for global execution.
• Partner with Quality and Regulatory to define testing, evaluate results, and ensure applicable safety and regulatory requirements are met.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently, independently prioritizing work to meet development milestones.
• Provide technical guidance to junior team members and evaluate new technologies that can improve product performance, consumer experience, cost, or development efficiency.

Qualifications

What We’re Looking For:

• BA/BS degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related physical science.
• Typically 3–5 years of relevant experience in chemistry, formulation, materials development, or consumer product development.
• Strong knowledge of chemistry principles, formulation practices, raw materials, and material interactions.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop and troubleshoot moderately complex to complex formulations and evaluate technical alternatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including root-cause analysis and experimental design.
• Experience translating creative or product requirements into technical specifications and solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with limited day-to-day direction and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and influence across cross-functional, supplier, and global manufacturing teams.
• Experience with formulated consumer products and manufacturing scale-up preferred.
• Working knowledge of chemical safety, regulatory requirements, restricted-substance management, and technical documentation preferred.
• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves.

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. Join Mattel's Talent Community and start receiving exciting updates about our company, our employees, and our culture. Also, interested in signing up for job alerts? Do so here!



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.

Our Approach to Flexible Work:
This role is an in-office role Monday-Thursday, and work from home on Fridays. We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter.

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.

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Beware of recruiting scams: Mattel will only contact you through official @mattel.com or @smartrecruiters.com email addresses and will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information during the hiring process.


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.


The pay range for this position is between $97,000 and $104,000 annual. The pay range is indicative of projected hiring range, however base pay 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.

Videos to watch:
The Culture at Mattel
Corporate Philanthropy

Location: California - El SegundoCompany: Mattel HQ, Inc.